OCR Text |
Show SRNR A8 WASATCH FEBRUARY 7, 2001. COUNTY COURIER Bill Would Give Veto Power Over — Eliminating the wording would “be less offensive and cause less confusion, concern and disruption” for par- Land Sales to Feds SALT LAKE CITY (AP) A bill mak- ents, said Nebo Superintendent Carl Nielson. MUI SALT LAKE CITY (AP) three reasons Sen. Mike Waddoups has tabled a bill that would require insurance companies covering pre- scription drugs to also provide benefits for birth-control pills: | ment mandating to private business. I don’t like mandates,” the Taylorsville Republican said . “I don’t see any need to debate it.” The Rules Committee is the gate- way through which all legislation must for SALT LAKE CITY (AP) State edu- public hearings and debate. cation officials are worried that a proposal to let school districts draft their ul Wi ithou I nese seve) t= review the “What gives them the right?” she said. “There’s no: way to control the kind of questions that come up.” its way. through the Utah Legislature would give lawmakers the final say on any land sale to the | federal govern- | ment — includ ing those by private proper of any state or federal criminal law by -a minor or an adult.” Homosexuality and “fornication” are both illegal under Utah law. ty owners. Opponents call it a fright ening intrusion of the state into — private — rights | Brad Johnson and a multimillion dollar lawsuit in the making. But the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Brad Johnson, R-Aurora, says it keeps the. federal government from taking over more of Utah’s land. The government. already owns 71 percent of Utah’s land. ‘The bill has passed the House and a Toughest Measure Yet for Drunken-Driving _ Senate approved it on Friday, sending it to a vote by the full chamber, likely SALT LAKE CITY (AP) The fifth drunken-driving measure to crowd. Debate Rages Over Sex Ed Bill pass before it goes to a standing com- mittee | will tions that might encourage “violation sions. The Utah Eagle Forum also opposes the measure. A fiscal note attached to the bill estimates that residents could see a savings of less than 1 percent in insurance premiums because of the additional coverage, or an increase in costs of up to 2 percent. — He doesn’t think it’s important. — He’s chairman of the Senate - Rules Committee; so he can do it. “It's another instance of govern- | request. board Right now, teachers can answer stuup in Senate Rules — under a different — _ dents’ questions briefly and factually or — chairman — for the entire session. to dispel myths. But Ruzicka says her Insurance companies have fought organization receives several calls from hard to defeat the measure as governparents who say teachers cross the line. ment intrusion into private-sector deci- There are — He doesn’t like it. state Wright's bill would a3 sushibe teachers from answering student ques-. City, is sponsoring the bill for the third year in a row. Only once has it received public debate. Last year it was locked Pill Bill’ Killed — Again - The ing -Utah’s legislative docket this year would be the toughest: 30 days in jail _ for the first offense. ‘TI thought we would put more teeth in,” said Rep. Paul Ray, R-Clearfield, the sponsor. First-time DUI offenders now get 2 days in jail. Under House bill 353 that would jump to a minimum 30 days. Second-time offenders would go to jail for 2 months instead of 10 days. _Own sex education policies would also t= _keep. teachers from answering stu- this week. The bill has the backing of a power~ ful advocate — the Utah Association of Real estate agents — as well as. rural lawmakers. Gary Hancock, Goa for the realtor association, said real-estate — agents back the measure, because federal ownership of land erodes the state’s property-tax base, meaning be iu ¢g ~ dents’ questions on the topic. taxes on private land holdings will bear released State School Superintendent Steve a heavier burden. from Rules, a Laing said that prohibiting teachers “Td like to.see one of the Eastern bill is dead from answering students questions states be able to fund education with only will just create more curiosity and before it ever And third-time offenders would stay - one-third of the property” on tax rolls, gets off the | interest for the student. | behind bars for 3 months instead of 2 said J ohnson, a southern Utah rancher. Starting © “It’s important that teachers as -eduMike Wadldoues ‘months. | But he said the main focus is trying _ blocks. --cators answer questions without unduRay said the other four drunken_to maintain the state’s sovereignty and “I"m against bogging down the SySly piquing interest in subjects better keeping the federal boven aed: fen tem with things that may or. may not — dealt with Sey and dismissed,” gnc : _ driving bills at the Capitol aren’t tough - -enough. Other legislators say they can - owning more. land.» i said. “We don’t intend to infringe at olf on o But Gayle } Ruzicka, president of the . do without his proposal. he aces ae belie the contraceplive “Yeah, we want to be canehne Senate any private property rights,” said Rep. insurance bill is important.— 3 conservative Eagle Forum, said Majority Whip John Valentine, RStephen Urquhart, R-St. George. “We . Senate Bill 75 will help teachers stay Asked if SB42 was dead for the year, Orem, said Friday. “Yeah, we want to just don’t think land should arbitrarily on the right side ofthe law. Waddoups said it might be released for “They can still answer spontaneous debate later. “If we get the a noHnt (bills) out © questions but not give answers that of the way we may have a hearing on _ violate state law,” such as going into the specifics of sexual intercourse, she it,” Waddoups said. said. “That makes sense.” His comments came after lawmak- ers spent a whole day last week desig- _ Sen. Bill. Wright's proposal PIES. nating, Jell-O |; as. “the, state, snack and, _ school boards the| power. to reject the. enjoying playful banter with comedian 3 "state sex education policy thatempha- “pill bill,” were not amused. — “To more than one-half of the popu- lation of our state — women — it’s an important issue,” said Roz McGee, of . the advocacy group Utah Children. “If. _. it isn’t a high priority, I’m disappointed ~ in our legislative leadership.” Cooper of Utahns | DUI offend- ers on a data _ base for 10 - years instead only teaches nothing but abstinence. “There are some topics that are academic, but (human sexuality is) a values thing,” said the Republican from Elberta. “Why develop that on the insurance legislation, nicknamed the Beverly be transferred to federal sovereignty _ from state sovereignty without legisla- © - size abstinence in favor of a policy that - and product spokesman Bill Cosby. Supporters of the prescription send the message that we won’t toler- ate drunken driving. But current | statutes (and bills) do the job.” Other . bills would _ toughen pro4 _bation, put for Choice quizzed Waddoups about the committee’s refusal to move the bill. : state level?” Inhis plan, a local board of parents and teachers would approve class materials. State law requires that those materials emphasize abstinence and prohibit teaching specifics on intercourse or advocating contraception or "Paul | ha Utah County are also asking the state for a-waiver, allowing them to ban all discussion of contraceptives. And they want a waiver from using a state-mandated parental notification form informing them what will be taught, : because it mentions contraction as / “People in Utah, _ particularly women, are angry about this,” said - Cooper. Sen. Paula J wlander. D-Salt Lake , _ part of the health course. SEN. BEVERLY EVANS (435) 454-3719 (home) (801) 538-1035 (Capitol) of my property,” Davis said. “Government does not have a right to ~ step into the rights I have, guaranteed by and require ce to pay - for an ignition inter- _ “The United States Supreme Court ~ has consistently held that under the power of eminent domain, the United , Valentine said Ray’s bill puts too heavy a load on Utah’s already overcrowded prison system and would bur- : den families by taking a parent away - “There are eight men in there mak- _ homosexuality. ing decisions about discriminating — Officials in Nebo School District i in ~ for a month. against women’s health care,” said Cooper. Five women serve in the Senate, none of them on the Rules Committee. 3 - “You’re taking away my right to dispose the Constitution of the United States.” Legislative attorneys warned the people from starting an engine. , But Sen. Gene Davis, D- Salt Lake City, said the bill actually infringes on property rights. | of six years ~ lock, a device that prevents intoxicated | tive approval. For first-time fides “two days in jail will really wake them up,” | Valentine said. “Tough,” replied Ray, who stands by his measure. “What happens when ~ that first-time Pees hits my. oS old and kills him?” : bill could be unconstitutional. States can acquire real property within the borders of states for any legitimate purpose ... even without the consent of the state legislature,” reads a constitu- tional note attached to the bill. Legislative suggested budget advisers that lawmakers appropriate money to General Mark Shurtleff against lawsuits. also should Attorney to defend “The question is how much money | do you want to spend on a lawsuit,” said Sierra Club spokesman Steve Erickson, who guarantees the bill will end up in court: REP. GORDON SNOW (435) 722-4162 (home) (801) 538-1029 (Capitol) | |