The year 2008 is just around the corner and it is time, once again, to guess what our Legislature will accomplish in 45 days. Usually, our Republican controlled lawmakers are very predictable in their schemes of shocking Utahns as they typically ignore their constituents. Without a doubt, the Republican leaders will hold their secret meetings disguised as "Republican Caucuses" and will strong-arm any fellow GOP colleague who steps out of line. Let's not forget the "poor-me-and-underpaid-lawmakers" attending Jazz games and expensive dinners with the "deeply caring" lobbyists. And of course, the Republican lawmakers will debate budget-busting tax cuts for the most affluent, attempting to care about education, and provide the public with time-wasting, silly resolutions. The only surprises we will see are the customary bills sneaked through at lightening speed, usually on the last day at the 11th hour. Needless to say, those sneaky bills are the most entertaining for the media. Who knows why a lawmaker would try to pass a bill in secrecy, hoping that the people of Utah would not notice or have time to ask questions (Last year's voucher bill was a good example).
The issues facing lawmakers next month are the standard, partisan and budget type problems associated with our Capitol Hill. Taxes and education will be debated as well as human services and transportation. Other bills will resurface such as ethics and conflict of interests, veterans, and pay raises for lawmakers. In addition, our Republican lawmakers will more than likely find money to pour into the "Sandy Soccer money pit". In return, they will argue that helping mothers and children is big government which will lead us to "socialism".
Even though the Democratic lawmakers are few in numbers, year after year, they keep fighting for the working, middle-class families. Opportunities for families, not hand outs, are the main priorities for our Democratic legislators in 2008.
The big issue, of course, will be education. It will be interesting to see if indeed, the Republican leadership will be pushing some type of retribution to the anti-voucher legislators. Basically, look for the Republican leadership to divert the $9.3 million promised for vouchers which was designed to "help public schools". In fact, that money could assist in slowing down the growing teacher shortage in Utah (Todd, my wager of a Diet Coke still stands on the $9.3 million).
Clearly, we will not know the Legislative results until March. In the meantime, for those who want to keep score at home, here are some of the topics to check off during the session which begins on January 21:
- Teachers, education vs. unconcerned Republican lawmakers.
- Ethics, Conflicts of Interest vs. unconcerned Republican lawmakers.
- Open records and meetings vs. unconcerned Republican lawmakers.
- Tax cuts for working families vs. unconcerned Republican lawmakers.
- Mothers and children vs. unconcerned Republican lawmakers.
-Helping veterans vs. unconcerned Republican lawmakers.
-Clean air and clean water vs. unconcerned Republican lawmakers.
- Listening to Utahns vs. unconcerned Republican lawmakers. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
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