Opinion: What's next for the Utah Legislature?
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), created by President Donald Trump, has sparked both controversy and admiration for its efforts to streamline federal operations. Does Utah need its own version of DOGE?
COWLEY: In stark contrast to the federal government, the Utah Legislature is constitutionally mandated to balance the budget. Competition between funding requests over a finite amount of money forces the Legislature to make tough decisions. The mere vetting process to allocate these precious dollars helps curtail wasteful spending.
The Legislature is occasionally forced to cut costs in lean budget years. They also regularly look for ways to increase efficiencies in current allocations. For various reasons, the Legislature is directing higher ed to reallocate 10% of their budgets, cutting waste and improving outcomes.
Not only do Utah leaders run the most efficiently managed state in the nation, but they have also wisely socked money away in a rainy day fund. Responsible spending and judicious saving is a novel concept in government, but a necessity for families and businesses.
California or Chicago could probably use a DOGE. Better yet, they should just adopt the 'Utah way' of responsibly managing taxpayers' money.
PIGNANELLI: 'It's not the most powerful animal that survives. It's the most efficient.' — Georges St-Pierre
Utah has a very active version of the DOGE. It comprises 104 members from both parties, who have analyzed state government operations and finances for many decades. I was proud to serve on this entity.
I am, of course, referring to the Utah Legislature.
As a former lawmaker and a lobbyist, I can unequivocally state that this entity has aggressively scrutinized the functions of state government and its various affiliated agencies. No corner of operations was ignored. The most recent focus of legislators is, of course, higher education. Furthermore, these officials ensured that the budget was balanced, reserves were robust, and the bond rating was strong.
The federal government and the new administration could learn much about how Utah conducts these critical activities. Consistent review, and just not automatic funding, is the hallmark of what is done at the State Capitol. The big difference between the Legislature and the DOGE is the approach. Utah officials are much nicer when applying the cuts.
The security of elections remains an issue. Should Utah abandon or reform the current mail-in ballot process?
COWLEY: The postal faux pas in the CD4 race was unacceptable and reason enough to make adjustments to Utah's election laws. Over a thousand otherwise legal ballots were not counted because they were routed through Las Vegas, missing the Election Day deadline. It's not shocking that it was a branch of the federal government that committed this egregious error. Maybe while the Legislature is looking to take over management of our federally controlled lands, they should also explore a takeover as more efficient letter carriers.
One reform that wouldn't cost a dime while weeding out fraudulent ballots is producing complete voter rolls and eliminating protected voter designations.
Audits show there are areas for improvement, but I'm not sure it warrants wholesale changes to the current process. Requiring voters to show identification when they drop off ballots would inarguably increase election security, but it would also increase wait times and personnel costs while decreasing dropbox locations.
I am a big proponent of vote by mail. It has a tremendous impact on increasing voter turnout in municipal elections. In some areas, it DOUBLES turnout.
We live in an on-demand world motivated by convenience. Voters enjoy having weeks to research candidates and ballot measures from the comfort of their kitchen tables while donning bathrobes. Give me fuzzy slipper voting or give me death!
PIGNANELLI: Critics of voting by mail are loud. However, polls consistently indicate that most Utahns enjoy the benefits of mail-in balloting. Furthermore, while there may be some security breaches, these also occurred when the traditional Election Day process was in place.
But some reforms are needed. Annoying procrastinators like me should have a deadline of several days before Election Day to get the ballot in, which would make it easier for clerks to collect. The mail-in balloting has increased voter participation and encouraged deliberation before casting ballots. These are substantial advantages that should not be just easily dismissed.
The Utah Legislature hit the midway mark last week. Revised revenue projections will be released this week. Thus, what items will likely dominate discussions among lawmakers?
COWLEY: Governor Cox officially signed the collective bargaining bill, putting an end to the most divisive debate yet this session. Up next in the hot seat will be changes to the 'Utah Fits All Scholarship' and what I will be watching most closely: several bills that significantly pare back Utah's open government laws.
PIGNANELLI: The revenue projections will set the tone for the remaining weeks of the session. If there are additional pennies, many groups will fight to collect them. But observers of the process should understand that this is normal and that the prior surpluses were extraordinary.
Legislative plans will be finalized, especially regarding tax cuts, energy promotion and higher education.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNN
7 minutes ago
- CNN
Analysis: Trump's government cuts and the catastrophe in Texas
President Donald Trump's approach to the federal government has been to cut, cut, cut, which means when there is a disaster in which the government plays a role, he will have to expect questions about those cuts. When there's a plane crash, as there was days into his second term, the shortage of air traffic controllers will be scrutinized. When the administration quietly backtracks on some layoffs and struggles to re-fill key positions, it will lead to concerns that cuts went too far. When there's a tragic flood that catches an area off-guard, the effect of his cuts on the National Weather Service and FEMA will become a line of inquiry. Flash floods killed at least 95 people over the July Fourth holiday, and many others are still missing. Rescue and recovery are still ongoing, so no one can say for sure that personnel cuts at the National Weather Service or open positions at forecasting offices in Texas amplified or even affected the flood's tragic outcome. There are many facts yet to be discovered, and a full investigation will certainly be conducted. Prev Next Recent reports about how staffing and budget cuts are affecting forecasting at the agency may ultimately be seen as an early warning. 'The National Weather Service is in worse shape than previously known, according to interviews with current and former meteorologists, due to a combination of layoffs, early retirements and preexisting vacancies,' CNN's Andrew Freedman wrote back in May. The report also noted that a third of National Weather Service forecasting stations lacked a top meteorologist in charge. CNN reported in April the Trump's administration plans to close weather research laboratories and climate research programs meant to improve weather detection as the climate warms. That budget proposal was more recently submitted to Congress. Project 2025, the conservative government blueprint that presaged many of the Trump administration's decisions, called for much less federal spending on weather forecasting and more reliance on private companies. We also can't say for sure that Trump's hands-off approach to emergency management will affect recovery in Texas. In fact, Trump quickly declared the flood zone to be a major disaster area. But he has also said he wants to shutter the Federal Emergency Management Agency and for the federal government to play a much smaller role. 'We want to wean off of FEMA, and we want to bring it back to the state level,' he said at the White House in June. Asked if Trump is reconsidering that position in light of the horrible Texas floods, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said this: 'The president wants to ensure American citizens always have what they need during times of need. Whether that assistance comes from states or the federal government, that's a policy discussion that will continue. And the president has always said he wants states to do as much as they can, if not more.' CNN's Gabe Cohen recently reported that disaster decisions were being made directly at the White House, bypassing FEMA and the well-trod process by which states seek help. It also raises concerns that White House political allies could get more attention than political enemies, although a Department of Homeland Security spokesman denied that idea to Cohen. Wanting the federal government to do less has been a theme of the Trump administration so far. States will either have to pony up more of their own money for Medicaid and food aid or watch citizens fall off assistance as a result of the sweeping new policy bill he signed Friday. We also can't directly blame this or any one storm on climate change. But Republicans are currently bragging about killing the previous administration's climate agenda, which Trump and his allies call the 'Green New Scam.' In terms of specifics about the Texas floods, local residents and officials, still in shock during TV interviews, said they were caught off-guard by the floods. That may not ultimately be a forecasting issue. 'The weather service did their job,' Rick Spinrad, who was National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration administrator during the Biden administration, told CNN's Boris Sanchez on Monday, referring to the issuance of watches, warnings and 'WEAs,' the Wireless Emergency Alert system. But Spinrad admitted there could have been a breakdown in connectivity between the forecasters and emergency services in the morning. 'On first blush, the communications breakdown happened at that last mile,' he said. The San Antonio National Weather Service office was missing a key coordinator who Spinrad said 'is critical in that last mile of communications.' That position has been vacant since April, when a longtime employee took the Trump administration's buyout offer. Asked about that unfilled position, Leavitt said, 'The offices were fully staffed with forecasters.' Kerrville, Texas, Mayor Joe Herring Jr., told CNN's Pamela Brown on Monday that he lost friends in the floods and that local officials had not gotten word about the severity of the forecast. 'We didn't even have a warning. We did not know,' he said, fighting back tears. CNN's Brown, who reported from Texas, has a personal connection to the story: As a child, she attended Camp Mystic, the girls' camp where the flood claimed the lives of 27, including campers and staffers. 'I do think it's important to have patience and humility that those (answers on what happened) may not come as quickly as perhaps we want,' she said. 'It was a once-in-a-lifetime flood,' she added. Residents knew the river could flood, but people she spoke to are referring to this as 'an act of God.'
Yahoo
11 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Trump punted on his deadline but is sending out a flurry of tariff letters. Here's where trade talks stand.
The White House is delaying tariffs ahead of the end of the 90-day pause deadline. President Donald Trump is also notifying countries of new tariff rates in the absence of a deal. The April tariff levels were scheduled to kick back in on August 9. President Donald Trump was nowhere near the pace of 90 deals in 90 days that his top trade advisor set as a goal, so he added more time to the clock. He also sent out a series of letters notifying the leaders of countries ranging from Japan to Kazakhstan of their new tariff rates. Trump's notices come as the White House confirmed that the July 9 deadline for the 90-day pause will be extended to August 1. As of Monday afternoon, Trump has published on Truth Social the tariff rates for seven countries. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that roughly 12 would be published on Monday. Stocks on Wall Street dropped in response. The Dow Jones Industrial Average hit a session low of over 630 points. The White House was once optimistic about talks when the 90-day pause was announced in April. So far, Trump has only reached frameworks with the United Kingdom and Vietnam. There is also a separate deal with China. Here's where things stand with major US partners Japan: 25% tariff Trump recently said that Japan was too used to being "spoiled" to reach a deal. On July 7, he signaled he was ready to move on. The president published a letter to Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba stating the US would impose a 25% tariff on Japanese goods starting August 1. "We've had years to discuss our trading relationship with Japan," Trump wrote in the July 7 letter." According to the Japanese government, talks were ongoing as recently as Saturday before Trump made his announcement. In April, the White House proposed a 24% tariff on Japanese goods. It's not clear why Trump went higher with Monday's announcement, but he had recently threatened a 30 or 35% tariff when he called the US ally "spoiled." Ishiba previously said he wanted Trump to nix a 25% tariff on Japanese cars. "Automobiles are a major national interest," Ishiba told reporters in June, on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada. "We will continue to do everything we can to protect such interests." South Korea: 25% tariff South Korea had been hoping for an extension before the August 1 news. On Monday, Trump posted a letter saying South Korean goods would be subject to a 25% tariff starting on August 1. The announcement matches the level Trump announced on April 1. Before Trump posted the letter, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said talks have been "very difficult." "The two sides are not really clear on what they want," Lee told reporters on July 3, per the Financial Times. Malaysia: 24% tariff This rate matches the one Trump proposed in April. In 2024, the US did $80.2 billion in total goods trade with Malaysia, per the USTR office. South Africa: 30% tariff The 30 % rate is the same as the one Trump proposed for South Africa in April. According to the Office of the US Trade Representative, in 2024, the US traded $20.4 billion worth of goods with South Africa. Kazakhstan: 25% tariff This rate is lower than the 27% tariff Trump proposed in April. In 2024, the US did $3.4 billion in total goods trade with Kazakhstan, per the USTR office. Laos: 40% tariff This rate is decreased from the 48% tariff Trump proposed in April. In 2024, the US did $844 million in total goods trade with Laos, per the USTR office. Myanmar: 40% tariff This rate is a slight decrease from the 44% tariff Trump proposed in April. In 2024, the US did $734 million in total goods trade with Myanmar, per the USTR office. The White House said it has resumed talks with Ottawa after a disagreement over Canada's digital services tax. Trump blew up talks with the US's neighbor and second-largest trading partner days before a tax on US tech companies was set to go into effect. Due to the tax's retroactive application, companies would have needed to pay Canada roughly $3 billion upfront. The Canadian government later announced it had scrapped the tax. White House economic advisor Kevin Hassett told Fox News on June 30 that discussions were back on. Kirsten Hillman, Canada's chief negotiator in the talks, said it was still their goal to get Trump to lift all tariffs on Canadian goods. "That's our goal, that's what we're fighting for," she told The Globe and Mail on July 1. The European Union was pushing hard for a deal before the White House announced the August 1 "boomerang," as Bessent called it. EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič traveled to Washington on July 3rd for talks with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told reporters on June 26th that it was better for the bloc "to act quickly and simply than slowly and in a highly complicated way." He said that leaders were in agreement. In contrast, Politico reported that Paris and Madrid don't want to see the EU rushing to accept a deal. Publicly, French President Emmanuel Macron said he could accept a 10% tariff. The White House's initial April announcement called for a 20% tariff on EU goods. In May, Trump threatened a 50% tariff due to his frustration with the pace of negotiations. (He later delayed the much higher tariff until July 9 as well.) According to USTR, the US imported $605.8 billion worth of EU goods last year. The US trade deficit with the EU rose 12.9% compared to 2023. The world's two largest economies are on a different timetable. In May, the US and China reached an interim deal that called for a separate 90-day pause that lasts until August. As part of the deal, the US lowered its tariffs on Chinese goods from 45% to 30%, and China agreed to lower its tariffs on US imports from 125% to 10%. There have been some bumps since then, but after high-level talks in London in June, China confirmed the outlines of a deal that would allow for more rare earth exports. In return, the US would lift some of its own restrictions. Many details still remain to be worked out. In May, the UK became the first country to broker a trade deal with Trump after his "Liberation Day" announcement — even though the longtime US ally was never subject to the president's sweeping tariffs. The US-UK deal went into effect on June 30, which applies a 10% tariff on British goods. London isn't done. The deal does not apply to steel tariffs, which could rise to 50% due to a separate, July 9th deadline — potentially, double the current rate. India once looked poised to sign one of the first trade deals, but such a deal has proved elusive thus far. An Indian delegation remained in Washington for extended talks, Reuters reported on July 2nd. While criticizing Japan, Trump told reporters that he thought a deal was close with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Reuters reported that disagreements over US agriculture have held up a final deal. Trump announced a deal with Vietnam on July 2. He said that the US will impose a 20% tariff on all Vietnamese goods and a 40% tariff "on any Transshipping." Trump's "Liberation Day" announcement called for a 46% tariff. Analysts, Business Insider previously reported, Read the original article on Business Insider
Yahoo
11 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Planned Parenthood sues the Trump administration over funding ban
Planned Parenthood is suing the Trump administration over the 'big, beautiful bill' defunding its health care services, arguing the provision will have devastating consequences across the country. The bill, passed late last week and signed into law by President Donald Trump on July 4, will bar Medicaid users from coverage with a health care provider that also provides abortion services. While the law does not explicitly mention Planned Parenthood, the nationwide family planning and health care provider is in its crosshairs. The law prohibits federal funding for providers 'primarily engaged in family planning services, reproductive health, and related medical care' that also provide abortion. Planned Parenthood has warned that nearly 200 clinics nationwide – which also provide birth control, STI testing and treatment, and cancer screening – could close as a result of the bill's one-year ban on funds. Ninety percent of those clinics, Planned Parenthood says, are in states where abortion is legal. 'This case is about making sure that patients who use Medicaid as their insurance to get birth control, cancer screenings, and STI testing and treatment can continue to do so at their local Planned Parenthood health center, and we will make that clear in court,' Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said in a statement. The bill originally barred funds for ten years, before the Senate Parliamentarian, Elizabeth MacDonough, reduced the measure to one year. The lawsuit was filed by the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts and Planned Parenthood Association of Utah, in the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts. It has been assigned to Judge Indira Talwani, an appointee of former President Barack Obama. Anti-abortion advocates quickly railed against Planned Parenthood's suit. 'Planned Parenthood's desperation is showing as they run to the courts again to fix a crisis of their own making,' said Susan B. Anthony's Pro-Life America director of legal affairs and policy counsel Katie Daniel. The suit lands as Planned Parenthood also battles the Trump administration in court over cuts to a federal teen pregnancy prevention program. Lawyers for five Planned Parenthood networks argued in a federal District of Columbia court this June that administration's changes to the program, including limits on language around diversity and equity, were vague and could bar Planned Parenthood from providing longtime services.
