The 2014 Legislative session saw nine bills dealing with the transfer of public lands. This has been a huge issue for Utah’s Counties because of the impact that public lands have on rural communities where access to the land for natural resources, grazing, recreation, etc. is paramount to the people who make a living off the land. The Governor goes into some of the details on a couple of these bills ranging from the transfer of public lands to Utah’s state plan for Wilderness. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlonX0T_fAQ

Another big issue this past legislative session was the discussion of what to do about the expansion of Medicaid. County Mental Health Services are concerned that changes could affect federal block grants that they currently receive to provide services. Governor Herbert goes into the details of the proposed Healthy Utah Plan covering the reasoning from the states perspective and how it affects Utahns. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-7ze6Ug8Zw

A previous program looked at the issues involving Counties and the funding of the maintenance and construction of roads. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYJSxnYHtVA Governor Herbert talks about some of the solutions from his perspective and predicts that we will see some progress road funding on the 2015 legislative session.

Air Quality discussion usually revolves around the inversions we encounter during the winter. Governor Herbert talks about some of the State’s Progress towards cleaning up the air along the Wasatch Front. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX-RVsmhOY4

Highlights:

1:30 Utah’s Wilderness Act HB160

2:37 Interstate Compact on Transfer of Public Lands HB164

7:20 Medicaid Expansion in Utah

8:35 Healthy Utah Plan

14:57 Other States are waiting to see what happens with Utah’s Plan

18:00 Discussing Gas Tax and how to fund roads and highway infrastructure in the future

20:49 “It’s a Double Whammy”

24:01 Wrapping Up discussing Air Quality

Links of Interest:

American Lands Council; Summary of 2014 Transfer of Public Lands Legislation

http://americanlandscouncil.org/myportfolio/summary-of-ut-2014-transfer-of-public-lands-legislation/

Governor Herbert’s Healthy Utah Plan

http://www.utah.gov/governor/news_media/article.html?article=9747

Clean Air Action Team

http://envisionutah.org/issues/air-quality/clean-air-action-team

[youtube=www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX-RVsmhOY4 -A&rel=0">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX-RVsmhOY4-A&rel=0]

Air quality continues to be a topic that many of us along the Wasatch Front are concerned about. It’s hard not to be concerned when it seems like weeks since the last time we saw past the sticky inversion. Joining us for the
conversation today is Jonathan Johnson, the executive vice chair of overstock.com and the head of the task force on the air quality for the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce; Bret Millburn, commissioner of Davis
County and the chair of the Wasatch Front Regional Council and Bryce Bird the Director of Air Quality for the State of Utah.

This week the panel discussed:

History and trends of inversions along the Wasatch Front. Is the inversion getting worse or is it cyclical?
How is pollution monitored?
Who is contributing the most pollution?
Where does change need to occur? (What Can Businesses do? What can Government do? What can the individual do?)
What changes do we need to see in infrastructure? (Natural Gas, Public Transit)
Wood-burning specifically as a polluter.

http://www.airquality.utah.gov/
http://slchamber.com/
http://www.ucair.org/

Review of the 2014 Legislative Session with Governor Gary Herbert