OCR Text |
Show Legislation Highlights amount of benefit for taking on the responsibilities respon-sibilities of having heavy business saturation. satura-tion. The purpose of the amendment would be to allow a way for cities like Pleasant Grove, in cooperation with a city like Orem, to have a tax base sufficient enough to build upon. "The amendment would also remove the 75 ceiling on the state's ability to contribute con-tribute to public education," educa-tion," Rogers noted. "The growth of public education system is becoming more of an important issue." Sighting another example ex-ample of the legislature's tight fiscal policies, Rogers referred refer-red to the social services ser-vices committee upon which he serves. "The states social services department had been prone to run-away budgets in certain areas. Yearly increases of 20 to 30 were common," he stated. According to Rogers, the Medicaid budget alone would have been anywhere from $100-8110 million last year, and $140 million in 1980. The approved 1979 budget, however, was $91 million and the 1980 budget was held to $103 million. "I've had directors and administrators come and tell me that we are a better institution institu-tion today after we implemented im-plemented the cut back you imposed," Rogers explained. He reiterated that his fiscal philosophy was "to maintain a posture of restraint so that we're continually forced to look at alternatives. That way we assure productive growth. Referring to the fact that he has continually returned his representatives represen-tatives salary to the State, Rogers said that the notion of volunteerism is one of the primary solutions to solving our social problems. "Our government is fiscally devasted because we fund services ser-vices to meet almost any perceived human need. There is never enough money to take care of what various people consider are the perceived needs of humanity," he firmly stated. Those types of needs, said Rogers, would be best addressed by the attitude of volunteerism. Rogers noted that to encourage such volunteerism he had introduced a bill to provide tax credits for people who dontate their money to qualified social service institutions. institu-tions. He reported that this particular piece of legislation was approved approv-ed in the House, however the Senate did not have time to properly proper-ly consider it. He will introduce the legislation legisla-tion again next session. Rogers pointed out that taxes did increase in one area, that of hunting hun-ting and fishing license fees. The reason for the increase, he suggested was primarily to provide pro-vide a better quality program through the coming years. "There had not been a license increase in several years and as a result the fish and game department has had to close down several fish hatcheries and cut back other services," ser-vices," Rogers said. "Although the department asked for an 80 to 100 fee increase, in-crease, the legislature approved less than half of that amount. This restrained increase will force the department to manage services more efficiently, yet at the same time will provide enough funds to meet inflation and improve the quality of the program," pro-gram," Rogers concluded. He also noted that several criminal procedures pro-cedures bills were passed pass-ed which will update the procedure for handling handl-ing lawbreakers. The result, said Rogers, will be to help the courts move more speedily while removing some of the obstacles to efficiency. effi-ciency. Substantial savings sav-ings should result as well, the young legislator added. Utah solons also voted to change business license registration to once evey two years instead of the yearly registration registra-tion as has been the case. Rogers called the action a 'real convenience" conve-nience" for businessmen. Two bills dealing with federal control of state lands were also passed, said Rogers. The most prominent of the two was the joint resolution supporting senator Orin Hatch's approach to the transfer of unappropriated unap-propriated federal lands into state hands. The other was a bill asserting asser-ting the state's right to have control over those lands. "The heart of the materials whether or not Utah ought to be able to control its own land. At present, 66 of our land is federally controlled. And that's offensive to me, and to the people I represent," Rogers declared. "This legislation simply states that our federally administered lands would be administered ad-ministered more in Utah's interest when under state control. And, as I see, it that philosophy is pretty hard to contradict," Rogers suggested. Another piece of legislation which Rogers said was important impor-tant to state residents was Senate Bill 63, termed to the gross receipts tax. According to Rogers, this legislation legisla-tion amounts to a graduated tax beginning beginn-ing at 2 on any corporation cor-poration that does over one billion dollars of business a year. "It is particularly aimed at the Inter-mountain Inter-mountain Power Project," Pro-ject," he continued. "We have great concerns con-cerns about the impact the IPP will have on the state of Utah. I think our state stands in the position of being exploited ex-ploited over the next decade by this and other projects. We need to be careful we have a sufficient tax base to offset the impact that this project and others like the MX Missle system can have." "The gross receipts tax essentially says that the state of Utah expects the IPP help to pay their own way," Rogers pointed out. Rogers also reported that the bill which he sponsored concerning "children's rights" was passed. The legislation allows for consideration of the "child's best interests" in-terests" when a decision deci-sion about termination of a natural parent's right to the child arises. Rogers said the bill was directed at parents who, because of personal per-sonal unwillingness, have a foster home raise their children, and still won't allow them to be adopted and grow in a stable home environment. en-vironment. This law gives the courts the preogative to force the termination of parent's rights if it serves the child's best interests. "Overall, the session was a very productive one," concluded Rogers. "I'm especially pleased pleas-ed with the support and communication I received from the constituents con-stituents of my district. I encourage them to get as involved as possible in the political process." |