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Show The Park Record Saturday, February 17, 2001 We're not good because we're old... We're old because we're good! iu 1972 American cuisine in a casual setting SERVING PARK CITY BREAKFAST LUNCH DINNER SINCE 1972 Breakfast 8am - 4pm Lunch 1 lam to closing Dinner from 5pm OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK FAMILIES WELCOME CHILDREN'S MENU CARRY-OUT AVAILABLE 649 - 8284 317 HISTORIC MAIN STREET PARK CITY, UTAH Tax cut fate may be decided in Senate SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Republican House leaders remain committed to a $40 million tax cut, despite ambivalence from their Senate colleagues and mounting complaints that the state's budget is too lean. Without support in the Senate, there won't be a tax cut this year, said House Majority Leader Kevin Garn, R-Layton. Sen. John Valentine, R-Orem, said Senate Republicans haven't voted on whether or not to support the $40 million tax reduction backed by the House. For now, there is an agreement not to spend the money. But if the Senate decides to go with a tax cut plan, there will be plenty to choose from. The House passed two possible tax cuts on Monday - one reducing the capital gains tax, the other eliminating the marriage penalty for seniors. t ne senate win nave to maice up its mind in the next week so the remainder of the budget can be set. In caucus discussions earlier this session. Senate Republicans were split on whether it's the right time to roll back taxes. Some argued that anticipated growth in public school enrollment could mean taxes would have to be raised again soon. Democrats in both the House and Senate oppose broad tax cuts, arguing that the money could be better spent in needed state programs. pro-grams. Budget subcommittee leaders, unable to cover the state's critical needs with the money doled out by the state's Executive Appropriation Committee, are expected to ask for more money later this week. And when that happens, said Democratic Sen. Gene Davis, budget makers may have to dip into the tax cut. "Something's got to give," said Davis, D-Salt Lake City. "My assumption is you'll start seeing some of those tax cuts evaporate." Democrats support two small tax cuts proposed by Gov. Mike Leavitt, which would help the poorest taxpayers. Leavitt is also sticking with his original tax plan. That means 15 of the 20 Senate Republicans will have to be on board to pass any tax cut. Right now, whether that support is there is "a mystery," Valentine said. On Tuesday, the House voted 45-27 to take $26 million out of Utah's capital gains tax. Rep. James Ferrin, R-Orem, the bill's sponsor, argued that now is the time for the cut, which would reduce the rate from 7 to 6 percent. But House Minority Leader Ralph Becker said there are more important ways to spend that money. "This tax cut is a tax cut for the wealthy," Becker said. The House also passed a $19 million proposal to eliniinate the marriage penalty for retired people. Both bills would have to be approved by the Senate, allocated money by the Executive Appropriations Committee and signed by the governor before they could take effect. Becker and other House Democrats said that the $40 million plan would only amount to about $4.51 per month for the average family - about the price of a Big Mac, fries and a soda. "Some of these tax cut proposals we're seeing are unlikely to have any effect on people's behavior," Becker said. But House Majority Whip Greg Curtis argued that government should give the people's money back to the taxpayers, and said Democrats were "doing a disservice" disserv-ice" by downplaying the significance signifi-cance of a tax cut. House OKs sanity defense for gun ownership SALT LAKE CITY (AP) People once declared mentally ill would be allowed to show they're sane enough to own guns again under a bill approved by the Utah House on Tuesday. The bill's sponsor, Rep. Matthew Throckmorton, R-Springville, said the proposal is needed to eliminate the lifelong stigma attached to those once declared mentally ill. But opponents said it could jeopardize jeop-ardize public safety. "I can't begin to express my astonishment and dismay," said Mary Kammeyer, who survived a Direct ski access to Deer Valley's Success Trail. Three spacious bedrooms with fireplaces, loft, hot tub, private pool. $1,495,000 BelleArbor at Deer Valley offers freestanding homes and townhomes with easy ski access and $1,995,000 to $2,995,000 Immaculate five bedroom home on aspen-covered acre in prestigious upper Aspen Springs Ranch. Air conditioned. $965,000 Showplace of traditional elegance. Formal living and dining plus 2 family rooms. 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Gary Cox, a police officer, urged others to vote against the bill, calling it dangerous. "It scares me to death," the Kearns Democrat said. The bill would apply to those found innocent of a crime due to mental illness or those declared mentally incapable of standing trial, as well as people who have been committed to a mental institution. Under the proposal, a person would have to prove to a judge that they are healthy and could no longer be in the criminal justice system. Crime victims, counselors and others oth-ers could testify against the request at a hearing. The measure passed the House 44-31 and now goes to the Senate. If passed, the bill would not take effect until a similar federal law is funded, Throckmorton said. Kammeyer, a former KSL employee, said the bill assumes that people with severe mental illness be cured. She said that such severe mental illnesses can only be controlled, and she's worried the bill could put guns in the hands of unstable people. "I'm very concerned about it and I think everyone out there should be concerned as well," she said. Also on Tuesday, a committee decided to postpone a vote on a bill that would require gun safety courses to be taught in elementary schools. Members of the committee wanted extra time to work out problems in Orem Republican Rep. Mike Thompson Is proposal. Wage standards history if bill passes SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Utah cities would not be able to set a minimum min-imum wage under a bill that advanced in the Utah Senate on Tuesday. Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper, R-Draper, said his bill will allow companies com-panies doing business in several communities to pay the same wages. "Let's not make employers have to worry about a different minimum mini-mum wage law in each communi ty," he said. No Utah communities have passed their own minimum wage i ordinances, although Stephenson said several cities outside the state have. Democrats, who peppered Stephenson with questions for roughly 45 minutes on Tuesday, argued that the state shouldn't be telling communities they cant set their own wage standards. Sen. Ed Mayne, D-West Valley City, who is president of the Utah chapter of the AFL-CIO, argued that Stephenson's bill made sense for general employment. But he said that legislators shouldn't tie a city's hands if it wants to require the companies it contracts with to pay a higher wage. The senators voted 17-9 to move the bill to a final vote, which could come as early as tomorrow. J RATES ARE DOWN A Q $$ PURCHASE AND REFINANCE MONEY $$ f njj "THE GREATER THE RELATIONSHIP WITH W WELLS FARGO THE DEEPER THE DISCOUNT" L Premier Acreage at the Exclusive Colony listing Innovation and elegance describe the design for this 4 bedroom, 4.5 bath main house, and 2 bedroom, 2 bath guest house. With framing complete, build out could be realized by Christmas, 2001. 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