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Show INTERIM COMMITTEES--KEEPING UP TO SPEED As we labor and lobby during the 45 days of the general legislative session each winter, we remember once again that legislative action begins many months earlier when the legislators meet the third Wednesday of every month in Interim Committees. There priorities are set, legislation is drafted and discussed. Public input at this crucial point has the most impact. That's why it is so important that League members are willing to observe interim committee meetings, make short written reports, and keep us up-to-date. This year key committees are being covered by these League observers: Business & Labor and State & Local Affairs. Di Allison (Weber County) usually covers Business and Labor, but lately she is spending more time with the State and Local Affairs Committee. She is observing and testifying for the League in support of a bipartisan commission and one-man-onevote standards for the redistricting of legislative and Congressional districts following the 1990 census. LWV members Nelda Bishop and Betsy Wolf on behalf of Common Cause and Cathy Crawford (YWCA) are working for these goals as well. Economic Development. Nancy Cooper (Davis County) attends the Economic Development Interim Committee. Recently, she has shared with local Leagues committee material on the 1998 Olympics proposal and "Blueprint for the Future," a state economic development plan that local League presidents will read and comment on. Energy, Natural Resources and Agriculture. Lillian Hayes (Utah County) reports on the Energy, Natural Resources, and Agricultural Committee, which this year seems to be mostly a water committee. She has a special interest in Central Utah Project, Quail Creek and other state dam construction and safety matters currently before the committee, as well as groundwater quality and wastewater facility needs. She could use some help in the area of water pollution control. Health. The Health Committee deals not only with health care delivery issues (rural hospitals, medically needy), but with environmental health. Issues especially important to the League this year--solid and hazardous waste and air quality--are being well monitored by June Wickham (Salt Lake} and Nancy Rushforth (Utah County). If you are interested in these issues, join in. Judiciary. Colleen Carnahan (Salt Lake} has observed this committee, which in September discussed child support guidelines and juvenile court community placements. Changes in judge retention elections procedures have been debated, reflecting a concern that voters are not well enough informed about judicial performance to vote responsibly. Special Districts Review Committee. The efficiency and accountability of special taxing districts (e.g. mosquito abatement, sewer districts, etc.) has been of special interest to LWV-Salt Lake. Peggy Eble, a long-time expert on local government, has been reading minutes of this review committee and would welcome some help observing. Revenue and Taxation. Charlotte Newman (Salt Lake) follows tax change and tax rebate discussions. In August, she demonstrated that legislative action can be part of interim Wednesdays, too. She distributed to every legislator a letter from the League that supported funding pressing needs in education, textbooks and Medicaid before consideration of tax rebates. Taxes are always a fascinating, divisive issue--one you might like to learn more about. Social Services. Ilona Schrader {Weber} recently reported on commitment of minors to psychiatric facilities. Upcoming issues in this committee include recodification of the Adoption Act and homeless issues. Ilona has pointed out that interim meetings would be more accessible to public observers if microphones and sufficient handouts for observers were made available. Education. Public and higher education are dealt with by several subcommittees, dealing with everything from textbook supply availability, to foreign language curriculum, to career ladder awards for teacher team excellence. Gigi Brandt (Salt Lake} is a tireless observer, and Georgia Thompson in Cedar City was kind enough to fill in one month this summer when the committee met there. (cont'd. next page} |
