Show From FroIn News News' r to Politics Floyd W. W Masters Community Editor Freshman Utah state Representative Phil Riesen sat down to a cup of coffee with the Globe The Utah television news icon reflected on his close election and some of the challenges for Utah lawmakers in the upcoming year Fall semester Riesen spoke at to a Communication 1 1500 class In his speech that started Enough is enough Riesen stated his intention of running for the Utah State Legislature His election was an unlikely success The district had not had a Democrat occupy the seat since 1972 Riesen completed his first legislative session recently Between the lobbyists tugging on his jacket and the pressure of of only one session a year Riesen admitted There isa is isa isa a lot of work involved in getting a bill passed After attending the University of Oklahoma Riesen came to Salt Lake City in 1968 and worked for KALL Radio until 1972 Then he went to work for Channel Four Soon after Riesen found himself in the most coveted position in the news department lead anchor Riesen became a familiar t CI i Rep Phil Riesen face as the evening broadcaster for a total of 19 years His smooth voice and handsome looks resonated with viewers Riesen became a fixture in many Utah hom homes s as a trusted news voice After leaving TV Riesen dabbled in many endeavors from writing speeches for Mayor Rocky Anderson to running his own production co company pany Riesen is probably easily recognized as the voice of John Paris Furniture After a hard-fought hard election Riesen won the district 36 seat by a margin of votes I wanted to take my first legislative session to learn leam how the process worked Politics Continued on page 4 i J 4 jo t. t Politics Continued from page 1 said Riesen Its a constant input of info information from constituents constituents' and other lawmakers It was a lot lotmore lotmore lotmore more difficult than I thought it would be Looking like a man none the worse wear Riesen spoke of the amount of hours state lawmakers put in The last day of the session I got to the hill at am a.m. and went home at atI I 00 am a.m. Riesen said Riesen said that one of the bills he was considering sponsoring co-sponsoring deals with independent loan operators J The interest rates that the Pay-Day Pay loan centers are charging are outrageous Riesen said People wind up living p payday to payday Oregon lawmakers passed a bill that limits the amount of interest that the Pay Day loan centers may charge Riesen said he wanted to find out how Oregon lawmakers decided to eliminate the profiteering by these types of bus businesses nesses Riesen also described his concern for the rights of mobile home owners who can be displaced when the property their home sits on onis onis onis is s sold ld out from underneath them Any mobile home built before 1977 cant can't be moved by law said Riesen As a result many people who still owe on their homes abandoned them Riesen's bill would provide help for those displaced individuals to be beable beable beable able to get into low into low income housing or receive financial aid Right now the property owners need only give 90 days' days notice to vacate the premises Riesen was undecided as to whether or not he would run for political office ce again Regardless of his decision Riesen will remain a Utah news legend and also a valued citizen of the state I I |