Utah State legislators hold town meeting

Local Utah legislators held a town meeting on Jan. 17 at Churchill Junior High School to hear the concerns of their constituents. Although it was a non-partisan event, all participants were Democrats. Sen. Patricia Jones, Rep. Brian King, Rep. Patrice Arent, Rep. Carol Spackman Moss and Rep. Lynn Hemingway stayed for an hour and a half to answer questions and listen to concerns of residents.

After a brief introduction by each legislator, KSL Newsradio moderator Doug Wright opened the event up to the approximately 80 residents in attendance. Several items were brought forward, including concerns of poor air quality, education and Utah Department of Alcohol and Beverage Control reform.

Nate Porter, owner of the Huka Bar and Grill in Murray, was concerned about HB 245, which if passed during the legislative session would prohibit the use of hookah pipes in a place of public access. Porter said his bar is structured around the use of hookahs, and the new rule would put him completely out of business.

“From what I understand, the question hinges upon whether or not the tobacco is heated or ignited,” Spackman Moss said. “The current Utah Indoor Clean Act addresses things that are ignited. I also understand that people voluntarily go there. People don’t just wander in – it is called the Huka Bar.”

Jones said she went into the bar to understand it better, but she had not seen the legislation yet.

“I am a health advocate,” Jones said. “I have a lung disease and I really struggled in your establishment. I can respect, however, that when people go in there, they know what they are getting themselves into. I will look at the legislation very carefully before I vote on it.”

Liquor law reforms also elicited some discussion among the panel. King said in past years, leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have met informally with the Republican and Democratic sides of both the house and the senate. The question of alcohol reform was broached.

“They said they are concerned with three things – underage drinking, DUI and excessive use,” King said. “So let’s reform Utah’s alcohol laws to deal with those three things effectively.”

Arent said the liquor laws were discouraging economic development in the state.

“Can anyone tell me why the liquor store is closed in Park City on President’s Day - or the store in Moab on Columbus Day? It makes no sense. We are losing money,” Arent said. “I am working on a bill that is being drafted right now to give the DABC the control and authority to look at which stores ought to be opened on holidays.”

With more than half of the panel having a background in education in some capacity, many teachers in the audience came forward, voicing concerns of teacher prep days being cut, their feelings of low morale and the lack of advocates on the hill.

Local teacher Judy Taylor said, “I work hard. I spend a lot of hours preparing so my students can learn. I get discouraged when I see some bills being presented that are limiting towards teachers.”

Spackman Moss said she was glad this was a topic of conversation on both sides of the political spectrum.

“Teachers salaries have not gone up commensurate with the times, and things are not better, yet people expect the same result and it is not going to happen,” Spackman Moss said. “It really says a lot about us as a society and the commitment we make to public education. Now we really need to do something. We can’t just talk about it anymore.”

Wright ended the meeting on time, allowing residents that were not able to voice their concerns publicly to speak to public servants after the meeting concluded.