Mero Moment: Smoking, dating, and competing rights
The following post is a transcript of a 4-minute weekly radio commentary aired on several Utah radio stations: Well into the new legislative session, already we see signs that state legislators...
View ArticleWhat is marriage? The divorce edition
It is a tired trope that people who care about marriage are inordinately worried about it being redefined and should just work to address the problem of divorce. Of course, in fact, they have been...
View Article2013 Legislature: Testimony in favor of SB 70 – commission relating to...
Testimony given by Derek Monson Wednesday before the Senate Government Operations Committee in support of Sen. Deidre Henderson’s SB 70: Thank you, Mr. Chair. My name is Derek Monson and I represent...
View Article2013 Legislature: Testimony in favor of SCR 7 — reducing dependence on...
Testimony given by Stan Rasmussen Friday in support of Sen. Aaron Osmond’s Concurrent Resolution to Reduce Utah’s Dependence on Federal Funds (SCR 7) before the Senate Government Operations Committee:...
View ArticleMy View: The House has got dating all wrong
There is an axiom that Utah culture is only a decade, perhaps even only a few years, behind a broader American culture in decline. Last week, as the Utah House of Representatives debated the Dating...
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2013 Legislature: Testimony opposing antidiscrimination amendments (SB 262)
Testimony given by Paul Mero Thursday, March 7, before the Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee regarding Employment and Housing Antidiscrimination Amendments (SB 262): Thank...
View ArticleLarge sodas, liquor and a free society
The following post is a transcript of a 4-minute weekly radio commentary aired on several Utah radio stations: If you’ve ever searched for an infamous example of government overreaching its proper...
View ArticleRobles, Osmond, Henderson, Valentine share highs, lows from 2013 Utah session
Watch our video to see what Utah State Sens. Luz Robles, Aaron Osmond, Deidre Henderson and John Valentine are most proud of from the 2013 Utah Legislative session. The legislators also tell us what...
View ArticleWhat is ‘local control’ in public education really about?
How would an authentically child-centered view of public education define “local control,” in regard to actually running a public school? Does it mean state-level control, district-level control, or...
View ArticleUtah County lawmakers favor conservatism over UEA
(Daily Herald) The latest report cards from special interest groups ranking Utah’s Legislature show that Utah County’s delegation at the state capitol favors conservative principles more than the top...
View ArticleFeds broke a promise to Utah on land ownership
When the Utah Legislature passed the Transfer of Public Lands Act (TPLA) in the 2012 general session, it did so for good reasons. The act was a response to 116 years of federal neglect for lands...
View ArticleInterim Day: Testimony before legislative committee regarding liquor policy
Testimony by Paul Mero before the Business and Labor Interim Committee on Wednesday, July 17, 2013. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, State liquor policy has been consistent for decades. Utah...
View ArticleCity Weekly: Liquor Laws Update – Politicos gear up for 2014 Legislature
(City Weekly) While the idea doesn’t have a sponsor— yet—the Sutherland Institute has pitched the public and the Legislature on the idea of lowering the legally allowed blood-alcohol limit from .08 to...
View ArticleGuest column: Utah issues letter grades to public schools
(Association of American Educators) During the 2013 legislative season, the state of Utah passed SB721 in an effort to foster a culture of transparency in public schools. Similar to bills in 15 other...
View ArticlePut burden of proof on those who would liberalize liquor laws
http://sutherlandinstitute.org/uploaded_files/meromoment/1-28-14MM.mp3 Last year, a scholarly paper was presented at the Alcohol Policy 16 Conference explaining how restaurants can transform in all...
View Article‘A Defense of Utah’s “Zion Curtain”’
Although it is roundly mocked in the media and elsewhere, the so-called “Zion curtain” required in Utah restaurants helps prevent alcohol-related disasters and improve public safety. It does this by...
View ArticleTestimony on HB 96 (Utah School Readiness Initiative)
Testimony presented by Stan Rasmussen, director of public affairs, Sutherland Institute, before the House Education Standing Committee of the Utah Legislature on Feb. 6, 2014, regarding HB 96 – Utah...
View ArticleTestimony regarding HB 311 (Budgeting Amendments) and HJR 11 (Budget...
Testimony presented by Derek Monson, director of policy, Sutherland Institute, before the House Revenue and Taxation Standing Committee regarding HB 311 – Budgeting Amendments and HJR 11 – Joint Rules...
View ArticleTestimony on SB 171 (Student-Centered Learning Pilot Program)
Testimony presented Feb. 12 by Stan Rasmussen, director of public affairs, Sutherland Institute, before the Senate Education Standing Committee of the Utah Legislature regarding SB 171 –...
View ArticleWhy would schools kick digital learners off campus?
A high school sophomore told the Senate Education Standing Committee recently that she was able to testify to them (in the middle of a school day) in support of requiring parental notification about...
View ArticleTestimony on HB 338 (Alcohol Beverage License Amendments)
Testimony presented by Derek Monson, director of public policy, Sutherland Institute, on Feb. 14 before the House Revenue and Taxation Standing Committee of the Utah Legislature regarding HB 338 –...
View ArticleHere’s how Utah can really level the educational playing field
http://sutherlandinstitute.org/uploaded_files/meromoment/2-18-14MM.mp3 Ten years ago, Sutherland Institute published a powerful analysis of public education in Utah called Saving Education and...
View ArticleSutherland’s position statement on Medicaid expansion
Sutherland Institute understands the perspective of those calling for Utah to follow Obamacare’s vision of Medicaid expansion. The argument sounds reasonable: Since Utahns are paying tax dollars to...
View ArticleUsing public policy to cover a multitude of sins
http://sutherlandinstitute.org/uploaded_files/meromoment/2-25-14MM.mp3 Sutherland Institute recently released a statement in support of the state Legislature’s refusal to expand Medicaid under...
View ArticleOn Point at the Capitol: advice from women in politics
In this episode of On Point, “Holly on the Hill” blogger Holly Richardson interviews several Democratic and Republican state legislators about the highs and lows of the 2014 session and finds out how...
View ArticleLegislature supports public-lands transfer with ‘what next’ bills
The Utah Legislature adjourned this month with a nice package of bills to support the state’s Transfer of Public Lands (TPLA) initiative. Since they’ve already passed a bill demanding transfer, the...
View ArticleOn Point video: views from Utah women in politics, 5/9/14
Watch as our panelists discuss Utah politics, divisions within conservatism, Benghazi, and the choices that women in politics must make. On the show this week: Aimee Newton, Salt Lake County Council...
View ArticleFrom HB 477 to the Utah Legislature winning the Online Democracy Award
Nailed it. This week, Speaker Becky Lockhart and Senate President Wayne Niederhauser accepted the Online Democracy Award from the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) on behalf of the...
View ArticleLegislature has it right on budget approach
The Utah Legislature recently received updated budget projections that give policymakers hundreds of millions in new state taxpayer dollars to allocate. The governor’s office subsequently recommended a...
View ArticleMedicaid expansion: The moral question — Sutherland Soapbox, 1/6/15
As things stand today, the 2015 Legislative Session is just three weeks away. And while many important issues will be addressed, one that is likely to have more significance and long-term impact than...
View ArticleFundamental reform must precede increases in generally applicable taxes
Some Utah policymakers are proposing legislation this year that would increase generally applicable taxes on income and gasoline. Not surprisingly, these proposals have drawn the attention of the media...
View ArticleThe (legislative) game is afoot
We’ve collected some great little tools to get you primed for this year’s legislative session: Here’s a quick video tour at the Capitol showing you where to find what. Learn how an idea becomes a law...
View ArticleSutherland Institute endorses LDS Church’s principles on religious freedom...
MEDIA RELEASE For Immediate Release: Jan. 27, 2015 Sutherland Institute welcomes the helpful comments from leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints this morning on religious liberty...
View ArticleWhy we cheer National School Choice Week
This week is National School Choice Week. School choice – the freedom of parents to move their child from a system of learning that is failing them to one that better meets their individual needs – has...
View ArticleRebecca Lockhart – Sutherland Soapbox, 1/27/15
Much has been said over the last several days since the passing of former Utah Speaker of the House Rebecca Lockhart, and appropriately so. In a state accustomed to bidding farewell to significant...
View ArticleS.L. Tribune op-ed: No reason to rush a Utah anti-discrimination law
(Salt Lake Tribune) Leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints last week made an informative, thoughtful statement about the need to take a balanced approach to the connected issues of...
View Article2015 Legislature: Testimony supporting partisan elections for state school...
Testimony given by Stan Rasmussen Tuesday, Feb. 3, before the Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Standing Committee regarding Education Elections and Reporting Amendments (SB 104):...
View ArticleOn Point video: 2015 Legislature gets into its groove
Watch “Holly on the Hill” blogger Holly Richardson and Michelle Mumford, former assistant dean at BYU Law School, discuss the first week of the 2015 Legislature – including the topics of Medicaid...
View ArticleSenator Hillyard has it right on raising the rainy-day fund cap
Last week, Senator Lyle Hillyard posted to The Senate Site that he and Representative Dean Sanpei would be sponsoring legislation to raise the limits on the general and education rainy-day funds (or...
View ArticleTestimony on SB 164 (Medicaid expansion)
Testimony presented by Derek Monson, director of public policy, Sutherland Institute, on Feb. 11, 2015, before the Senate Health and Human Services Committee of the Utah Legislature regarding SB 164...
View ArticleOn Point video: Taxes and education in the Legislature — 2/12/15
Watch as Utah GOP party officer Michelle Mumford and political consultant Michelle Scharf discuss the latest in Utah politics and the 2015 Legislature in the latest edition of On Point, presented by...
View ArticleTestimony on SB 153 (Access to Health Care)
Testimony presented by Stan Rasmussen, Sutherland Institute director of public affairs, on Feb. 17, 2015, before the Senate Health and Human Services Standing Committee regarding SB 153 (Access to...
View ArticleNondiscrimination legislation requires balance, extreme care
News reports suggest there is still an ongoing debate about how to balance calls for changes to state discrimination laws (which would expand the reasons businesses and property owners could not deny...
View ArticleSupport religious liberty: stand up to the ‘no compromise’ approach to...
Supporters of a “no compromise” approach to LGBT nondiscrimination argue that we already have sufficient protections for religious liberty. They cite the First Amendment and Utah’s majority-Mormon...
View ArticleSutherland Institute statement on SB 296
At the time of the press conference by leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on religious liberty, Sutherland Institute expressed its support for the principles those leaders...
View ArticleSutherland Institute endorses SB 297
In our statement about SB 296 yesterday, we noted a need for additional religious liberty protections for “the ability of people of faith to act on their beliefs related to marriage without fear of...
View ArticleWhy Senate Bill 297 is necessary
At this time, the state of Utah has been required to recognize same-sex marriages by court order. The court order did not address some of the foreseeable consequences of redefining marriage in the...
View ArticleTop 5 highlights from the 2015 Utah legislative session
Of the 833 pieces of legislation that were introduced this session, below are five that are especially noteworthy. HB 333—Budget Reserve Account Amendments Utah lawmakers once again showed they are...
View ArticleAn open letter to Utah legislators
March 20, 2015 Dear members of the Utah Senate and House of Representatives, Thank you for your service in the recently concluded legislative session. As we reflect on the important policy decisions...
View ArticleOn Point video: Highlights of 2015 Legislature, 3/31/15
Holly Richardson, one of the regular hosts of On Point presented by Sutherland Institute, recently had the opportunity to sit down with Rep. Kim Coleman to discuss highlights from the 2015 Utah...
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