Update from Representative Fred Cox

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I was asked recently what happens in the Legislature during the summer. There are typically monthly Interim Sessions where bills are worked on and discussed along with possible Special Sessions, if called by the Governor.

May 16th was the first Interim Session. Like Last year, I am on the Judiciary Interim Committee and also the Public Utilities and Technology Interim Committee. The next Interim Session will be June 20th.

In May, we took an opportunity to request the new IT Director speak about the Data Breach. I asked about reports of high turnover of IT Staff in that department working that area, 12 in the last year and 5 in the last couple of months, leading to my statement: "If that’s true, it seems to me one of the biggest problems may be IT management, not the technicians". See the two articles covering that at:

http://www.fredcox4utah.blogspot.com/2012/05/data-breach.html

I have several recent blog posts including:

Support for Traditional Marriage and discussion on nondiscrimination bills

http://www.fredcox4utah.blogspot.com/2012/05/support-for-traditional-marriage.html

Answering questions about one of my votes on education:

http://www.fredcox4utah.blogspot.com/2012/05/equal-access-for-education-employee.html

Recent Media:

Comcast had an interview during this last session. A copy is at:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=344068648971972

In May, I had a live radio interview by Jeff Robinson at KCPW

http://www.fredcox4utah.blogspot.com/2012/05/radio-interview-of-represenative-fred.html

Also in May, a 3 minute Introduction video by Comcast, that should soon be available On Demand, remembering to look for the New Utah House District 30. They have a number of candidate’s profiles. I don't have a link for that yet, if it is online. I was asked to use a teleprompter, so I am not sure how well it turned out.

This summer I am currently working on several bill requests, which include:

http://le.utah.gov/asp/billsintro/RepResults.asp?Listbox3=COXFC

Alimony Amendments, Building Code Amendments, Graywater Amendments, Professional Licensing Administrative Rules Amendments, Storm Water Capture Amendments, Utah Lands and School Trust Fund Amendment, and a few others.

I will also be involved with campaigning, which might be more interesting as this is the only Democrat Incumbent vs. a Republican Incumbent race in the state. Remember, for 2013, a new House District 30 will represent much of this area, and during the 2012 General Election you will determine who will represent this new District 30 beginning in 2013.

The New District 30 includes most of 32, part of 29 and some of 33.

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

Contact Information:

http://www.fredcox4utah.com (main website) http://www.fredcox4utah.blogspot.com (blog)
http://twitter.com/fredcox4utah (twitter) http://www.facebook.com/fred.c.cox (personal profile)
http://www.facebook.com/fredcox4utah (public page)

http://le.utah.gov/house2/detail.jsp?i=COXFC Official Government website

Official Government and Constituent Email: fredcox@le.utah.gov

Campaign Related Email, including volunteering, signs, etc: fred@fredcox4utah.com

and

https://secure.piryx.com/donate/NyvQH2Qu/Utah-House-Rep-Fred-C-Cox/

Paid for by Fred C. Cox, Campaign Fund

2012 SB 208 Multi-state Health Care Compact

Another bill that changed my 2012 General Session ratings was my concern and vote against 2012 SB 208, which is a Multi-state Health Care Compact.

http://le.utah.gov/~2012/bills/sbillenr/SB0208.pdf

My concern is Utah ending up with something like Massachusetts healthcare, or at least doing the same things in healthcare we criticize the federal government for doing.

Several conservative ratings groups promoted the bill as a way for Utah to take control of healthcare away from the federal government.

Rep. James A. Dunnigan who specializes in insurance and has been a key member of the house working to minimize the impact of a potential "Obamacare" also voted against the bill.

The new law and potential compact requires congressional approval, and sunsets in 2014. The budget listed in the law for Utah is $4 Billion.

My 2012 Ratings:
http://fredcox4utah.blogspot.com/2012/03/rep-fred-cox-voting-ratings-for-2012.html

Mel Nimer for Salt Lake County Council

Mel Nimer is someone I trust that has the knowledge, experience and ideas to tackle the Salt Lake County size of government, taxes, and budget.

http://melnimer.com/endorsements/

[2012 Endorsement]

Support for Traditional Marriage

I periodically am asked what I think about possible nondiscrimination bills. That is an easy question. The answer is not as easy.

I support Traditional Marriage. I believe local, state, and national governments should protect and encourage traditional marriage.

I am not alone.
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765577174/Editorial-Take-heart-and-stand-for-traditional-marriage.html

I personally support "The Family: A Proclamation to the World"

Now back to the original question:

I have been supportive of individual rights and attended the discussion this last year about a proposed nondiscrimination bill. The bill never made it to the House and I do not know if I would have voted for what would have been eventually presented or not.

In 2011, I fought against a few bills that I felt were unfair to individuals in nontraditional families. One of the bills even defined a family so narrow that two people, a married husband and wife, would not constitute a family. I proposed a public substitute to that bill. Another bill I opposed would have voided many existing private agreements. That group of bills were pulled by the sponsor from any agenda.

Several years ago, while not in the legislature, I felt 1 of 4 "common ground" bills should have passed with only a couple of words being changed. I wrote to my Representative, Senator and the Governor at the time expressing my support and the proposed minor amendment.

I have several friends in the LGBT community. I also have friends of many different faiths. I work to treat everyone with different beliefs with respect. You might ask what do these two things have to do with each other. I believe they are both important.

I believe nondiscrimination laws have to walk a narrow path, and my support will depend on several factors:

Do they hurt traditional marriage?

Do they follow the State of Utah Constitution,
including the rights of conscience and the marriage definition. See:

https://le.utah.gov/xcode/ArticleI/Article_I,_Section_4.html?v=UC_AI_S4_1800010118000101
and
https://le.utah.gov/xcode/ArticleI/Article_I,_Section_29.html?v=UC_AI_S29_1800010118000101

Not all proposals will work, but I would be interested in helping protect people with different beliefs be treated with respect as fellow human beings with the rights of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness".

There is a balance between protecting against discrimination and attacking someone else's right to believe what is right or wrong.

I have said I would be willing and interested in providing drafting feedback for a nondiscrimination bill and that I am not opposed to voting for a nondiscrimination bill that would include helping to make sure someone has a fair opportunity to work and live, subject to what is written in the bill.

I hope this answer helps,

Fred C. Cox, Representing House District 32 and Running for the new Utah House District 30.


Update:, I didn't win the election, and so I am not longer a representative. I did have someone ask me about the 2013 SB 262, and the following had my brief comments about this years bill:

http://fredcox4utah.blogspot.com/2013/03/problems-with-2013-sb-262.html

Update 2: Same comments, slightly different line numbers for this year:
http://fredcox4utah.blogspot.com/2014/01/problems-with-2014-sb-100.html

Update 3: A new bill was proposed in 2015 with my concerns answered. I voted for the bill and it did pass.
http://le.utah.gov/~2015/bills/static/SB0296.html

Data Breach

From the Salt Lake Tribune:
Utah lawmakers grill new IT chief on Medicaid breach

VanOrden’s remarks were the first detailed explanation given by technology officials since the breach.

But it failed to fully satisfy lawmakers who wonder if management failures don’t reach deeper than VanOrden’s predecessor, Stephen Fletcher, who was asked to resign in the wake of security failure.

"I heard that 12 IT staff have left that department due to management issues," said Rep. Fred Cox, R-West Valley City. "If that’s true, it seems to me one of the biggest problems may be IT management, not the technicians."

VanOrden said he’ll delve into management issues. "Corrective action" is being taken with two employees, and a third employee at fault, a contract worker, is no longer with the state, he said. There have been no terminations.

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/54127742-78/state-vanorden-data-server.html.csp

From the Deseret News:

" Rep. Fred Cox, R-West Valley City, questioned management issues within the department, as he had heard of a high turnover rate there in recent months."

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865555954/Multiple-mistakes-led-to-massive-health-data-breach-director-says.html

Equal Access for Education Employee Association Amendments

2012 SB 82, Equal Access for Education Employee Association Amendments

http://le.utah.gov/~2012/bills/sbillint/SB0082.pdf

I felt if the existing law was clarified, adding teeth to the law wasn't needed. I didn't believe setting the school district or principal up for a lawsuit or fine to enforce the law was needed.

http://le.utah.gov/~2012/pamend/sb0082.hfa.01.pdf

My amendment didn't pass, a substitute amendment, which was a step in the right direction, passed, another amendment passed, and I ended up voting against the bill, which then failed. I would have voted for the bill if my amendment had passed.

The UEA strongly opposed the bill and PCE and the Utah Taxpayers Association both strongly promoted the bill.

Radio Interview of Represenative Fred Cox by Jeff Robinson at KCPW

"Republican State Representative Fred Cox took a stand during last year’s divisive redistricting battle by trying to pass a bipartisan map. He ended up being drawn into the same district as a Democratic incumbent. We talked with the lawmaker and architect about what issues are important to him and his political strategy."

Podcast/Audio for the on-air interview:
http://kcpw.org/files/2012/05/051112PUCREPFREDCOX.mp3

http://kcpw.org/blog/local-news/2012-05-11/politics-up-close-senate-candidate-breck-england-rep-fred-cox/