Economy, Fiscal Responsibility, Energy Independence, Education Excellence

Economy, Fiscal Responsibility, Energy Independence, Education Excellence

Conservative Republican, Utah Architect.

Utah is the Best fiscally managed State. We need to continue to improve. The Economy will grow when Government will allow it. In many cases Government is holding business growth back. Education can, will and must improve, but sending more money isn't always the answer.

As a taxpayer, I see the money spent on Buildings and will continue to advocate an improved balance between cost savings and quality to the process. I would hope we can reduce costs while still maintaining the quality and also increase the value and number or size of projects.

We need more consensus building and less compromise. If we focus on what we agree on, we can accomplish the most good. We may not agree with each other on all issues.

By being active in politics, we can influence what happens around us. One of the areas I have been active in is media, including Social Media. In politics, I have been an online media rapid response moderator and/or responder, along with managing several Facebook groups and pages, and using Twitter to promote news to a wider audience, or reducing their impact.

Be involved. Be a voter. Public Officials can't know what you are thinking if you don't tell them.

The best way to contact me is to write via email.

Official Government and Constituent Email:
fredcox@utah.gov

Campaign Related Email:
fred@fredcox4utah.com

Why do people in Utah still buy and use the illegal fireworks?

The Utah Legislature voted for the new "cake" fireworks because they go up hot but come down cool.

They have a stable base so they don't fall over. They were backed by several fire marshals.

We now have at least two fires started by illegal fireworks. One in Ogden started a bush fire and one in South Jordan took out a garage and burned two people. The fire for Red Butte canyon was caused by a campfire.

So the question: Why do people in Utah still buy and use the illegal fireworks?

Part of an email I am getting re: Caylee's Law

This is part of an email I am getting re: Caylee's Law

"On July 5, 2011, at 1:15 pm CST, Casey Anthony was found not guilty of first degree murder in the death of her daughter Caylee Anthony. The only charges she now faces are four counts of falsifying police reports, each of which only carries a 1 year prison term. Since she has been in jail since August 2008, she will be out of jail ENTIRELY too soon.

"I'm writing to propose that a new law be put into effect making it a felony for a parent, legal guardian, or caretaker to not notify law enforcement of the death of their child, accidental or otherwise, within 1 hour of said death being discovered. This way there will be no more cases like Casey Anthony's in the courts, and no more innocent children will have to go without justice.

"Also, make it a felony for a parent, legal guardian, or caretaker to not notify law enforcement of the disappearance of a child within 24 hours, so proper steps can be taken to find that child before it's too late.

"The case of Caylee Anthony was tragic, and there is no reason for another case like this one to hit the courts. Let's do what is necessary to prevent another case like this from happening."

_________________________

My answer and response to the emails includes the following:

I have not been following this case in the news, but based on what I have read, the jury found that the prosecution didn't have enough evidence to convict the mom. I realize the mom was convicted in and by the media and most people following the news reports, but our system has people innocent until proven guilty in court.

I don't want everyone that the media thinks is guilty to be found guilty if there isn't enough evidence.

I believe the 1 day time frame in all cases may be too short of time for a law. I haven't researched to see what all the existing federal or state laws are yet.

Some are at:

http://publicsafety.utah.gov/bci/MPCmissing.html

I did research one law. In Utah, "Child abuse -- Child abandonment" is a felony. While there isn't a 24 hr. notice requirement, If you abandon your child and they get hurt, you could be in trouble.

I have spoken to the House Chair of the Utah Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Interim Committee, of which I am committee member. If Utah has laws that need to be made better, I am open to that, but I do not want to jump on this "band wagon". I have spent 6 months trying to modify a current law that was one mentioned in the article below.

http://www.foxbusiness.com/on-air/stossel/blog/2011/07/08/dead-children-make-bad-laws

I have recently heard that one member of the Utah House of Representatives has pulled a bill file to look at Utah's laws in this area.

http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/legislature/article_df3c4cd5-7c48-5d19-906d-3cf2b97b5183.html

[Update, see:

http://www.utahreps.net/uncategorized/rep-anderson-caylees-law-issues-already-addressed-in-utah-code ]

Thanks for writing and letting me know what you are thinking. It really helps to get others perspective.

Fred C. Cox

Utah House of Representatives, District 32

Mitt

Out of the 3 choices I was considering, Michele Bachmann, Jon Huntsman and Mitt Romney, I believe Mitt is the closest to being ready.

Granted, Mitt has made mistakes and changed his mind on issues, but I haven't found too many that haven't.

Why did Rep. Chaffetz endorse Mitt? Well he said why, and that answer is in several papers.

One likely reason is he was asked, as was I. You are left with the choice, yes, no, or not yet. I didn't answer yes just because his campaign called me several times, or Josh Romney calling me more than once, I said yes after meeting Mitt more than once and listening him to him on more than one occasion.

I said yes after asking a lot of people about Michele, including those working with her. I didn't have to ask people about Jon, as I have known the family since I was a teenager. Jon went to my high school and his wife moved into my class. I have watched him most of my life. He has strengths, but I am not in his fan club at this time. If it was his father running, he would have my vote.

So, Rep. Chaffetz picked Mitt, fine. So has Sen. Hatch and Sen Dan Liljenquist, as well, so are you not going to vote for any of the 3 because of that?

Grama articles

For an update on this subject see:
http://fredcox4utah.blogspot.com/2012/04/grama.html

"I am confident all members will work diligently to craft recommendations which protect the public's right to know, protect an individual's legitimate right to privacy, and protect taxpayer dollars."
- Gov. Herbert.

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/51567840-78/request-records-grama-network.html.csp

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home/51499750-76/bill-dougall-grama-records.html.csp

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/51715159-78/records-county-requests-christensen.html.csp

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/51988376-78/amyspencer-constituent-constituents-correspondence.html.csp

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/52057357-78/group-grama-records-law.html.csp

http://local.sltrib.com/upload/2011/06/1308787058Cost_Timeliness.pdf

http://local.sltrib.com/upload/2011/06/1308787007Simplication.pdf

http://local.sltrib.com/upload/2011/06/1308786890Emerging_Technology.pdf

http://local.sltrib.com/upload/2011/06/1308786801Law_wording.pdf

http://fredcox4utah.blogspot.com/2011/03/governor-hebert-wants-new-bill.html

http://fredcox4utah.blogspot.com/2011/03/grama-commitee-meeting-today.html

http://fredcox4utah.blogspot.com/2011/03/regarding-repeal-of-former-hb-477.html

http://www.fredcox4utah.com/GRAMA-HB477%20Comparison%20Chart.pdf

HB 116 Repeal Resolutions

There are 4 bills that the Governor signed as the "Utah Solution". One that provides enforcement HB 497, one that provides for migrant workers HB 466, one that provides sponsoring HB 469, and one that provides a guest worker permit HB 116. Both HB 469 and HB 116 have a similar constitutional warning.

The Resolution that passed in Washington County dealt with HB 116 and the GOP Platform. The Resolution being considered on Saturday not only deals with that, but it deals with the constitutional nature of HB 116 as a state power.

HB 469 is a key to the question. Most, if not all, conservative legislative members voted for HB 469. Several of these members did not vote for HB 116. The reasons for the votes against HB 116 vary, as do the reasons for those that voted for HB 116.

HB 469 raises the same question, under the US Constitution is Immigration an enumerated power? Obviously not, if you read the current Deseret News Editorial.

If the Resolution on Saturday fails, it may be that a very few conservative activists care more about censuring the Utah Legislature over trying to find an answer to immigration. The Resolution on Saturday fatally questions the oath of office of its own legislative co-sponsors.

A Deseret News column misses this point.

Is HB 116 flawed? Yes. Is HB 116 unconstitutional? No. Is that understood by many conservatives? Yes.

I voted against HB 116, not because I want to ignore those here and just assume they will leave without another option.

I defended a US Congressional candidate and member for years that supported some form of a guest worker bill when he ran, as long as it didn't provide a pathway to US Citizenship prior to those legally waiting outside the US. I believe the sponsorship HB 469 is a better answer to the guest worker HB 116. Others may and do disagree.

I felt that HB 116 sends the wrong message. If we are going to have a line for people to come to this country, you can’t reward those who bypass the line. They need to be sent to the back of the line. That doesn’t mean you should stop treating them like people.

If the current wording of the HB 116 Repeal Resolution is not amended, I will be voting against the resolution, as I have done twice before.

I voted against HB 116, but I voted for HB 469. It is my opinion that in so doing, I can't then say HB 116 is unconstitutional. I will also not condemn my colleagues for voting for HB 116.

You need both enforcement and a way to solve the current situation that treats people as people. The answer to the current situation is complex and many differ in how to solve it.

Vote to replace HB 116 with something better or Vote to amend HB 116 with improvements, but don't condemn those in the Legislature that were faced with voting for it or not.

Fred C. Cox is a member of the Utah House of Representatives, serving from West Valley City.

HB 469: Answer to the immigration puzzle | The Salt Lake Tribune

My op-ed in the Salt Lake Tribune can be found here:

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/opinion/51917989-82/469-immigration-116-federal.html.csp

The Op-ed is worth reading, however I do have the following additional clarifications:

To be considered for approval as a resident immigrant for purposes of the program, a foreign national shall: at the time of filing the application be living outside of the United States

HB 469 only allows the the person or family sponsoring, to sponsor 2 people or a family.

We need to remove and not create any rewards and incentives for immigrants to come here and be here illegally.

Immigrants that are here illegally should not have the ability to become United States Citizens prior to those outside the U.S. applying to come legally. Citizenship/Naturalization is clearly an enumerated federal power. Immigration is not.

One of the reasons people are here without permission is that our current legal immigration system takes too long and in many cases doesn't work.

One of the 4 bills passed is a migrant worker bill. This one is different. It gives citizens the ability to sponsor 2 people or a family to come to this county with permission.

People that can be sponsored do NOT include individuals who are in the United States, but who are not lawfully present in any of the states of the United States.

If they are here illegally, they have to go home to be sponsored.

It will take longer than a day, as the application must be made from outside the US.

1) To be considered for approval as a resident immigrant for purposes of the program, a foreign national shall:
(a) file an application with the department;
(b) at the time of filing the application be living outside of the United States;
(c) pass a health and background screening;
(d) provide evidence that the foreign national has not been convicted of, pled guilty to, pled no contest to, pled guilty in a similar manner to, or resolved by diversion or its equivalent to a felony or class A misdemeanor;
(e) file proof of sponsorship by a sponsor who meets the requirements of Section 63G-12-203; and
(f) pay a fee established by the department in accordance with Section 63J-1-504.
(2) A foreign national is ineligible for the program if the individual:
(a) is in the United States at the time of application for the program; or
(b) is a citizen of a country:
(i) designated by the United States State Department as a state sponsor of terrorism in accordance with section 6(j) of the Export Administration Act, section 40 of the Arms Export Control Act, and section 620A of the Foreign Assistance Act;
(ii) against which the United States has declared war; or
(iii) against which the United States has imposed sanctions as listed under a sanctions program of the Office of Foreign Assets Control within the United States Department of Treasury.

To see who voted for this bill, see:
http://le.utah.gov/~2011/status/hbillsta/hb0469.002h.txt

http://le.utah.gov/~2011/status/hbillsta/hb0469.001s.txt