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Show nal Li | eg -WASATCH COUNTY COURIER ~ EYES ILL Saas) ee _FEBRUARY 28; 2001 Switch and Fund Governor's Pet Project SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Senators pulled a bait and switch Friday, at first ‘filleting one of the governor’s pet projects and then changing their votes to “approve the measure promoting - Utah’s “blue ribbon fisheries.” The bill, one of the initiatives Gov. Mike Leavitt put forward in his State of - the State address, received a final vote of 20-8 on Friday. It has already been approved by the House and will be sent to the governor. | - It will funnel $300,000 fo the gtate’s general fund toward promoting _ the state’s best places to fish. That was $200, 000 less than originally proposed. - Senators voted to defeat the meas- “tite Thursday. But after a “question and answer” session with the gover- nor’s representatives, Sen. Bill Hickman, R-St. George, brought it back to the floor on Friday. _ But Hickman’s colleagues wouldn’t let him off the hook. © “Do I recognize some wine here?” Sen. Pete Suazo, D-Salt Lake City, asked Hickman, alluding to both - the revote and the disease that attacks trout and salmon that was first discovered in Utah in the Leavitt family’ S hatchery. “Tve heard of pork barrel politics, but this is fish bowl politics,” added Sen. Curtis Bramble, R-Provo. While most of the Republicans initially voted no and most of the Democrats passed on the issue, most of the GOP votes _ changed at the end. were quickly “You guys are making me sweat blood,” Hickman said. 3 Hickman said the vote wasn’t meant _ to send a message to the governor. _ The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Tom Hatch, R- Panguitch, said he wants to bring the issue back next year to increase the cost of fishing licenses by $1 to continue to fund the program. As for the high-jinks in the Senate _over his bill, Hatch was unfazed. =| think they 1were Just | Playing _.. games,” -he-said:-Joking aside, oneBeis: said the | ) whole fisheries bill was fishy. Sen. Ed Allen, D-Ogden, questioned if it was right to fund this measure instead of such programs as helping the disabled to seek employment. “I am seriously worried about our priorities,” he said. we're doing it to solve a problem that I additional restrictions on involving oS t think any of us can put our finger ” he said. The bill was amended a the recommendation of Rep. Mike Thompson to honor permits from those states that require background checks. The teen-agers is headed toward consideration by the full Arizona House. In part it is designed to counter the possibility that people seeking to avoid the Utah restrictions simply could cross into _ Arizona to do so. amended bill was approved 52-20 and will be sent to the Senate. . Bill Would Phase Out Smoking at Salt ot - Bill Unamimous Against _ Child Marriages SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A International SALT bill LAKE CITY (AP) = ~The Utah House has approved a bill that designed to crack down on arranged would prohibit. construction of smokchild marriages such as are believed — ing rooms at Salt Lake City to take place in polygamous communiInternational Airport and eventually ties passed the Utah House unaniphase out those that already exist. mously. In a Pro-Tourism Move, “We ought to be the leader in this,” Under the bill, sponsored by Ben. ) said sponsoring Rep. Carl Saunders, kHouse Allows Concealed Ron Allen, D-Stansbury Park, anyone Ogden. “We are not.” | convicted of performing or allowing a Weapons for Tourists House Bill 288 limits the Utah - marriage involving anyone under 16 Indoor Clean Air Act exemption for SAIT LAKE CITY GP). ti a years could be sentenced to up to five enclosed smoking areas in airports to years in prison. move promised to help Utah tourism,,. those areas constructed before July. During hearings, force polygathe House approved a proposal that The bill is supported by Salt Lake mist. wives and one girl who left a would allow anyone with a concealed City Mayor Rocky Anderson, who “polygamous home testified that - Weapon permit from another state to said, “When the results of an individarranged child marriages are not. carry a gun in Utah. _ual’s actions endanger other people, | uncommon in some polygamous “People hiking, camping and enjoyaction is needed.” groups. ing our deserts need to be able to Several lawmakers bopeone that The bill was changed to ae it so defend themselves because law without smoking rooms, smokers that anyone performing any other illeenforcement is not readily available,” would light up around the exterior of gal marriage, including a polygamous | said Rep. Glenn Donnelson, R-North the terminals. — - wedding involving adults or a gay Ogden. “Many would like to visit Utah “The effect of this is to put smokers union, could be charged with a class A but will not do so as long as they are _ on the curb,” said Rep. Lamont Tyler, misdemeanor, which Allen said is denied the right to carry a firearm for R-Holladay. “This is a bad idea unless about the same as the current law. self-defense.” Not honoring the bill, you like to encounter secondhand _ The amended bill won support from Donnelson cautioned, could turn smoke as you go in and out of the airboth anti-polygamy groups and numerInterstate-80 into a haven for “highway port.” ous polygamous wives who turned out robbers.” Saunders argued that the smoke at two committee hearings in an Under existing law, concealed from the smoking rooms is pumped weapons permit holders in states with _ unprecedented display of political outside and that secondhand exposure involvement. _ standards more stringent than Utah’s already is a hazard outside the termiThe polygamy supporters said they can legally carry their weapon here. nals. oppose child marriage and polyga-. Utah honors permits from 16 other Besides, he said, getting rid of mists who do it are child abusers and states, said Rep. Gary Cox, D-Kearns, smoking rooms will also get = OL give |others who believe in plural Mat who argued that the oxistlig law is smokers. riage a black eye. good enough. Saunders said restricting areas The bill was amended by the House He pointed to states like Alabama, where it is legal to smoke is “what the committee, meaning the Senate would which gives concealed weapons pertobacco companies don’t want. They have to agree to the amended version ‘mits without background checks, and like to have these smoking rooms conif it is to reach the governor, but Allen states like California and Iowa, which tinue so they can keep the public said he expects easy approval from his give police chiefs the discretion to smoking more and more. So if you colleagues and a signature from Gov. issue a permit, even without a backwant to decrease smoking, thisi is one Mike Leavitt. ground check. He said Donnelson’s way to do it.” A related Arizona bill that place proposal would make it easier for a concealed weapon. permit holder from one of those states to carry a gun in Utah than a local resident. “It would be patently unfair to Un citizens,” Cox said. Rep. James Ferrin, R-Provo, ‘edi there isn’t a problem with concealed weapons permit holders coming from e outside the state and committing County Cancer — ecccuadaesi Postponed — crimes. “If we do not support this bill, KIRSTEN SHAW then we are infringing on the rights of people to defend themselves... and could consider it clustering, Gi Gun't really tie it to anything unless it is COURIER STAFF presentation A County of cancer incidence _ was postponed until March 20 due ~ to a scheduling conflict. Utah (435) 454-3719 (home) — (801) 538-1035 (Capitol) - ~—-_ Health ~—sdDepartment munity because of population changes,” says Keller, who utilizes data from the local cancer registry. _ “Based on your numbers, we need to determine whether some of the addi- tional cases were missed somehow.” Last week, the Courier revealed the actual number of cancer cases—especially leukemia—might exceed the numbers with county officials. Keller recently extremely concerned. If the numbers are correct, the county’s cancer rates—at least those of chronic myel- compiled and released a report on can‘cer in the rural community. Wasatch Health Department Director Phil last year after hearing concerns within (435) 722-4162 (home) (801) 538-1029 (Capitol) © Epidemiologist Karen Keller will attend the March discussion to review rates Wright submitted a request for the study REP. GORDON SNOW increasing over time or is sustained. You can find fluctuation in a small com- Wasatch rates to the county health board, originally scheduled for Feb. 20, SEN. BEVERLY EVANS + . Pauw l ORFsate e eeeFS Senators Pull a Bait and ! AS the county regarding cancer rates. Keller’s report claims Wasatch cancer rates are normal. “It doesn’t appear there’s anything unusual. It is common to see some elevated rates for a time period. The next time period, they could drop, so you Numerous state registries residents said report. they are ogenous leukemia—could be fifty times the national average. | “I'd be concerned as much as anybody if our cancer rates are higher,” Wright told the Courier. Board members have reviewed the report. “We'll wait until (Keller) comes and she'll give a report to the board, so we can understand the data collection oes and what it means.” |