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Wednesday, February 17, 2010
WHAT’S HAPPENING TODAY
Standing committees are meeting this morning between 8 and 10. Floor debate will be from 10 to noon and again from 2 to 5 this afternoon. Executive Appropriations will meet from 5 to 7 p.m.
The House has a time certain at 10:30 to discuss HJR5, Joint Resolution on Clean Air . It aims to reduce air pollution and conserve fuel by discouraging unnecessary idling of motor vehicles.
IN MORNING COMMITTEES
HOUSE NATURAL RESOURCES/AGRICULTURE/ENVIRONMENT will consider SB 104 which proposes a new kind of renewable energy, compressed air. The air compressed by wind energy, for example, can be stored then released to run a turbine producing electricity.
Also in committee is Substitute HB 102, which would put agricultural rollback tax money into county funds for agricultural conservation. HB 102 is supported by the Department of Agriculture and the Farm Bureau.
HB 230 spells out the priority of water rights and compensation to be paid during a temporary water shortage emergency.
SENATE WORKFORCE SERVICES AND COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT is looking at SB 242. It would extend tax credit incentives for renewable energy development to alternative energy development as well.
Renewable energy includes solar, wind, geothermal, biomass and hydroelectric.
Alternative energy would add petroleum coke, shale oil, uranium tar sands and oil-impregnated diatomaceous earth. The credit would not apply to petroleum or natural gas.
The bill also renames the Renewable Energy Development Act to the Alternative Development Act and has no fiscal note as yet.
EXECUTIVE APPROPRIATIONS MEETS FROM 5 TO 7 PM
They’ll hear Appropriations Subcommittee reports from: Executive Offices and Criminal Justice; Transportation, Environmental Quality, National Guard and Veterans’ Affairs; Natural Resources; Public Education; and Health and Human Services.
New revenue projections now predict $50 million more than Subcommittees have been expecting for FY 2011, but less than was planned for last fall. Executive Appropriations co-chair Lyle Hillyard says that probably means less money for public and higher education.
WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY
Kathy Van Dame Reporting
Rep. Mark A. Wheatley (D-Murray) presented HJR 20, Green Schools Resolution , to the Government Operations Committee on Tuesday, and it was voted out favorably after an amendment introduced by Rep John Mathis (R-Vernal) to remove a clause with the word climate in it. This bill encourages Utah schools to consider green building techniques associated with reduced asthma and 30-50% lower energy usage, for new and retrofit schools.
Although construction costs are as much as 3% higher, these costs are recovered by savings in energy and water bills.
Yeas - 5
Ron Bigelow (R-WVC)
Neil Hansen (D-Ogden).
Neal Hendrickson (D-WVC)
John Mathis (R-Vernal)
Larry Wiley (D-WVC)
Nays - 3
Douglas Aagard (R- Kaysville).
Craig Frank (R-Pleasant Grove)
Keith Grover (R-Provo)
Absent - 2
Jim Bird (R-WJ)
Ben Ferry (R-Corrinne)
http://www.le.state.ut.us/~2010/htmdoc/hbillhtm/HJR020.htm
HJR 20 Green Schools Joint Resolution -- Wheatley, M.
Jenn Gonnelly Reporting
Senate Health & Human Services Committee
HB 67S01 - Health System Amendments (Carl. Wimmer) which has already passed the House, passed Senate committee with four yeas (Adams, J. S., Buttars, D. C., Christensen, A., Hinkins, D.) and one no vote from Sen Pat Jones. Sen Luz Robles was absent. Notable comments from the committee meeting:
- Representative Wimmer said he was elected by "people who delegate their rights to us."
- Sen, Christensen asked about "the lengthy legislative note." Sen. Jones said that lawyers she consulted said that if the law is challenged it is highly likely to be overturned as unconstitutional and asked, "Is this bill worth the cost to make a statement?"
- Wimmer said it would cost between 1 and 3 million dollars to defend and that the state would defend it all the way to the Supreme Court: "What is the cost of liberty of our citizens and the sovereignty of our state?"
- He suggested that the "emerging consensus" of the whole U.S. would be weighed heavily and that the "emerging consensus" is towards state sovereignty.
- He claims that this bill keeps Medicaid at its current level and that if Medicaid is harmed it will be the fault of the federal government being "petty." Sen. Adams spoke in favor of the bill, calling up the 10th amendment of the U.S. Constitiution.
- Gayle Ruzicka of the Eagle Forum spoke in favor. She suggested that the reason insurance is as expensive as it is now is current mandates on insurance companies.
- Peter Cannon of Davis County 9/12 Project spoke in favor of the bill. Sen. Jones told him that Medicare is socialized medicine but that she was sure that he would not turn it down. Wimmer suggested that Jones was badgering his witness and that by point of order she should be stopped. Buttars disagreed and allowed it.
HB0071S03 - Nicotine Product Restrictions (P. Ray) was approved by the committee unanimously by those present (Adams, J. S., Buttars, D. C., Christensen, A., Hinkins, D., Jones, P.) Sen Luz Robles was absent.
HB 232 - Medical Language Interpreter Amendments (R. Chavez-Houck) also was approved by the committee unanimously by those present and will be placed on the consent calendar.
HOUSE FLOOR DEBATE
HJR 24 - Joint Resolution on Equal Treatment by Government (Oda, C.) was circled by the sponsor with the explanation that he needed more time to work out the details. There was a suggestion that constituents had urged caution.
HB 294 - Health System Reform Amendments (Clark, D.) In the discussion of this major health reform bill, Speaker Clark said the beauty of this legislation is that it moves ownership of health insurance from the employer to the individual through an insurance exchange. The exchange is not currently open to individuals and HB 294 serves to open it to large employers for the first time. Currently there are only 13 participating small businesses. Four large companies will start with passage of the bill.
- Amendment 2 allows the insurer to change prescription drug coverage and notify by either mail or website at least 30 days in advance or add the cause "as soon as reasonably possible."
- Amendment 5 changes the slope ratio between older and younger subscribers from 4:1 to 5:1 in order to attract what Rep Dunnigan called “young immortals.” It also adds gender as an allowed risk assessment characteristic.
- Amendment 6 requires health care providers to post prices for patients; and changes the high deductible plan individual deduction from $5000 to $2500
HB 294 bill passed with 62 yeas, 13 nays, and 0 absent
The 13 NAYS were:
Bird Herrod Sandstrom Wright
Dougall Kiser Sumsion
Frank Morley Wilcox
Hansen Oda Wimmer
In House Business & Labor
HB 66 Prosthetic Limb Health Insurance Parity (Litvak, D.) passed after a spirited debate as to whether or not this was a mandate. Rep Jim Dunnigan was quite adamant that this bill is tied to the rate of compensation laid out in Medicare standards, and he does not want the state tied to federal Medicare standards. Rep.Gibson said several times that all health care fees and prices are set around federal Medicare cost charts. The vote was nine yeas ( Biskupski, J., Clark, S., Duckworth, S., Froerer, G., Gibson, F., Hansen, N., King, B., Wallis, C. B., Webb, R. C.) and three nays (Dunnigan, J., Kiser, T., Painter, P) and two absent (Garn, K., Morley, M.) It is worth noting that Rep.Morley had been present during the debate but left as the vote was called.
Sandy Peck
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