Show Statehouse Report Outbreak in Utah's Building Program Wins Support o of Legislative Council B i BY C C. C SHARP A cutback of up to 20 million In state building next year as a brake against inflation Inflation in inflation In- In was proposed by Gov Calvin Cal L L. Rampton and tentatively approved by the Legislative Council Sept 30 Gov Rampton asked support support sup sup- port of ot the lawmakers for forthe forthe forthe the plan after President Lyndon Lyndon Lyndon Lyn Lyn- don B B. B Johnson had proposed propos propos- ed it to him and 10 other governors at a Sept 29 conference conference conference con con- ference in the White House Members of ot the State Building Board were to have met with Gov Rampton In his office Monday discussing priorities for the most pressing pressing pres pres- sing construction After Arter he sets up a proposed proposed proposed pro pro- posed priority schedule Gov Rampton said he would meet with the council again and discuss it H with the lawmakers law law- makers President Johnson told the governors that he may cut the federal tede-ral budget by 3 to 4 billion to attain a bal bal- budget and slow down inflation To match the proposed fed federal ral curtailment Utah could reasonably cut Its building construction program program pro pro- gram by about 20 million next year Gov Rampton said He lie reported that about 25 million worth of state building contracts were awarded awarded awarded aw aw- to cover the balance of the 65 million available from the 1965 state bond issue he said Five per cent interest now being collected by the state on its unused bond money should counterbalance ance the rising cost of building building buil bull ding he said House Speaker Kay Allen Salt D-Salt Lake council chairman chairman chair chair- man estimated that added costs of the building program program pro pro- gram due to postponement will amount to 1 to 15 million Speaker Allen said builders builders build build- ers are arc facing bankruptcy as a result of other curtailments curtail ments meats and that tt state building bonding-building program was being looked upon by them for salvation Gov Ramp Rampton ton replied re that while the building industry is down heavy construction is up Rep James Macfarlane D Midvale said sale curtailing the building program will hit universities and colleges hardest just as the crop of ot World War II babies is enrolling en en- rolling Sen Thorpe Waddingham D ta Dc branded inflation as Utah's No 1 problem lie He urged axing of anything but necessities Athletic tie fields Ids and gymnasiums he urged can wait walt A Hel Republican Rep Ross Plant Richmond agreed that ell all legislators should bury political differences and support President ent John John- son In measures to halt inflation In In- Speaker Allen report reported d after Gov Coy Rampton had gained approval of the coun council council cil for the cutback that legislative legislative legislative leg leg- leaders attending Council of State Government sessions are arc demanding a voice in federal grant programs pro pro- grams Federal agencies now offer offer of of- fer Ier grants to to counties cities s and state departments requiring requiring requiring re re- re- re quiring local matching money money mon money mon mon- ey with only two alternatives alternatives alternatives tives to accept and conform conform conform con con- form with federal regulations regulations regula regula- or to refuse States want more elastic clastic programs fitted more to lo local local lo- lo cal needs with alternatives that if they do not accept the grants they may obtain oher credits perhaps in lower taxes he said A 4 resolution was adopted that a committee be appointed appoint appoint- ed to make recommendations ions to the next council meeting Oct 15 for tor developing develop develop- ing a legislative commission through which all federal I aid would have to be chan chant nel d. d Sen Samuel J J. J Taylor R R R- Moab reported findings of a National Legislative Conference Conference Confer Confer- ence he ho had attended in Portland Me The conclusions conclusIons conclusions ions were he said that legislatures legislatures leg leg- hould should function days clays a year if U only through their staffs and committees They should exercise a stronger rolo role as ai watchdogs over the executive branch of government to make sure It Jt follows policies fixed fixed- by bythe bythe bythe the legislatures he said Lewis U 11 Lloyd council director criticized wording to appear on the ballots next I month explaining proposed 1 constitutional amendments I Ilie lie He said no one in his right mind would vote to abolish the Board of Examiners It If Ithe Ithe he accepted the wording as us app approved v d by Secretary of S State to Clyde L. L Miller They would assume assume that they were voting to abolish the theoff off offices ices of governor secretary of state state a and d attorney general gener gener- al aI Mr Lio Lloyd d charged The council voted to recommend recommend recommend rec rec- establishing a new newstate newstate I state d department pa of mental health health- This would take over all functions functions' of the State Hospital Hospital Hospital Hos Hos- pital at Provo now directed by the the- State Welfare Corn Com Commission mission m and the Division on of Mental Ment l Health and Mental Mental Mental Men Men- tal Health Clinics now directed directed ted by the State Health De De- Sen Vernon L L. L Holman D Panguitch chairman of the committee said a single agency is needed to fix responsibility responsibility res res- for the entire field of mental retardation This proposed new department depart ment could come under a coordinator of at health and welfare services as proposed by the Little UttIe Hoover Commission Commission Com Com- mission members agreed M M M Gov Rampton announced Sc Sept pt 27 that he will recommend recommend rec rec- to the 1 1967 67 tuie tute that it provide machInery machinery mach mach- finery for issuing plastic drivers licenses These licenses would cost from to 2 more which would have to be 01 paid by bythe bythe bythe 1 the drivers It was wall agreed cd I by the chamber chamb r of commerce com com- commerce merce and enforcement officers officers of of- invited to meet with the governor lor on the matter A better means of identification which would 00 pro aid in curbing cutting bad bait check b by tho the would artists who annually milk merchants of ot about million Gov Hampton said Also AIo likely Gov Coy Rampton Ramp Ramp- Rampton ton said are requirements that any new drivers complete complete com com- driver training courses and that some additional examination examination examination ex ex- other than e eye e tests be required for license renewal |