Saturday, February 18, 2012

2012 General Session First Two Weeks

[From Feb. 4, 2012]

I a writing to say thank you for those that have returned the surveys that were sent out and I also wish to say thank you for those that attended the Town Hall on January 28, 2012.

I have 4 more Town Hall meetings scheduled during the session.
If you have not already, please attend one of the remaining Town Hall Meetings at the Hunter Library, 4740 West 4100 South West Valley City, Utah 84120

Tuesday, February 7, 2012, 7:00pm to 8:30pm
Saturday, February 11, 2012, 12:30pm to 2:00pm
Wednesday, February 22, 2012, 7:00pm to 8:30pm
Thursday, February 23, 2012, 7:00pm to 8:30pm

Also, on Wednesday, February 8, 2012, 7:00pm to 8:00pm, West Side Matters, a local GOP Group meeting at the same location and may have several candidates and public officials attending. I plan on attending.

2012 General Session Update:
During the first two weeks, the legislature passed 33 bills. A list of those is at:

These include the 9 base budget bills, that include about the same amount of funding as last year, without one time funding. We will work hard the next few weeks to provide additional funding for several items such as growth in Public Education.
8 of the 9 base budget bills had no one of either house or party voting against them, while one base budget bill had only two members per house that voted against it.

The 9 base budget bills total approximately $12.3 Billion, or about 95% of the budget.
While there will be a lot of discussion and different opinions about the rest of the budget and some of the amounts will change, it would be wonderful if our US Congress could get nearly unanimous bi-partisan support for much of the nation's budget.

Also passed were 3 bills incorporating many minor county clerk requested changes to the redistricting maps. These included the State House, State Senate and State School Board districts. All 3 bills passed both houses with no one voting against them and were signed by the Governor. This allowed the County Clerks to complete their precinct maps. They will have been submitted to the Lt. Governor and should be available shortly. The new State House District 30 only changed in the grass park area between 4000 West and 4800 West along 4700 South, which doesn't change any population.

You can find out what district you live in at this website:

This session I am running 4 bills which can be tracked from here:

One bill has passed the House 72 votes for a 0 against, one bill is being worked on in committee, one bill is waiting for similar bills in a committee and one bill is currenly in house rules committee.

I am on the following committees this session:
Again, for 2013, a new House District 30 will represent much of this area, and during the 2012 Neighborhood Caucus Elections, Conventions, Primary and General Elections citizens residing here will determine who will represent this new District 30 beginning in 2013.

The Republican Neighborhood Caucus Elections will be at 7:00pm on March 15, 2012 and the Democrat Neighborhood Caucus Elections will be on March 13, 2012. I will post the locations on my website.

More information can be found at my blog or on several social media sites which can be reached from:
http://www.fredcox4utah.com/

The best website to track the session is at:

Official Government and Constituent Email:
fredcox@le.utah.gov
Campaign Related Email, including volunteering, signs, donations, etc:
fred@fredcox4utah.com

Fred C. Cox, Representing State House District 32 and running to represent the new District 30

PS,
I have already voted on the Daylight Savings bill. It failed to pass out of committee 5 to 7. Based on your survey returns of 50% wanting to no longer have daylight savings time in Utah (Like AZ), 44% wanting to keep it and 6% wanting to tell Congress to change the time changes back to where they were several years ago, I voted to move the bill out of committee favorably. I had hoped for additional discussion.

I have received a request for survey results to be posted on my website or blog. I should be able to post that information the next week or two as the results keep coming in.

I was asked last week about my stand on E-Verify. I voted last session for an E-Verify enforcement bill that was well vetted.

I believe any proposed E-Verify enforcement ordinances or laws should apply to at least 2 or more employees, as a self employed business with no employees could be considered a business with zero employees or one with the owner as the self employed employee. A business with no employees doesn't need an Employer Identification Number (EIN) is also known as a Federal Tax Identification Number, and therefore can not run E-Verify and would not be able to comply with the law or ordinance. Running Self Check is not allowed by the Federal Government as proof for compliance.

I found out yesterday that there is not a stand alone E-Verify enforcement bill being run. There is one bill, HB 300, which could change the immigration laws passed last year. Many are waiting to see what happens with the laws that were passed last year.

It includes links to an op-ed article I wrote for the Salt Lake Tribune, along with a video of my comments on the floor re: 2011 HB 116, the guest worker bill, not polished, late in the evening and unrehearsed.

3 video clips from last session:
http://www.youtube.com/user/fredcox4utah?feature=watch
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