Policy News Gov. Cox sets Nov. 9 for special legislative session Gov. Spencer J. Cox called state legislators to meet in special session on Tuesday, Nov. 9 at 10:30 a.m. Gov. Cox authorized nine issues to be considered by lawmakers including consideration of updated Congressional, legislative and other district boundaries, a proposal to change the name of Dixie State University, and provisions related to COVID-19 and the workplace. (Read More) United Utah Party calls for a robust independent redistricting commission The legislature released their proposed federal and state district maps for the next decade of elections this weekend. âThese maps are a severe disappointment. Theyâre heavily gerrymandered, dividing up communities and ignoring the will of the people as expressed at the ballot box and at the many hearings the Independent Redistricting Commission held statewide,â said Hillary Stirling, United Utah Party Chair. Stirling reiterated the need for a robust Independent Redistricting Commission. âWe need a truly independent commission, one that cannot be simply ignored by the legislature. This commission conveys the expressed will of the people, and the legislature should not be able to trample the peopleâs will for the sake of partisan ambition.â (Read More) WGU invites community to give shout-out to night shift workers during weekend time change âNight Owlsâ staff delivers care packages to health care workers in thanks for their extra hour of service during Daylight Saving night shift Healthcare professionals across Utah are working an extra hour this weekend due to Daylight Saving, and Western Governors University (WGU) staff delivered care packages to show its gratitude to these frontline workers. WGU Director of Utah Operations Ismar Vallecillos visited the George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center, which was one of four stops that also included the Salt Lake Regional Hospital and Davis Hospital in Layton. âWe live in trying times, and healthcare professionals all around us continue to answer the call day-after -dayâeven at their own risk during the COVID-19 pandemic,â Vallecillos said. âThey are our real-life superheroes, and we hope our small gestures send the big message that we are mindful of them.â (Read More) Rep. Mooreâs statement on the infrastructure and reconciliation packages Congressman Blake Moore issued the following statement after his vote on the infrastructure bill:
âOver the past year, I have engaged with stakeholders across Utah to ensure our stateâs infrastructure needs are being met, and I am fully supportive of a targeted and fiscally sound infrastructure package.
I acknowledge and praise the bipartisan group of senators who put in the work to preserve the filibuster and show the American people they can work together and deliver results. But in the House, passage of the reconciliation package has been linked to passage of this infrastructure bill. Speaker Pelosi has said it; President Biden has said it; progressive and moderate Democrats have said it; and while Democrat posturing and angling continues, I must take them at their word. Democrats are using passage of the infrastructure bill as a way to help internally advance their egregious $1.75 trillion tax and spend package, which Democrats are attempting to force through before the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office can give us an accurate estimate for the true cost of the proposal." (Read More) Rep Owens on infrastructure and social spending votes Today, U.S. Rep. Burgess Owens (UT-04) released the following statement regarding tonightâs votes on the Democratsâ socialist tax-and-spend package: âWe need to invest in the roads, bridges, airports, and mass transit systems that improve the quality of life for fast-growing states like Utah, but this fiscally irresponsible tax-and-spending spree operating under the guise of infrastructure is not the way forward. The White House and Congressional Democratsâ multi-trillion-dollar plan ushers in unprecedented spending, wage reductions for middle-class Americans, a historic $2.1 trillion tax increase, and stifling burdens for Main Street U.S.A. As one of the most expensive spending packages ever to be considered before Congress, this bill will place a staggering debt on the next generation of Americans, increase inflation, and leave our economy worse off.â (Read More) Utah Clean Energy statement on Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Passage in the House, H.R. 3684 Statement from Sarah Wright, Executive Director, Utah Clean Energy âClimate and energy innovation are not partisan issues. Congress took an important step today by passing the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that includes critical investments in upgrading our energy infrastructure, energy efficiency, and resiliency. We are grateful to Senator Romney for his role in creating legislation to help Utah develop the energy resources and infrastructure we needs to meet our climate and environmental challenges. We hope that Congress will work together to pass the bold climate and clean energy deployment investments in the proposed âBuild Back Better Actâ in the weeks ahead.â See more details on the climate and clean energy investments in the bipartisan infrastructure bill, H.R. 3684 on the Utah Clean Energy blog at https://utahcleanenergy.org/infrastructure/ | 