If you’ve seen the video of Senate Majority Leader Scott Jenkins’ (R-Weber) rant on Wednesday concerning his opposition to SB0116, you’ll know that the ease with which he casually slams the service of Utah soldiers and denigrates their families’ sacrifices is jaw-dropping, especially considering that Jenkins’ district neighbors Hill Air Force Base and likely houses many of the families who desperately need the SB0116′s provided property tax relief (an average of $1,350).

But what might shock and amaze you more is the amount of extra revenue Jenkins is being asked to contribute, the amount that caused him to shout “ENOUGH!” on the Senate floor:

$1.03.

Yes, you read that right. $1.03. One dollar and three cents. A buck-o-three.

To put that into perspective, here is a list of 10 things that you can reasonably expect to buy, right now, with the $1.03 that Sen. Jenkins is willing to slam Utah’s military over:

1. A candy bar at the gas station.

2. 1 Hashbrown patty at McDonald’s.

3. Two hours parking at the Gateway Mall (four if you have one of those fancy movie theater validations!).

4. One bottle of off-brand hair conditioner at Family Dollar.

5. A matinée showing of Breaking Dawn at the dollar theater.

6. 2 games of skee-ball at an arcade.

7. Enough gas to get you from the University of Utah to the Energy Solutions Arena.

8. A senior fare 1-way ticket on Trax.

9.  2 cans of tuna fish at the grocery store and/or two Slim Jims.

10. Your contribution to the financial well-being of 1,600 Utah military families who have sacrificed so much for our freedoms.

Seems like a bargain to us.

UTAH REPUBLICANS RUN MESSAGE BILLS INSTEAD OF FUNDING EDUCATION, PUT AGENDA AHEAD OF UTAH KIDS
Salt Lake City – Utah Democrats were surprised to learn that the Republican solution to our education funding crisis is to pass yet more meaningless message bills. This “solution” would take 30 years to have any effect, and that’s only after a long and expensive legal fight that Utah will likely not win.

Utah State Democratic Chair Jim Dabakis said, “Legislative leaders need to get real with Utah’s problems and stop playing politics with our children’s future.  Eminent domain of federal lands is not a viable solution to anything other than padding Republican egos. These are meaningless message bills, and they make Utah state government look silly. This ‘message bill’ inhibits us from being taken seriously in our attempts at economic development.”

“If the Republicans were interested beginning to solve the problem of funding education,” he continued, “they’d use the $400 million budget surplus to do make a dent. Utah Democrats challenge the Republican-dominated legislature and Governor Herbert to get serious about this issue. Unconstitutional bills trying to ‘reclaim’ federal land will do absolutely nothing for our kids except kick them off the public land that their mothers and fathers once hiked, fished, and hunted on, before the Republicans in the state legislature auctioned it off to the highest bidder.”

Congressman Jim Matheson was ONLY member of Utah’s congressional delegation that voted against raising taxes on Utahns.  Senators Hatch and Lee and Representatives Bishop and Chaffetz could have cost Utahns upwards of $1,100 each through their partisan grandstanding and foolhardy brinksmanship on H.R. 3630.

“Every election, we hear these Utah Republican Washington regulars, screaming about cutting taxes and saving Utahns money,” Utah State Democratic Chair Jim Dabakis said.  “And the first chance they get, these Republicans vote to raise taxes!  The Republican members of our congressional delegation owe the hard working people of Utah a massive apology – and an explanation – for there vote to raise taxes.”

“I’m proud of Congressman Matheson,” Dabakis continued.  “Jim continues to be someone Utahns can depend on to really fight for them in Congress, and really make sure that Utahns are getting every tax cut and savings possible.  Congressman Matheson knows that times are hard right now, and he’s committed to making our lives better.  Jim Matheson’s Republican counterparts might want to take notes, because Utah’s patience is running out for turncoat Republicans who refuse to fight for tax cuts for Utah families.”

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February 15, 2012

“I don’t have any questions, but I rise in opposition to this bill.  You know, we, uh, we honor our guardsmen, our, uh, our special forces that are in the guard, these people who serve us as and uh, fight for our freedoms. Uh, we give them all kinds of breaks, we pay for their clothing, we allow them to shop at the PX.  And now, Senator Robles, you want me to pay for their taxes on their primary residence?  And I’m just saying “Enough!” Uh, we’re loading our tax base on a regular basis here, and now you go ahead and you want me to  – and this is volunteer.  These people, uh, that are in the services right now, they go in on a volunteer basis.  They’re not forced in there.  There’s no draft going right now.  Uh, and when you talk about them going back a fifth and sixth time, I’m not sure that’s, uh, the case. I know of several that have been there a second and a third time.  We give them a retirement at the end of twenty years when they get out of it.  Uh, they’re paid while they’re there.  Now, there’s no question there’s a hardship. And I’m admitting that.  But they understand what that hardship is when they enlist.  I served for seven years in the National Guard. And I agree, it’s a little different now then it was back then.  But I knew full well, uh, my responsibility when I went in.  And when I went in, I didn’t get a tuition enhancement, and they get that now.  They get their tuition paid for by the state.  I’m telling you, guardsmens get lots, and lots, and lots of advantages.  And uh, I’m just saying this is too much.  This is too much to go one more time.  And now you’re forcing me, your bleeding heart, is saying “OK, Senator Jenkins, we want you now, to pay for their taxes.”  Well, I’m saying “enough!”  I don’t want to pay for my own taxes, let alone theirs!”

Utah State Party Chair Jim Dabakis said Thursday, “These bills are a clear and present danger to the Utahns.  Studies have shown that living in Northern Utah, in this bad air along the Wasatch Front or in Cache Valley, targets our most vulnerable: children and our senior citizens. Among the many damaging effects, recent studies show sky-high instances of asthma in Davis County children who live in the haze. This deteriorating air quality can take up to two years off the lives of Utah residents.  Senator Dayton’s response to this air quality crisis and its very real consequences? To gut the independent boards designed to keep Utahns safe, and our air and water clean.”

The Colorado College recently released a survey demonstrating that 76% of Utahns believe that we can protect our land and water and have a strong economy.  It also showed that the vast majority of Utahns – at a two-to-one ratio – have serious concerns about our air and water quality, and believe additional protections are needed.

“Who is Senator Dayton really advocating for?” Dabakis asked, “The people of Utah, or the serial corporate polluters?  Some big ticket donors are upset that they have to meet certain standards and get citizen approval in order to build some of their projects.  They say it’s inconvenient.  Utah Democrats think Utahns find it pretty inconvenient to have the worst air quality in America, on a regular basis. It’s inconvenient that Utah children who live near freeways may never fully develop their lungs.  It’s inconvenient that we could have two years lopped off our lives because Senator Dayton and Governor Herbert can’t say ‘no’ to their industry friends.  It’s inconvenient that our young people and our elderly have to pay the price for legislative cronyism.”

“It’s time to get serious about improving our air quality.” He continued, “Utahns are hurting. Utahns are dying. And the response should not be to weaken public input, but to strengthen it.  The Legislature and the Governor’s Office are badly out of touch on this issue, and voters should remember who stood up for clean air and water in November – and who bowed to special interests.”

Why does Rep. Keith Grover (R-Provo) want to punish our teachers, firefighters and police by taking away their chance to talk to their bosses about their own safety on the job or how they can do a better job for Utahns? HB106 prohibits state and local government entities from talking with groups of employees about policies on subjects other than wages and health benefits. Utahns will pay the price for Grover’s arrogant, grandstanding legislation.  Jim Dabakis, Chair of the Utah State Democratic Party issued the following statement:

“We want our elected officials looking out for Utahns and Utah families, not taking away their constitutional rights to free association and petitioning for redress of grievances!” declared Utah State Democratic Party Chair Jim Dabakis.  “You’d think that’d be required reading for a member of the Patrick Henry Caucus, but apparently Representative Grover skipped that part of the Constitution.”

“As an educational administrator himself, we understand that Representative Grover might have personal reasons for avoiding actually discussing things with his employees – we’ve all had bosses like that.  But to codify Grover’s personal management style into law is a serious mistake.  Utah companies and state agencies should be allowed to discuss with their employees issues that are important in their workplaces – whether it’s how to be safe when busting up meth houses, serving arrest warrants to drug dealers, or time for teachers to plan how best to educate our kids”

Dabakis continued, “Employees should be encouraged to work together with their administrators to address their workplace issues.  Taking away that right is governmental nannying at the highest level. Democrats stand with teachers, fire fighters, police officers, and all public employees against this assault on their abilities to speak with their supervisors about workplace issues. Working conditions are a matter best left between an employer and their employees, and Keith Grover should leave big government out of the conversation entirely, not hand down dictates from the legislative chamber.”

Well, after some high profile double-takes, Rep. Powell admitted that HB 226 was a “joke,” intended as a stunt to draw attention to his opposition to his own party’s reluctance at holding open caucus meetings.

While we here at the party do appreciate Rep. Powell’s decision to go against his own party on this important issue (at least, we think that’s what he’s decided, you’ll forgive us for being a little uncertain), the fact remains that there are better uses of the short time the Utah Legislature has to pass laws that can help Utahns and their families than processing prank bills.

If Rep. Powell really wanted to make an satirical statement on HB 89 and buck his own party, he could have filed a resolution, made a statement on the floor, or even given a press conference at the Capitol (what an original idea!). The Utah Democrats would even be glad to donate their official podium for just such a purpose if he thought it could get the GOP’s attention. But filing a phoney bill is simply not appropriate.

Rep. Powell should leave the jokes to professionals like Stephen Colbert, and the GOP party in Utah at large should embrace transparency, and stop wasting everyone’s time.  Oh, and can we have the documents we’ve requested and paid for yet?  Or is everyone too busy drafting fake legislation to make copies?

-Chairman Jim Dabakis

County Council member Chris Robinson, candidate for HD 54

Summit County – County Council member and candidate for Utah State House District 54 spoke out on the radio show “Impact” Thursday about the issues facing the new House District 54. Click the link below to listen!

You can also find more about Chris on his website: www.electchrisrobinson.com

Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney is extremely popular with most Utahns and some people say if Romney is at the top of the ticket this fall Democrats might as well not even field any candidates.

State Democratic Party Chairman Jim Dabakis says that is simply not true, Utahns through the years have shown they have a fiercely independent streak and besides, he says, Democrats have a great candidate for governor.

“He’s a two star general, he’s LDS, he’s got a great family, tremendous successful business guy, he’s a Democrat and he’s going to be taking Governor Gary Herbert on for the mess this state is in.”

Read the rest of the story HERE