News Releases
Utah Democratic Party stands with victims of sexual harassment
Chair Diane Lewis released the following statement:
âFirst of all, I would like to state plainly and clearly that harassment of any kind has absolutely no place in our party, and those who engage in it should face the consequences. The leadership of the Utah Democratic Party stands with those who have spoken out about their experiences, and we believe that there should be a full investigation of sexual harassment of any kind within our party. Nobody should be able to get away with misconduct, especially not those in power, and I stand unequivocally with anyone who has faced harassment." (Read More)
President Adams initiates an independent investigation with support from Senate Minority Leadership
President J. Stuart Adams issued the following statement in regards to sexual harassment allegations made by a former intern against Sen. Gene Davis:
âWednesday evening, I learned about the allegations concerning Sen. Davis from an online post made by a former intern. The entire Senate and I take these comments seriously. After reviewing recommendations from the legislative general counsel and human resource administrator, I have directed an independent investigation be initiated to evaluate these allegations. The Senate condemns and does not tolerate workplace harassment. It has no place in any political, professional or personal setting.â (Read More)
Owens, Lieu introduce the Trafficking Survivors Relief Act of 2022
Today, Reps. Burgess Owens (UT-04) and Ted Lieu (CA-33) introduced the Trafficking Survivors Relief Act of 2022, bipartisan legislation to give survivors a path to clear their criminal records of non-violent offenses committed as a direct result of having been a victim of trafficking. The bill only affects federal offenses and builds on similar laws in at least 30 states, including Utah. Reps. Ann Wagner (MO-02) and Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08) are original cosponsors of the legislation. (Read More)
Utah Clean Energy on Senate passage of the Inflation Reduction Act
âThe Inflation Reduction Act would make vital and historic investments in Americaâs future. The jobs this legislation will create alone is enough to get excited about, but the impact it will have in addressing the impacts of climate change is unprecedented. The U.S. Senateâs vote today to advance this legislation is a critical first step in safeguarding our future.â
âThe Inflation Reduction Act would make a historic investment in clean energy and reducing emissions. Major independent analysis has found that Senateâs Inflation Reduction Act would reduce Americaâs greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030, while also boosting energy security and helping to shield American consumers from volatile energy prices. Utahâs growing clean energy and energy efficiency businesses are in great position to use these important investments to create jobs and new projects in communities throughout our state.â (Read More)
Lee denounces so-called âInflation Reduction Actâ
Sen. Mike Lee denounced Senate Democratâs passage of the so-called Inflation Reduction Act. The bill spends hundreds of billions of dollars and raises taxes at a time when inflation has grown to 9.1% nationally and nearly 15% in Utah.
Democrats passed President Bidenâs legislation through whatâs known as the budget reconciliation process, meaning the bill could pass with a simple majority rather than the sixty votes customarily needed to advance legislation.
The non-partisan Joint Committee on Taxation estimates that the Inflation Reduction Act will raise taxes by $313 billion over the next ten years. The Penn Wharton budget model broke this down and concluded that this bill has no deficit reduction until at least 2027. (Read More)
Romney on passage of yet another partisan and reckless spending bill
U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) today released the following statement after the Senate Democratsâ unilaterally passed the Inflation Reduction Actâyet another reckless taxing-and-spending spree being touted as âanti-inflationâ legislation:
âIn March of last year, the Democrats passed their $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan. Predictably, it contributed to the inflation we are seeing today. Americans are falling further and further behind as they face skyrocketing prices on everything from food to energy and medicines. Today, Democrats returned to their same tired playbook to raise taxes, spend more money, and expand the size of government. Every single Republican senator fought to stop their one-sided, partisan bill. Democrats called it an act to combat inflation. It does the opposite." (Read More)
Lee laments Democratâs rejection of PILT amendment
Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) lamented the rejection of his amendment to the so-called Inflation Reduction Act that would have instituted a supplemental PILT payment over the next ten years.
In Utah, the federal government owns 66.48% of the total land. Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) are federal payments to local governments designed to offset losses in property taxes due to nontaxable federal lands within their boundaries. However, these payments are far lower than what local governments could expect to collect in property taxes. To regard PILT payments as tax equivalents in Utah cities, they would need to be 262 times larger. Sen. Leeâs amendment would have increased PILT payments by nearly 10%. Due to the unprecedented inflation caused by the Biden administration, local governments need this forgone revenue more than ever. (Read More)
Number of the Day
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