From the "Who Coulda Guessed That?" file: Pumping ocean water to the Great Salt Lake would cost a lot and face significant challenges. That 400Mw of electricity is 🤯. #utpol
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New Year, New Gehrke
@RobertGehrke
Gehrke Wenceslas looked on the feast of Elon; When the Tweets lay round about, rotten stinking and steaming.
New Year, New Gehrke’s Tweets
Confession: I didn't know what "stealthing" is, how widespread it was or if it was legal or not. But after sitting down with Emma it's pretty clear the Legislature should address this. #utpol
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After the start of this legislative session, I don't know if I can stomach this "Concurrent Resolution Promoting Kindness In Utah."
Instead of promoting it, they should start practicing it. #utpol
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Rep. Colin Jack, the new member from St. George, is sponsoring a bill requiring public notice if a city/county/ etc. permits "adult themed" event — with nudity, profanity, etc.
Appears to be a response to St. George drag show.
le.utah.gov/~2023/bills/st
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Meanwhile, outside the Utah State Capitol tonight… #utpol #utleg
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Happened to turn on the Aussie Open and I’m pretty sure McEnroe is hammered.
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Want to stay caught up on everything happening at the Capitol while the Utah Legislature is in session? We have you covered. All our stories are on this one page for you to browse: trib.al/LfUn4kn
#utpol #utleg
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Everyone doing Dry January this weekend
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The House passed SB16, banning gender-affirming surgery and putting a moratorium on hormone treatment, 58-14.
Since it was amended in the House it now goes back to the Senate for a final vote. #utpol
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(Having listened to the hearings she referenced, she heard from medical professionals and transgender Utahns on one side, Eagle Forum types and a popular anti-trans activist from California on the other.)
Anyway, now voting ... it passes. #utpol
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Rep. Schultz arguing that the data is inconsistent. Wants to hit pause and collect more info.
Member calls for a vote. Rep. Hall sums. Says she respects her colleagues. We've heard from both sides of this argument. Without long-term data, best to proceed with caution. #utpol
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Rep. Dailey Provost arguing that these treatments are not "bad." Opponents are mischaracterizing the data. Preventing kids from getting care does more harm than good. #utpol
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Rep. Ward, a doc, is supporting the bill but doesn't like what it does on malpractice. Other objection is more philosophical. Says both sides are seeing this in absolutist terms and see each other as enemies.
Trans community sees us as enemies. Need to change dynamic. #utpol
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Wow. Jumped in late to the debate on the latest transgender bill, but new Rep. Sahara Hayes is giving a hell of a speech.
She asks for a pause on the bill. Agrees we need to protect children, but need to consider the needs of all children. #utpol
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Grover says he's been in public ed his whole career. Looking forward to giving parents an option and teachers a pay raise.
Adams casts the 20th vote. Passes. Will NOT be able to be subject to a referendum. Goes to the Gov who has said he will sign it. #utpol
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Cullimore comes back to the same worn out talking point because he thinks we're idiots: This supports the two most important parts of education, the students and the teachers.
Now voting. Spoiler: It'll get the 20 votes, pass the Senate and the Gov will sign it. #utpol
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Riebe: Taught 32 kids in Magna. Talks about a student raised by grandparents, didn't have a car. Those kids in that school deserve the same opportunities. Shouldn't have preferential treatment for people who don't have the means.
Now Cullimore wrapping up. #utpol
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Fillmore: Only way to answer the question of what is best for every child is to let parents answer it.
Fillmore comes back to the low-income student. This kid did great and is now a nurse. We need to be on Madison's team. (Really no clue how it applies to his argument.) #utpol
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Fillmore telling story of a lower income family that valued their kids' education. Public system works well for vast majority "but we can't ignore the unique needs of individual children that are misaligned with the public education system." #utpol
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Cullimore: Feel like we've got guiderails. Can't itemize every expense.
(These questions likely come from some of the expenses identified in the Arizona program. Parents misspent $700k on beauty supplies, sporting goods & attempted cash withdrawls) #utpol
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Cullimore: The $8k is the state WPU plus the average local funding.
Riebe: How do we know which students are picked and which are not?
Cullimore: This is already a problem. It will be audited.
Riebe: Any guardrails on what the money can be spent on? #utpol
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(Cullimore's answer — not coming from public ed fund — was a little misleading. They changed the name of what was the education fund to the income tax fund. It now funds ed and social services. It still comes from that fund.) #utpol
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Sen. Kwan: Can students now in private or homeschool get the vouchers?
Cullimore: Yes. Open to everyone. Households before 200% of poverty get first priority.
Kwan: So we could move money out of public schools but not kids?
Cullimore: Not coming from public ed fund. #utpol
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Sen. Cullimore says these aren't vouchers. "This is a scholarship program" more akin to an education savings program. Will only service 0.7% of the school population. "It's really not going to have a strong or meaningful effect on the public education system." #utpol
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Senate is now going to debate and give final passage to the voucher bill. #utpol
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Looks like the committee will adjourn and take this up at its next meeting. They got down in the weeds on a couple other issues and ran out of time. #utpol
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In just a few minutes the administrative rules committee will consider a bill that would strike down Utah's ban on "conversion therapy" that was implemented in 2020.
Another bill will authorize "talk" forms of conversion therapy. #utpol
le.utah.gov/~2023/bills/hb
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In just a few minutes the administrative rules committee will consider a bill that would strike down Utah's ban on "conversion therapy" that was implemented in 2020.
Another bill will authorize "talk" forms of conversion therapy. #utpol
le.utah.gov/~2023/bills/hb
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Bramble asks if she would support the bill with the amendment. Riebe says if the amendment passes she will vote for the bill.
Cullimore says he appreciates "the unexpected support" but opposes the amendment.
"We're trying to cram this bill through," Riebe says. #utpol
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The state Senate has passed the voucher bill — preliminarily. It passed 20-8 (with one absent).
That would put it above the 2/3 margin that would make the bill exempt from a citizens' referendum.
Final vote likely to come by the end of the week. #utpol
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Millner now up (has had reservations previously). The fundamental issue is every kid learns differently. Need to have options. Votes yes.
My math was off. It's 20 yes votes. #utpol
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Ipson says education community feels like this is something against them. It's not. Spent $1.7billion on education in recent years. Not impugning teachers. A matter of choice. Number of scholarships is "miniscule." Votes yes. #utpol
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Now Cullimore is doing a call of the Senate to get everyone on the floor before they vote.
Owens and Hinkins will be no (I believe). Thatcher is gone. The Dems will vote no. I think that leaves them at 21. #utpol
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Harper: Is there preference for low income? Cullimore says yes, it's under 200% of poverty.
Harper asks about testing. Cullimore says students have to submit a portfolio. It can be waived or students can test instead. #utpol
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Owens: Tying these two together, rural Utah teachers are underfunded, makes us nervous we'll be contending for funds with urban schools and now the scholarship fund. Will be voting no.
Harper: Will students in private schools now get vouchers? Cullimore says yes. #utpol
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Sandall says he thinks they've addressed accountability the best they can.
Sen. Owens asks if Cullimore has been a public educator? Cullimore says no. (Owens has). Not an indictment, but teachers feel targeted, suffocated. #utpol
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Vickers: A lot of that is because we keep adding burdens and requirements. This is a tool that might help them.
Sandall: Says he's been suspicious of vouchers. Thought they harm public schools. Since he's seen data that says private & public benefit. Need accountability. #utpol
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Riebe's amendment fails.
Vickers asks Cullimore if the voucher amount will automatically increase. It won't, he says. Vickers said when vouchers came up the last time, he learned they don't help rural schools. Sees this legislation as a tool. Morale is low. #utpol
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Blouin's amendment fails. (Sense a trend?)
Riebe trying another amendment, looking at the $750 grant for voucher students to get to and from school. Paying someone to transport kids without background checks creates a liability issue, she says. #utpol
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Her amendment fails. Now has an amendment (that will fail). Wants the raise for teachers to be tied to inflation.
Culllimore opposes it. Says its a worthy goal and could be done in another bill.
Sen. Fillmore says can be handled in final budget. #utpol
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