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Show BEATRICE ALVERETA PETERSON MARCHANT Elected 1969 to 1973 Beatrice Marchant is from the same Eliza R. fabric as the Snow, Susa Young Gates, ·and Emmeline she lived through the era that made the right for B. to Utah pioneer suffragettes Wells. vote an As a young - woman, accomplished fact women. She has been a crusader' for Utah's ratification of' the Equal Rights Amendment wide for her support of the ERA. She views its passage as a necessary step not only in the ad vancement of' women, but for In an active and the protection of the family unit in a democratic society. and he is known nation way, she has supported women as they struggle to be self sustaining, respectable and to bring up their children in a tradition which balances spiritual and economic values. As a wor king mother, she experienced first hand the problems and inequities wor king women face and remained in the fight for the rights of women until age and poor health prevented her active participation. courageous During the '60's, she was troubled with the increasing influence of the John Birch Society in the political process. She viewed this right wing influence a significant threat to democracy and representative government. Her state representative was a member of the John Birch society and, in her opinion, could not represent her views. So, In 1968 she challenged him and won. as Beatrice served for two terms, 1969-70 and 1971-72. While in the House,she supported ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. As a member of the Taxation Committee she campaigned against the "Liberty Amendment" which would have repealed the income tax. She supported broad based progressive taxation and opposed regressive taxation. She supported and won repeal of the She introduced legislation in both sessions of the Utah House margarine tax. to exempt homes from property taxes. Property tax exemption for the elderly resulted from her efforts. She sponsored consolidation of the three Summit County School Districts. The legislation narrowly passed the House but was defeated in the Senate. She supported legislation which brought schools under the umbrella of the State Fire Marshal and supported House Bill 105 which created Special Education. She was recognized for her leadership in bringing about the consolidation the Salt Lake City and County Health Departments. Beatrice Chaired the Consumer Affairs Committee during her second term and served on the State and Federal Affairs and Social Services Committees. Under her leadership a number of consumer protection laws were enacted. She participated in the revision of Minimum Standards of Care for the She successfully sponsored the Carriage House Bill Detention of Children. permitting construction of Car r-iag'e House by the Daughters of the Utah She did not run for a third term. Pioneers at their museum. {Order of Women Legislators and has served She has served in the Women's Legislative Salt Lake Council of Women, Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, Beatrice is two terms Council, 152 a as member of the OWLS its vice president. |
