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Show Wed/Thurs/Fri, January 27-29, 2016 Continued from A-1 Legislator ready "Medicaid expansion is not going away. We can do it intelligently or stupidly," he said. "I worry that too many of my Republican colleagues in the House are going to expand it to fewer people in a more expensive way. In other words, stupidly." King was also critical of Speaker of the House Greg Hughes, who declined to hear Healthy Utah in the House last session after it passed through the Senate. "I also am concerned about the public statements the Speaker has made about how any bill of significance will need to have Republican support only for the votes necessary to get through that chamber," King said. "It has never been the case in the past that 38 votes out of the 75-member House must all be from the majority party. And, in fact, there are many significant bills that have passed the legislature in the last few years having less than 38 Republican votes. His statements and position on this point are profoundly anti-democratic. And anti-Democratic caucus." King said he expects to see a number of reproductive rights bills, from both the left and the right. He said he also would not be surprised to see something with gun rights come up. Adequately funding public education will continue to be a tricky problem to solve. Beyond that, he has a wish list of his own. "I hope we'll see a greater commitment and expression of political will to increase revenue in a way that will decrease class size and increase teacher compensation," he said. "I hope we expand Medicaid in a meaningful, efficient way and in a manner that brings the most possible of our tax dollars." King said he personally plans to introduce a bill to make sex education more comprehensive and to make contraception more widely available, "especially to young people." He said he hopes to have that in a final form this week. "If we're serious about reducing STDs, unplanned pregnancies, abortion rates, and reproductive cancers, we need to get serious about providing comprehensive sex education and access to contraception," he said. King said he is also looking to introduce a campaign contributions bill. He said he worries, though, that with the current state of the legislature, getting anything passed on just about any issue will be a slog, or even impossible. "I'm concerned about the state of the legislature," he said. "In the past we have had good working relationships with members of the opposite parties in both chambers. We've gotten a lot done on a bipartisan basis. We've not seen the type of gridlock and hyperpolitical approach in Utah that we've seen in D.C. and in some other states. I sense a big change on that front, at least in the House, over the past two months." King points to the Gang of Six that was formed at the end of the 2015 session, which included only Republicans. "Democrats asked to have a voice on that issue but were rebuffed," he said. King said the plan they came up with after seven months of work, Utah Access+, received very little support even among the Republican caucus. King called it "legislative incompetence," and he said it shows exactly why the Republicans and Democrats need to work together. "The legislature comes up with better proposals and better laws when there is a healthy and open dialogue across party lines and in open proceedings. Closed door, one-party control of the legislative process is at odds with the traditions of good policy making in Utah." The 2016 session of the Utah Legislature began Monday. Meetings are open to the public. For a full meeting schedule and for contact information for local representatives, visit le.Utah.gov. Legislature starts session By Michelle L. Price Associated Press SALT LAKE CITY - Utah lawmakers start their annual session Monday with plans to restrict late-term abortions and expand the state's limited medical marijuana law. A look at some of the issues lawmakers are expected to tackle before their session ends at midnight March 10: Planned Parenthood and abortion Republican Sen. Curt Bramble of Provo is working on a bill that would restrict abortions after the time when a fetus can feel pain, which anti-abortion advocates say happens around 20 weeks into development. That assertion is disputed by medical research. Republican Sen. Margaret Dayton of Orem said she's working on a bill to cut all taxpayer funds to Planned Parenthood. Medical marijuana Utah lawmakers have three medical marijuana proposals in the works. In 2014, the state approved a very narrow program allowing people with severe epilepsy to use cannabis extract oil if they get it from other states. The program is set to expire this summer and lawmakers will vote in the coming months on a proposal that would keep it run- A-7 The Park Record ning for five more years. Another bill lawmakers will consider would allow those with cancer, HIV, AIDS and certain chronic pain conditions to use cannabis extract oil. A third proposal, the most arguable, is a revival of a sweeping plan that lawmakers voted down last year. The proposal from Sen. Mark Madsen, R-Eagle Mountain, would allow those with chronic or debilitating conditions to use edible marijuana products, thought it would ban smoking pot. Some Republicans have said they worry it's too broad and there's not enough science to show marijuana is a safe or effective treatment. PARKRECORD.COM Every day, in print, online and by mobile, the Park Record delivers a highly loyal and engaged audience. 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