Take the Polls! Call Us: (801) 533-9777 Donate Now Elephant Bites - Week Two Happy Friday! We have made it through Week Two of the Utah Legislative Session and our Republican legislators are doing the good work that they promised to do when they campaigned for office last year. The highlight of the week for me has to be the return of Utah National Guard Troops that went to Washington, DC to help with the inauguration. We are so thankful for their willingness to serve and happy to have them back. We've seen a few of our legislators and interns contract Covid-19. Unfortunately, one of our legislators is in the ICU currently. I hope you will join me in praying for a quick recovery for everyone. Have you wondered how you can participate in the legislative session during this pandemic? All meetings are open to the public through le.utah.gov. You can watch and even participate through the various Zoom links listed on the agenda. Senator Jake Anderegg put together a tutorial on how to do just that. You can watch the video here. There are two bills working through the legislature right now that we are keenly interested in because they will impact the way we do elections in Utah. We would like your feedback through the polls in this email. The first bill is H.B. 127, sponsored by Representative Mike Winder. This bill would require Ranked Choice Voting in Primary Elections when there are more than 2 candidates for that party’s nomination for a statewide or county election. This would not apply to the General Election - only the Primary. Because candidates can get on the Republican Primary Ballot through signatures or convention, we are starting to see situations where the primary winner does not have a majority of support. Regarding Primary elections when there are 3 or more candidates, Would you prefer the party? Use Ranked Choice Voting Select Hold a Runoff Election between June and November Select Leave it the way it is Select The second Bill is H.B. 197, Voter Affiliation Amendments sponsored by Representative Jordan Teuscher. This bill would prohibit anyone from changing their party affiliation in an election year from January 1 until after the Primary has ended. When is the right time before a primary election to prohibit party switching? January 1st of an Election Year Select After Precinct Caucuses Select 45 Days Prior to the Primary Election Select No Deadline - Leave it the way it is Select Thank you for your feedback and your participation. This is YOUR Republican Party and I am honored to serve you. Chairman Derek Brown Senate Priorities A word from Senate President Adams: "A balanced budget is a top priority and constitutionally required by the Legislature. On Thursday, we passed base budgets, which prevents the state government from shutting down. Traditionally, the base budget reflects last year's ongoing appropriations as a starting point. This year, we included over half a billion dollars in new state spending for high priority items such as Medicaid and COVID-19 response. Additionally, we're one of the few states in the nation able to increase education funding and provide bonuses for school teachers and staff, an unprecedented move, which was only possible because the state took a holistic approach to manage the pandemic." House Priorities H.B. 86, Social Security Tax Amendments passed out of Committee and will ease the tax burden for Social Security recipients. H.B. 217, Which will create the Office Of Regulatory Relief will be in Committee on Friday. Once established, this office will exist to examine and reduce the regulatory burden on Utahns. In Other News H.B. 60, which allows for anyone over 21 and legally able to own firearms to carry a concealed firearm in a public area without a permit, easily passed the Utah House. It is expected to pass the Senate as well and will likely become state law. Utah State Auditor’s office has updated the Transparent Utah website. Transparency and accountability have been hallmarks of Auditor John Dougall’s public service. Check it out: [link removed]. Federal Round up! Congratulations to our two newest Congressmen on receiving their committee assignments! We’re happy to see that Leader McCarthy sees the value in both of these fine men and their committee assignments reflect that trust. We are excited to announce Congressman Blake Moore has been appointed to the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) and the House Committee on Natural Resources. Of his appointment to HASC, Representative Moore has said, “I made a promise to get appointed to this important committee as a freshman member, and I am thrilled to be able to deliver on this commitment for my constituents. The First District’s representation on the Committee is key to ensuring that the tens of thousands of constituents who work at Hill Air Force Base and its several assets have the necessary resources to make vital contributions to our national defense. I look forward to working with my colleagues to support those in the First District who wake up every day to serve our nation and advocate for our national security interests at large, prioritizing pressing issues such as readiness, funding allocations, and modernization efforts.” Congressman Burgess Owens has been selected to be on the House Education and Labor Committee as well as the House Judiciary Committee. Of his appointments, Representative Owens said, "It's an honor to be selected for these committees, and I look forward to getting to work. From early learning to higher education, every student deserves access to a high-quality education - regardless of race, income, or zip code. I will work alongside my colleagues to deliver that and further strengthen health care, job training, and retirement security. On the House Judiciary Committee, I will work hard to combat human trafficking, address the dangers of censorship, and protect the civil liberties of all Americans." Utah Republican Party 15 W. South Temple Ste 250, SLC 84101 (801) 533-9777 Contact Us ‌ ‌ ‌ Utah Republican Party | 15 W South Temple, Ste 250, Salt Lake City, UT 84101 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | About our service provider Sent by [email protected] powered by Try email marketing for free today!