By Joshua Palmer
This week is the political ninth inning of the 2007 legislative session. The heavy hitting bills are up to bat, and in the next three days, Utahns will find out which bills are out and which hit homeruns.
Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2007, is the last day of Utah”s legislative session and lawmakers have their work cut out for them. The House and Senate will primarily be dealing with legislation that the other has already passed.
“The last three days will be very active and very intense,” said Rep. Wayne Harper (R-West Jordan).
Senate President John Valentine (R-Orem) said lawmakers set six legislative priorities at the beginning of the session. The priorities include issues in higher education, public education, ethics of state employees, tax reform, not incurring new debt and transportation.
Valentine said legislation that is involved with these priorities will hit the House and Senate floors in the last three days. He said Utahns can expect to see decisions made on these issues between now and Wednesday.
“Some of the most important bills are yet to come,” Valentine said. “We are currently working on the budgets and other important issues and will be doing so up until the last minute of the session.”
The main issue in higher education is that of UVSC gaining university status. Harper said he believes the bill that recommends the change will most likely pass without difficulty.
Public education is expected to receive a huge boost in funds as well. Chris Herrod (R-Provo) said he expected the proposed $458 million increase in education spending to be passed. He said the Educational Act would increase teacher”s base salary by $2,500 and give every teacher a one-time bonus of $1,000.
Harper said he expected the legislation suggesting $220 million in overall tax cuts would be approved. Harper also said he thinks there will be a reduction, and possibly elimination, of the state sales tax on food and reductions in income and small business taxes.
Harper expects public transportation will receive a $400 million boost, with some funds appropriated to the construction of new roads and some for alternate forms of transportation, like light rail.
Valentine said these major issues will be decided in the next few days. The Senator said he has been impressed with the unity and communication between the House and Senate this session. He said he believes it has been a monumental year on many big issues, but stressed the importance of the last inning.
