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Show Rep. Jones plans for Legislative session On the eve of the Utah State Legislative Budget session slated January 12 and running for 20 calendar days, Representatives. Garth Jones from Iron and Kane County expressed some specific concerns that he has relative to the session and its purpose. First and foremost the southern Utah legislator emphasized em-phasized that the session is primarily one of budget consideration con-sideration and that the length of the session does not lend itself to the introduction, nor adequate opportunity for debate, on other matters. However, some additional matters will come before the legislators and "I hope that I can represent the interests of my constituents , on these , matters, keeping in mind a philosophy that I have that we should do all that we can to keep government off our backs and out of our pockets." Areas of Concern Rep. Jones indicated that he had two areas of primary concern con-cern regarding the legislature session. The first is a budgetary item dealing with hunting licenses. Following a hearing held in Cedar City by sportsmen and livestock representatives Rep. Jones has entered into the legislative process a bill which would increase the hunting license and the combination license both in and out-of-state, by $1, with the stipulation that the $1 would be earmarked for preditor control. "Secondly I hope to introduce a resolution concerning air quality and air classification on the peripheries of national parks and federal lands in Utah," Rep. Jones said. "I am opposed to reclassification from a two rating to a one rating now being considered, on thegrounds that it will, for all intent and purpose, stop future development throughout the state specifically in energy related areas." Rep. Jones indicated that he feels that both sides should be heard on this issue and believes that we must think about people as well as environment emphasizing em-phasizing that "We are part of the environment." Responsible for Actions The southern Utah legislator also expressed a strong concern that people and organizations "Should be held responsible for their actions." Government bureaucracies such as the EPA, BLM, Park Service and private environment interests should not be exempt from their actions. Environmental interests, for instance, have nothing to lose by bringing a court injunction even after a project or proposal has cleared all the normal hurdles. "I believe that where these injunctions are brought that there should be included in the judgement a monatary . responsibility for delays that may be caused by the action, should the case be lost in the court." It is on this premise, if I can receive the necessary support, that a resolution would be introduced in-troduced into the legislature, Rep. Jones stated. .i |