As a member of the House Education Standing Committee, Representative Craig A. Frank (R-Utah County) will be proposing the following amendments to SB70 (known as the UVU bill):

1          UTAH VAL[LEY]ENTINE UNIVERSITY
 
5          Chief Sponsor:  John L. Val[entine]ley 
 
(Of course, Senator Valentine would have to legally change his name to avoid a potential conflict of interest—we could do that right HERE in statute)

20        Utah Valley State College to Utah Val[ley]entine University.

23        *   changes the name of Utah Valley State College to Utah Val[ley]entine University…

29        the General Fund for fiscal year 2007-08 to Utah Val[ley]entine University.

60        (i) Utah Val[ley]entine [State College] University;

84        (h) Utah Val[ley]entine [State College] University;
 
109      (b) The appointed members of the boards of trustees for Utah Val[ley]entine [State College] University
 
154      53B-2-110, Utah Val[ley]entine University – Institutional Name Change.

155      (1) Beginning July 1, S> [2007] 2008 , Utah Valley State College shall be known as Utah Val[ley]entine University,
 
239      (h) one member of the Utah Val[ley]entine [State College] University board of trustees;

303            College, Dixie State College of Utah, the College of Eastern Utah, Utah Val[ley]entine [State College] University
 
327      (E) Utah Val[ley]entine [State College] University, main campus and extensions;

378      Utah Val[ley]entine [State College] University      114

406      (1) Utah Val[ley]entine [State College] University and Salt Lake Community College may

433      Utah Val[ley]entine [State College] University, and Weber State University shall conduct various types

454      College of Utah, the College of Eastern Utah, Utah Val[ley]entine [State College] University,
 
460            appropriated from the General Fund for fiscal year 2007-08, $10,000,000 to Utah Val[ley]entine University
 
463      used to fund improvements at Utah Val[ley]entine University consistent with its change in institutional
 
 
Kidding aside…

President Valentine (soon to be Valley) and others, have spent a tremendous amount of political capital to make this institutional change a reality.  Bravo!

Last week, Rep. Steve Clark and I did a “straw poll” in the House…and…It’s Lookin’ Good…UVU! 

Click HERE and HERE for local news on SB70.

The Utah Taxpayers Association once again “hits the nail on the head.”  In a recent blog, UTA explains why the Transient Room Tax (TRT) IS our tax dollars and why we should be utilizing those taxes dollars on more appropriate economic development models.

Click HERE for UTA blog link.

Here’s a little reading on your most recent partially state-funded investment.  Click HERE, HERE, and HERE.

Please DON’t ask for FREE season tickets!

Just a few moments ago the House voted to CONCUR with the Senate Amendments on first substitute House Bill 38.

What that means:

People who stay in hotels in Salt Lake County only (Counties of the First Class-Only one in Utah), who currently pay the Transient Room Tax (TRT), will continue to pay for that tax (4.5% of their hotel bill).  However, the monies for this TRT will be “shifted” to the development of “traffic and parking” projects on or around the new stadium AND for land purchase (to be owned by the state).

THE VOTE: YES 48, NO 24, ABSENT 3    Click for who voted HERE.

THE HOUSE CONSERVATIVE CAUCUS HAS ITS OWN LAPEL PIN…

Much “bloodshed” has been had over this coveted pin.  This unique identifier has been seen on the lapels of caucus members and non-members alike.  Cost of a pin:  $300 million in tax cuts.

HARDWARE IN THE HOUSE…

At any given point in time, there are six handguns on the House floor (that we know of).  JAZZ BEAR…BEWARE!

H&K, Sig Sauer, Glock, S&W…everyone has their favorite weapon of choice…most are carrying .40 caliber with Federalist hollow-points–outstanding ballistics!

Nearly 40% of the current legislature has taken a CWP (Concealed Weapons Permit) class and a good portion of those have applied for their CWP.  There are over 80,000 CWP holders in Utah according to BCI.

The Second Amendment and Gun Rights are always hot topics–this year’s General Session is no exception.

Click HERE for a link to current gun legislation.