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Show Representative Jones reports on activities of State Legislature The Utah Legislature got the cart before the horse in the recently concluded session in Salt Lake City, according to Representative Garth Jones of Cedar City representing Iron and Kane Counties. "The usual manner of developing programs is to determine available incomes and then budget programs accordingly," ac-cordingly," he noted. "In this session we budget programs then tried to come up with the money to meet those budgets," he advocated. As a result Representative Jones, who opposed a tax increase, in-crease, felt that some budgets, particularly in the social ser vices areas, were not trimmed resulting in a tax increase that should result in a 12 million dollar increase from income tax. Jones pointed out that the additional monies would come from a tax increase and not from an adjustment as recommended by Governor Rampton. The representative cited two major reasons why he opposed the tax increase passed by the legislature. First was the fact that the state was already looking at 15 million dollars in surplus monies and secondly that a period of inflation is not a time to look at tax increases when government spending is the greatest influence in inflationary spirals. Energy Package Representative Jones expressed ex-pressed his pleasure at the series of energy bills introduced by Senator Dixie Leavitt passing. "One of the reasons that this type of legislation is important is that it creates real jobs when they are needed, rather than 'make job' type legislation for the purpose of pumping money into the economy to do nothing," he noted. Jones also supported the increase in-crease to 2 mills for well heads on petroleum drillings. The bill makes it possible to develop research and development that could eventually attract industry into Utah by the possible refinement of raw products into a more marketable state. Predators Regarding the predator bill that passed the legislature Representative Jones expressed a belief that the bill helped broaden the board that will administer the control program, although it leaves it in the agricultural department. More money was provided by the legislature for control of the reorganization should enable us to tighten up on fiscal procedures and make us more aware of where money is Ix-ing spent." Defeated Bills As important as those bills that passed were those that were defeated. Jones indicated. He was particularly happy over the defeat of the Agency-Shop Agency-Shop bill expressing a belief that Utah's are perfectly content w ith the right to work law as presently-constituted. presently-constituted. Another bill that Jones felt was important to be defeated was the Public Employees Negotiation Act "This type of legislation takes away from elective officials of-ficials and places in the hands of a third party, the right to negotiate contracts and settle wage and benefit issues," he concluded. predators. "I believe that this was significant legislation for the livestock industry of Utah.' he commented. Reorganization Measures to reorganize the legislature were also passed. This action is designed to make the legislature more efficient. It should also make it possible for legislators to be better informed and more knowledgeable on issues to come before the legislature sessions. Under the plan legislative committees w ill meet throughout the year so thorough study of bills can be made. This w ill also facilitate the consideration of more bills Another important part of the bill is to hire a legislative auditor. This makes possible the implementation of this position as approved by the voters three years ago. "Further |