The Answer to Solving Problems? Criminalize Everything!

HB462 Criminal Homicide and Abortion Revisions, the replacement bill for HB12 Criminal Homicide and Abortion Amendments, passed both the House and the Senate yesterday on The Hill. The bill is headed to the Governor’s desk for signing on Monday. The news has hit the New York Times and Ms. Magazine (which references Utah Legislature Watch). … Continue reading The Answer to Solving Problems? Criminalize Everything!

Utah Citizens Organize “Clean Air” Rally

There will be a “Rally for Clean Air” on the Steps on the South Side of the Utah State Capitol, Wednesday, March 10, 2010 from 3-4pm. The rally will be an effort to get legislators to reconsider their positions on HJR 12 Climate Change Resolution and HJR 21 Joint Resolution on Energy Policy. Organizer Drew … Continue reading Utah Citizens Organize “Clean Air” Rally

ACLU of Utah on SB 277: More Violations of 4th Amendment Rights

SB 277 DNA Modifications proposes to collect DNA samples of individuals arrested for violent felonies. The key concept here that is not being considered, it appears, is the difference between being arrested and convicted. It looks like “innocent until proven guilty” has no bearing on this at all. Fox News carried a piece on the … Continue reading ACLU of Utah on SB 277: More Violations of 4th Amendment Rights

HB 150: A Violation of Privacy

The Senate Education Committee early this morning will hear testimony on HB150 Administrative Supoena, a bill which will make it o.k. to get personal information from your ISP and cell phone records without a warrant in certain instances. Misty Fowler offers a bit of history and persepctive about the bill over on her Saintless blog: … Continue reading HB 150: A Violation of Privacy

The voting i.d. debacle

(cross-posted to Utah Legislature Watch)While the U.S. Supreme Court has now made it official that corporations are persons and have the same rights as individuals, including running for elections and voting (see Murray Hill, Inc. running for Congress), it appears the voting rights of “real” individuals are at stake – especially of opponents to the … Continue reading The voting i.d. debacle

H.B. 218: Municipal Disincorporation and Powder Mountain

(cross-posted to Utah Legislature Watch)Powder Mountain residents are up in arms. As well they should be. A developer has created and incorporated “Powderville” without surrounding resident’s input, resulting in a lawsuit that has reached the Utah Supreme Court. Established residents and legislators are speaking out and taking action.House Legislative District 8 Representative Gage Froerer will … Continue reading H.B. 218: Municipal Disincorporation and Powder Mountain

Power to the People: Mobile Home Owners’ Rights

(cross-posted to Utah Legislature Watch) This past Saturday mobile home owners held a rally at the Salt Lake City Library to raise their voices in support of the more than 75,000 mobile home owners in Utah. According to a piece on KCPW’s website, hundreds were expected, but snowy weather impacted the numbers which reduced to … Continue reading Power to the People: Mobile Home Owners’ Rights

“Your Papers Please”….Another “No” to Feds by Utah: National ID Law

A House Committee voted overwhelmingly on Friday to join over 20 other states in refusing to participate in the Read ID Act. This act was signed by George W. Bush in 2005, with an implementation deadline of 2010, that would require all state DMV's to transform state drivers' licenses into national ID's which would store … Continue reading “Your Papers Please”….Another “No” to Feds by Utah: National ID Law

More Money for Primary Seat Belt Law? Utah Says “No”.

Utah Legislators have "missed out" on $1.2 million from the feds for not having a "Primary Seat Belt Law". In Utah one can only get cited for not using a seat belt if another infraction is the reason for being pulled over by law enforcement. The feds want Utah to change that law so that … Continue reading More Money for Primary Seat Belt Law? Utah Says “No”.