Glenden BrownYet Another Asshat in The Utah Legislature
Utahns are not terribly excited about more tax cuts. So what do our esteemed legislators do?
From yesterday’s Tribune:
In a poke at voters who say they don’t want a tax cut, Draper Republican Rep. Greg Hughes plans to introduce a “tax me more” bill creating a line on tax forms for Utahns to write in a donation.
I’m sure that counts for wit in his social circle. What an ass. I hope in 2008, we keep reminding people of that line.
More quotes:
Voters seem single-mindedly devoted to public schools. Many legislators are just as committed to reforming so-called “government schools” and easing development of charter and private schools.
A Salt Lake Tribune poll of more than 600 Utahns conducted days before the Legislature convenes Monday found opposition to taxpayer-subsidized private school vouchers and tax credits growing. This year, 57 percent of those polled said they oppose vouchers and tax credits. Two years ago, that number was 53 percent.
From the “cry me a river” files:
Lawmakers say polls are easy. Adopting laws and balancing budgets are more difficult.
If it’s so darn hard, don’t run for office.
“Lawmakers have to make decisions based on all of the facts,” says [State Senator John] Valentine. “Those facts include polls, talking to constituents and supporters. Some of it comes from your inner sense of what you believe is right or wrong.”
And since legislators’ inner sense is usually out of whack with what Utahns want you can guess that most of our legislators don’t actually pay attention to any poll that doesn’t support their preexisting biases.
The festival of horrors known as the Utah State Legislative sessions begins today. We’re in for a bumpy ride.
In case you’re curious, I find myself growing increasing disdainful and angry at our legislators. Year after year, they debate banning Gay Straight Alliances and banning abortion, yet somehow don’t manage to find money to pay for dental and vision care for poor Utahns. We have a massive surplus this year and their first thought was tax cuts. Here’s a wacky plan:
Take 25% of this year’s surplus and set it aside as rainy day fund. Take another 25% and set it aside for roads and transportation.
Take another 25% and designate to be spend for four consecutive, starting in 2008, on education. That would be $100 million per year for four years; imagine $100 million spent on needed repairs and building new schools. We could fund scholarships for four years at Utah colleges. We could provide expanded school breakfast programs.
That leaves $400 million in surplus that could be refunded to Utah taxpayers. A one time tax refund would pump money into the state economy quickly and help boost the economy. However, a tax cut is a guarantee that in future years we’ll have revenue shortfalls and be faced with some pretty ugly choices about denying people medical care or helping the homeless.
January 15th, 2007 at 3:33 pm
Ah the old “inner sense” excuse. Other watch words are “attitude”, “beliefs”, and “philosophy”, oh yeah, and “moral conviction”.
They all mean the same thing. Fuck the “will of the people”. “Will” doesn’t vote. I’m a right-wing nut bag and so are the people that put me here.
The beginning of this audio of Scott Wyatt during the last special session is a perfect specimen of the vermin (does that rhyme?)
…taken from here
January 15th, 2007 at 4:27 pm
Hey Cliff- I don’t know what it is about the Utah legislature but whenever I deal with them I have the uncontrollable urge to swear like a sailor. Listening to Wyatt declare that phone calls from constituents don’t matter just makes me grind my teeth. How do these shitheads get elected?
January 15th, 2007 at 4:50 pm
I’m good for about 45 seconds, then I have to get the heck out before I either get infected or punch somebody out. Low threshold for sucky sycophants is not good for communicating positions that are important to me. If I had some of John Arrrrghs tact and dignity…
January 15th, 2007 at 4:59 pm
I think what makes it so sick is I refuse to let them get by without having to listen to me. I go up there every year, I talk to them, I send emails and make phone calls. But dammit, they are not going to govern without having to at least pretend to be polite and listen.
January 15th, 2007 at 7:45 pm
You took a little harsher language than I did in the post I did over at Wasatch Watcher but Draper Republican Rep. Greg Hughes is definitely just wasting the taxpayer time.
What I find even more offensive is that Greg went to a public college and then wants to put that opportunity away from others.
January 16th, 2007 at 10:30 am
Marshall - yeah, I went for the harsh on this one. After 7 years of being a citizen advocate at the State legislature, I’m beyond being nice to them. The level of arrogance, the lack of empathy, the complete disconnect from the desires of Utahns demonstrated by our legislators year after year has left me with a level of outrage I can no longer contain.
For example, when 75% of Utahns supported an effective hate crimes law, our legislators resisted them on the grounds that hate crimes laws were part of the homosexual agenda. I had one legislator look me in the eye and tell me he wouldn’t make it illegal for people to dislike homosexuals. I beyond having any use for the wingnut Follies Berger known as the Utah legislature.
January 16th, 2007 at 6:53 pm
Yet Another Asshat in The Utah Legislature…
I KNOW that passes for wit in your social circle…jerk.
C’mon it is just tit for tat, post it!
January 17th, 2007 at 10:24 am
Before running for office they throw thier asshat in the circlejerk. It’s the only way in, apparently.
There’s yer tat, glenn. : ) .
January 18th, 2007 at 12:39 pm
…And the entire liberal cummunity laps tit up. It is fascinating. What and where would the rabid libs be without their jerking buddies?
The recent sock puppet affair is telling as to how easily people from both sides of the spectrum can be made to respond like trained animals.