Emily HollingsheadState of the State
Did anyone else notice that Gov H’s speech on education and health last night could have been taken from the Democratic party candidate’s playbook?
It was interesting to hear him speak of reduced classroom sizes and retaining quality teachers through improved wages. It was interesting to hear him say that basic health care should not be a luxury. There were so many other things that he said that were important to us as candidates last year.
I support most of what Governor Huntsman said in his speech. I will be very pleased if his education goals are met, and if we can figure out a way to solve our health care crisis in Utah. With the huge amount of money they have to work with, I hope that our legislature takes this opportunity to do what is right for Utah’s school children and families.
It will be particularly interesting to see how the Republican legislature decides to support the Governor’s goals. It’s hard to believe they will be on board with him, based on all the things I heard our republican friends say on these very issues over the last several months.
Granted, campaign season is a crazy time. But on more than one ocassion, I heard things from them like “education is FINE! Classroom sizes are FINE! Teachers in Utah can live with their lower pay rates because they enjoy living in Utah so much” — and now, the most popular Republican in Utah is contradicting everything they just said?
It seems that during campaign season, the R’s can say anything they want to, particularly in bright red southern Utah. After all, they have to make sure to point out that there are major differences between the candidates. Even St. George Rep Steve Urquart admits that there is a difference between campaigning and reality.
I am very curious to see where they will go. Will they keep their campaign promise that Education is not something you can just “throw money at” and that the whole system is “doing fine” and doesn’t need any more than they already get? I have a funny feeling that they’re going to do the right thing, and while I’m pleased that they will probably take the opportunity to do what’s right for Utah families, it bothers me that during campaign season they seemed to contradict themselves so much.
On a side note… I loved that the Democrats reframed everything that the Governor said. I love how they reminded everyone that these goals and ideals have *always* been Democratic goals and ideals. We’ve *never* flip flopped on the issues of quality education and affordable health care. It seems that our republican friends like to go with whatever seems politically expedient at the time.
January 17th, 2007 at 11:04 am
Utahns have a penchant for looking beyond the mark (the person) and attach a great deal of importance to the party. I often wonder if this is because we don’t think we have enough time to think for ourselves.
I agree with you that education funding and classroom sizes are NOT fine. In addition to providing more money to attract quality teachers, I support reducing class sizes, but in a way that you may not have thought of or might not agree with.
I agree that we have a health care crisis, not just in Utah, but throughout the country. I think the problem is a result largely of high expectations due to a high standard of living and (medical) technology, and reduced services based on an overly-litigious society. Normally I think government should not involve itself in health care issues, but I’m not sure we are in a normal situation.
January 17th, 2007 at 12:03 pm
Frank,
When you say, “Normally I think government should not involve itself in health care issues” do you say this in view of the fact that the other 38 industrialized countries have universal health care or in spite of it?
January 17th, 2007 at 12:30 pm
Hi Frank,
Whether or not the legislature goes down the path of tax credits, vouchers, and school choice, the fact is that public school teachers in Utah are sorely underpaid. The issue seems to be the big pink elephant in the living room that R side of the legislature has refused to acknowledge… teachers are leaving Utah to seek out higher paid positions in in other states.
I used to say that although the lower wage is not acceptable, at least in Utah we had a lower cost of living. Not so much the case anymore here in Cedar City, where home values have climbed rapidly over the last 3 years. We can’t continue to pretend that our cost of living isn’t as high or higher than neighboring states, and we certainly can’t expect teachers to just “take it” because they like living here so much. “Living” isn’t so great when you can’t afford basic housing and transportation.
January 17th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
Emily,
I agree. I’m originally from St. George, but it would be hard to move back there because of the cost of living. Teachers need more pay for several reasons, one of the most important of which you have listed.
Lynette,
I was not aware that 38 nations had UHC, but I’m not surprised. I’m generally opposed to governmental health care, because you will get more of anything that you subsidize. Granted, a great deal of what is subsidized by governments who have UHC is necessary, but I’m sure you agree that much of it is not needed.
My instinct (which maybe is just “in-stink”) is that government has caused a great deal of the problem that we see now. To get a better idea of my perspective, see what I said about health insurance coverage, here.
January 17th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
I’m not so sure the health care problem is caused by government. But, government has not been able to find an acceptable way to solve the problem.
Pre-existing conditions for reasons like having Down Syndrome are not decisions made by Government. Not insuring now-healthy individuals because of a surgery 40 years ago is not a decision made by government. I don’t know the answer, but it has been left to the free market and all we have seen is costs go up and extra restrictions put in place. It doesn’t seem right.
January 17th, 2007 at 1:43 pm
Frank,
I am really surprised *not* that you didn’t know “38 nations had UHC”, but that you *admitted* it.
Are you sure you are a male person? Because of you are, you just became the sexiest man on the planet in my book.
Whew, I’m still swooning. Are you per chance available?
I can be your personal subsidized nurse. wink wink.
January 17th, 2007 at 3:30 pm
Lynnette,
My wife supports your claim to my being the world’s sexiest man. But she also says I’m not available! Sorry…
January 18th, 2007 at 10:56 am
Utah House Minority Leader Ralph Becker and some other Democratic leaders made a response to the governor’s speech. Issues covered: education, health, aging and good government.
Rep. Becker, IMHO has identified the number one problem the legislature ought to address:
“Let me spend a minute talking about redistricting reform through a fair, independent process to to limit partisan, personal gerrymandering.
The ill effects of redistricting hurt your representation in government.
In the 2006 election, 43% of Utahns voted Democratic, but only 22% of elected
officials are Democrats.
This imbalance is largely due to having legislators pick voters and political
boundaries rather than having voters pick legislators.
In 2001, at the beginning of the last complete redistricting process, Democrats
proposed establishing an independent redistricting commission to create political
boundaries similar to what we see in 12 (and a growing number of) other states.
That proposal fell on deaf ears, and as noted by the Wall Street Journal, Utah had
one of the most egregious examples of gerrymandering in the nation.”