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Show TheSaltLakeTribune TUESDAY,January 16, 2001 EGISLATURE 2001 THE UT. f Gun Activists Fighting Proposed Repeal of Law Authorizing Militia CAPITOL .T LAKE TRIBUNE EYE Gun rights activists are calling out their troops to fight a proposed repeal of the law authorizing a Utah militia. “We see it as a first step to disarmament,” said Sarah Thompson, executive directorof the Utah Gun Owners Alliance. “Tt’s anti-gun stuff. It's part ofa strategy to disarm the people,” added Ted Brad- ford, a pro-guncrusader and formerstate legislatar. The two lobbied lawmakers Monday, hopingtoderail House Bill 8, Repeal of the —————————— e Utah De fense Force Act, in-its first hearing today. Rep. Neal Hendrickson, D-West Valley City, knows he could be in for a battle, given the clout of the gun lobby. He just doesn’t understand why. “If people would read what we're taking out, they wouldn’t be againstit,” said Hendrickson. “This has nothing whatsoever to do with being anti-gun or a person’s right to bear arms.” Removing the statute is a good idea, said thelegislator. The law has never been implemented in the nearly 50 years since it was enacted. Moreover,it leaves the door open to unchecked power in the ex- ecutive branch. “If we had a real wacko governor that wanted to abuse his power, he could. He could have his own SS,” he said,referring to Hitler’s Germany. The repeal bill was one of numerous measures endorsed during the summerby the Legislature’s Government Operations Interim Committee in its attempt to eliminate obsolete or archaic laws. House Speaker Marty Stephens, R-Farr West, is one of those opposing the repeal measure. His worry epi oman but complying with state constitutional visions. “The governor ought toets the right to call out the militia,” said Stephens. The Utah Constitution defines the mi- litia as “all able-bodied male inhabitants ofthe state, between the ages of 18 and 45 years, except such as are exempted by ne” The constitution also designates the governoras the commander-in-chief with powerto “call out the militia to execute the laws, to Suppress insurrection, or to repeal invasion.” HEARD ON THE s HILL, House Republicans have decided to leta little sunshjne and air into — legislative caucus. Reversing a policy of the past Bt years, the House GOPhas opted fora presumption of openness. That means the doors on its twice-weekly caucus meetings will be open to the public and media unless there is a motion anda me to go into private session. Rewrite for “Tt was decided the meetings need to remain open unless there is a compelling reason to close them,” says Majority Leader Kevin Garn, R-Layton. The Republican caucus has 54 of the 75 House members, and thus has more than enough votes to boost orkill legislation. Senate Republicans, who control that chamber 29-9, haven't decided whetherto leave the door ajar on their POLITICAL NEWCOMER Utility Bill? Or Repeal? caucus meetings. TODAY'S Some worry revision would keep anti-consumeraspects AGENDA BY DAN HARRIE HOUSE COMMITTEES Government is Room 405 3 p.m. HB212 — Museum Educational Initiative HB43 — Repeal of Term Limits THE SALT LAKETRIBUNE The power struggle over heat and powerrates alreadyis under way in the Legislature. Consumer and community groups we, juries to call for the repeal of House Bill 320 (HB320) — a bill passed a year ago that B25 — Civil Stalking Amendments Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice wipes out Utah’s Committee of Con- sumerServices. Room 225 at 10:30 a.m. ee Repealof Utah State Defense Force “The huge increases in gas and electric bills that customers are facing require increased oversight by regulators, not reduced oversight,” said Betsy Wolf, of Salt Lake Community Action Pro- HB41 — Fire Prevention Amend. Nat. Resources, Agriculture & Environment Room 129 at 10:30 a.m. 'HB54 — Wildlife/Hunting and Fishing Fees gram. HB320 does not takeeffect until July. Last year's passageof the bill aroused such public outcry that Gov. Mike HB207 — Coal Mine Regulation by Labor Comm. HB53 — Old Iron Town State Park Leavitt andlegislative leaders promised Political Subdivisions its flaws would be mended before July. Jeff Fox, of Crossroads UrbanCenter, Room 223 at 3 p.m. said the Legislature should simply re- peal last year’s bill, rather than attempt to amendit. Rep. Gary Cox, D-Kearns, has filed a repeal bill, which hesaid will be debated along with a second measure, rewriting 1320, and sponsored by Rep. David ae, R-Kamas. Fox and other advocates complained that lawmakers seem poised to retain anti-consumerprovisions ofthe bill in the proposed rewrite of HB320. “I have repeatedly asked for a copyofthis legislation. Rep. Ure has refused,”he said. Ure, who sponsored HB320, said Fox only had requested thebill for the first time last week. He acknowledged providing copies to officials at Questar Corp., parent company of the natural gas monopoly, and to some regulators. But Ure said hewill not release the bill publicly until he has had more time to Paul Fraughton/The Salt Lake Tribune Five-month-old Meredith Draper watcheshergrandfather, returning Republican representative Mike Stylerfrom Delta, as he andcolleagues are swom in Mondayatthe Capitol during the opening session of the 45-day Utah Legislature. Bill Would Require Licenses for Boat Users "THE SALT SALT LAKE ‘TRIBUNE Boaters whofail a simple safety test mayfind their weekend recreation plans sunk if the 2001 Legislature passes a motorboat operator licensingbill. The. legislation, sponsored by Rep. Loraine Pace, R-Logan, would require anyone operating a motorboat or per- ina few days. Last year, Questar attorneys andlob- byists wrote the legislation. This year, operate a boat. Hesaid he expects to unveil the measure Ure insists heis exclusively in controlof the draft bill. Ure, who attended Monday's news conference, claimed companyofficials “have not hadinput”on thebill. He later said he had discussed a single paragraph with Questar representatives on two occasions, A Questar spokesman last week told The Tribune that the utility had discussed concepts of the bill numerous times with Ure since the last public hearing on the matter last November. “We have had ongoing discussions and have talked about concepts,” Questar spokesman Curt Burnett said. “There are ideas that are being bounced back andforth.” Though details of the bill still are being worked out, boaters probably would haveto pass a safety test in order to get the endorsement. Those renting boats would have a 14-day exemption. “We are not seeing a decline in the adult boating accident rate,” said Steve Roberts, government services coordina- tor for state parks. “There are 33 states with some type ofcertification required to operate a boat.” The program would cost each user $5 in administration costs. It would be phased in overa five-year period to coincide with driver license renewals. Carl Robertson, manager of Robertson’s Marine in Salt Lake City and a memberof the State Boating Advisory Council, likes the idea. “We could have more boats on the water,” he said. “The idea of mandatory education was better than limiting the numberofboaters on the lake.” Larry Davisof Pier 84 Marine in Midvale did not think a simple written safety test would do much to improve boat safety. “Unless they test people to make sure they know how to dock a boat, pull it out andgetit offthetrailer, they are spinning their wheels,”said Davis. Meanwhile,the divisions ofParks and Recreation and Wildlife Resources enter the start of the Utah Legislature hoping to gain some one-time money proposed by Gov. Mike Leavitt. State parks could bea bigwinnerifthe governor's budget is adopted. Proposals call for a $10 million investmentin park infrastructure, another $6 million for a new dinosaur museum in Vernal and a $12 million revenue bond to develop a 36-hole golfcourse at Wasatch Mountain State Park’s Soldier Hollow. “This is a significant yearfor us,” said Roberts. “It is a chance to invest in something that will pay dividends by increasing revenues.” Underthe $10 million parks proposal, the governor designates $5.1 million on 31 state park projects, $2.7 million on 36 paving projects and $115,400 for roofing improvements. Thebiggest expenditure in the package would be $2 million for a new Goblin Valley campground. The governor also wants to give the Division ofWildlife Resources $500,000 to begin a program developing access and improvements on blue ribbon trout streams in rural Utah. With federal grants, that seed money could mean as much as $2 millionto the state. Otherpossible legislation that would affect state parks includes a proposal by Rep. Bud Bowman, R-Cedar City, to make Old Iron Town, 27 miles west of Cedar City, part of‘the state park system, anda proposal allowing U.S. veterans to cainp fresat all stabs parks Roberts said that proposal could cost the state be- tween $300,000 and $500,000. including an obscure measure authorizing apeeniieneenoeee ; Inclusiveness Hopes @ Continued from A-1 i Senate rather than an exclusive Senate.’ Senate Minority Leader Mike Dmitrich, D-Price, Utah's longest current serving legislator and a renowned political compromiser, accepted the olive branch. watt will be great cooperative friends,” ‘Conspicuous by his absence was Gov. Leavitt. Monday's traditional State of the State address, delivered by Utah's governor, was postponed until today by leg ve leaders. ithout the Ledbr the day will be overture Trai Room at 10:30 a.m. HB15 — Bicycle Law Amend. ieoe Issue Licénse Plate Koes Off-Highway Vehicle Registration pe Traffic Offense Adjudication Amend. lucation Room 416 at 3 p.m. SB7 — State Textbook Comm. Amend. $B16 — Teacher Quality Amend. ‘SB28 — Student Performance Assessment $B35 — Public Education Capital Outlay Act aes archPaar ertiesAuefor Foster oa roAdopted Children Task Force $831Area Health Education Center Human Services Room 416 at 10:30 a.m. $B29 — Children and Youth at Risk Amend. Revenue and Taxation Room 414 at 10:30 a.m. $B8 — Utah Steam Coal Tax Credit ‘$824 — Individual Income Tax/Fed. Taxable Income $B36 — Individual Income Tax /Bracket Ad- ‘ ‘State and Local Affairs Room 403 at 10:30 a.m. ——— In the afternoon, the Senate passed six With GOP Slogans, any Eamings justments A bill to mandate a trophy deer hunt on Antelope Island, overturning aBoard a of State Parks decision against establishing such a hunt, mightalso surface. On the wildlife side, the DWR’s Mike Fowlks expects a relatively quiet year. There will be a move to increase the numberofyears a huntinglicense can be suspended from five to seven. Another would allow the wildlife board to set hunting and fishing license fees with approval from the legislature’s Joint Natural Resources Committee. —— Lattalire Opens 1HB206 — Counties Accumulation/Retained SENATE TOMWHARTON BY TOM sonal watercraft of 10 horsepower or greater to be licensed. A person’s automobile license would carry an endorsementsignifying that the driver may also round up co-sponsors in the Legislature. a e Room 223 at 10:30 a.m. B13 — Recovery of Special Damages for In- held a Capitol news conference Monday more a. to “a: $24 million for textbooks that effortare tobe ae dodiust week. er : torney:decrctaswoeflyinsioquis cape ihn originI fiBITE "Proposed legislation eer adjusts ee a Back 1 thea Eadsbe, Stephens deutioned en against restoring the code gaps with laws that would limit “free government.” “Government cannot usually cure society’s ills,” he said. “In fact, many times Boiesfaith —eald, “bat would tabs coe kea one-year adjust ca ( ‘he Associated Press aooh eorins on inflation vowsto fight storing storing,but ine- based ‘ cabal! nuclear waste on Teservation b nt stage eaeae attorney and Senate Majority ‘ohn Le L, Valentine is that State Sen. Spencer, R-Laytan, who will co-chair the Natural Resources |
