Candace Salima Resigns Her Position

We are sad to announce that Candace Salima has resigned her position as Legislative District 60 Chair. It wasn't an easy decision but she feels confident that Barbara Petty will do an excellent job in her place.

Legislative Update from Rep. Brad Daw

Representative Brad Daw has always been wonderful at keeping his constituents updated. Here is his latest report from Wednesday's Interim Session of the Utah House.

This week was interim day at the Capitol. If you would like to get a full rundown from all the committees you can take a look at the Interim Highlights. 

Three items I have been working on made news headlines this week. The first was dealing with speed limits.

Higher Speed Limits

I chaired the Transportation Committee and we had a discussion about the 80 MPH study areas on the way to St. George. The report from UDOT indicated that traffic accidents related to speed had not increased by raising the speed limit and that the average speed of traffic had only gone up 2 MPH. So the net result was not cars going a lot faster but more cars in compliance with the speed limit law. This prompted the committee to move ahead with converting the study areas to full fledged 80 MPH zones. For more details you can read the news report here. 

More Hard Times For UTOPIA 

The revenue and tax committee reviewed the audit of UTOPIA that I called for last year. Prior to the audit, the Senate chair of the committee wrote this editorial blasting UTOPIA's response to the audit. Things for UTOPIA did not improve in the committee meeting itself. Many members of the committee were very critical of UTOPIA and various ways of stopping the flow of taxpayer dollars to finance UTOPIA's ever increasing debt were discussed. You can read a report from the committee here. 

Smoking in the Car 

In Health and Human Services committee we heard the annual bill banning smoking in the car when kids 15 or younger are present. This was presented along with dire predictions of health risks if we continued to ignore this terrible plague. They carefully avoided mentioning that any kid with smoking parents is going to get exposed to far more second hand smoke at home than they ever will in a car. And that, for me was the problem. If we start stepping into private property to ban a legal if disgusting activity because the private property is a car then just how close are we to stepping into people's homes to do the same thing? In the past, I have been joined by other colleagues in voting against this bill that is far more symbolic than substantial, but this year I was the lone no vote. Here is a write up on the bill. Any comments on these or any other topic are always welcome. 

Yours sincerely,
Brad Daw

Senator Mike Lee Opposes Nomination of Hurwitz to Ninth Circuit Court

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Lee Opposes Nomination of Hurwitz to Ninth Circuit Court

Today, Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) shared the following statement in a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing regarding Andrew Hurwitz, President Obama's nominee to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals:

"I oppose the nomination of Andrew Hurwitz based on concerns I have with his constitutional jurisprudence.  In a 2002 New York Law School Law Review article, Mr. Hurwitz in effect took credit for helping develop the legal architecture for Roe v. Wade.  Mr. Hurwitz served as law clerk to then-Judge Jon Newman at a time that Judge Newman issued an opinion that Mr. Hurwitz asserts played an important role in developing the legal framework used to justify Roe v. Wade.  Far from deflecting credit from himself as the clerk in chambers during that time, as I believe a former clerk should, Mr. Hurwitz recounted that, in a subsequent interview for a subsequent clerkship, a Supreme Court justice had “jokingly referred” to him as “the clerk who wrote the Newman opinion.”  

"Mr. Hurwitz has asserted that his law review article was descriptive and did not express his personal opinion as to the merits of Roe v. Wade, but to anyone who has reviewed Mr. Hurwitz’s article and the laudatory tone with which it discusses that Supreme Court opinion,this response is simply not credible.  Mr. Hurwitz specifically praised Judge Neuman’s “careful and meticulous analysis of the constitutional issues,” calling that analysis “striking, even in the hindsight of thirty years.”

"Mr. Hurwtiz cannot have it both ways.  He cannot seek credit for his role developing a jurisprudence that is completely unmoored from the Constitution and that has fundamentally disrespected human life, and then later claim that he was only retelling a story as an outside observer.  There is growing consensus among legal experts and scholars, both conservative and liberal, that Roe was a deficient opinion that lacks any legitimate legal reasoning in support of its holding.  

"Mr. Hurwitz’s willful failure to recognize the grave deficiencies of the Roe opinion, and his self-promotion for playing a part in such an unfortunate event in this country’s judicial history, casts an unacceptable degree of doubt on his capability to serve in the role of a federal appellate judge.  

"Prior to President Obama’s unconstitutional “recess” appointments, I gave his judicial nominees great deference. Both in the Judiciary Committee and on the Senate floor, I have voted in favor of the vast majority of the President’s nominees, including many with whom I fundamentally disagree. But I can do so no more.  There is and must be a new standard for the President’s judicial nominations.  A standard under which a problematic and controversial nominee such as Mr. Hurwitz cannot receive my support."

A video of Senator Lee's remarks can be viewed here. 

Communications Director

Brian Phillips>

Brian_Phillips@lee.senate.gov

202-224-5444

Press Secretary

Emily Bennion

Emily_Bennion@lee.senate.gov

202-224-3904

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Utah's Caucus System Explained

New Legislative District 60 Chair

On January 28,2012 we attended our quarterly Central Committee Meeting. Everyone who is elected as a Precinct Chair or Vice Chair comprises the body of this meeting. It is where we vote on issues critical to the county party, prepare for elections, caucuses, have district elections, etc. I ran for Leg 60 Chair and won.

My vision for our district is threefold. I very want to unite a district that has become quite divisive. Regardless of which side we are in the issues, in my opinion, when we come together as a district we must focus on spreading the Republican message, registering voters and getting out the vote, and supporting our candidates and elected officials.

On March 15th we will hold the statewide caucuses for the Republican Party. At each of these caucuses new precinct officers will be elected: Precinct Chair, Vice-Chair, and Secretary/Treasurer as well as state and county delegates. It is our goal to get every voting Republican in Legislative District 60 to the caucus. Here, patterned after the representational government our Founding Fathers gave us, we elect those who will meet with candidates, research them and the issues, and whittle the Republican field down to one candidate who will represent us in November.

We face a historic time in America and are in the battle for her very soul. It is my hope that we can have record turnouts at our  caucuses  and at the polls. It is one of my strongest beliefs that in order to salvage our nation, we must begin at home. Our political home begins in District 60 of Utah County's Republican Party. I look forward to working with everyone.

Because I am now the Leg Chair, I will not be able to conduct our March 15 Caucus. Robin Devey, who is my vice-chair, will conduct that night. It has been an honor to serve the Orem 28th Precinct for all these years. I intend to remain active and will be seeking a state delegate position so that I may continue to represent you. Thanks for your confidence all these years. I am certain I am leaving you in very competent hands.

Thank you,

Candace Salima

Leg 60 Chair

Brad Daw: Legislative Update

Commencement Newsletter

Dear Neighbor,

The Utah State Legislative Session has begun and is already in full swing. There is a lot going on at Capitol hill that I'm excited to share with you. To address concerns raised at the last City Council meeting, I have included a brief summary of Representative Ken Ivory's mission to take back our Utah state lands, below. This really is wonderful work and we are all behind him and wishing him the greatest success. First off however, we had a very provoking presentation delivered in the Committee of Higher Education that I'd like to share, on the potential usurpation of higher learning.

The future of Higher Education?

In the Committee of Higher Education this week, we were privileged to hear from Professor Clayton Christensen, a Professor of Business at Harvard University, who delivered a very interesting presentation on his projected views for the future of higher education. According to Professor Christensen, higher education is now in a position to be disrupted by developing institutions such as the evolvement of online learning. In other words, the growth of online learning is on track to compete with prestigious universities and higher education. The University of M.I.T. provided a perfect example of this when they recently allowed their courses to be taken online. Students around the world are now able to complete coursework taught by the brightest Professors in the country and they do not have to be full time students of M.I.T. to do so. And so this raises the question: What does this development mean for Professors and classes of introductory curriculum? In other words, why would students want to attend a public university Physics 1010 class when they could take Physics 1010 from the most capable Professor of physics in the country? It will be interesting to see how this idea progresses as the world of online learning continues to grow exponentially. In fact, Professor Christensen had a very amusing story about the University of Phoenix that he used to emphasize this conclusion.

Taking back Utah State Public Land

As promised, I'd like to give you a brief overview of Representative Ken Ivory's work to take back our state lands from the federal government. Take a look at this map to see how outrageous the issue really is. Notice Utah is number three on the list of the top ten states of federally owned land. Also note the drastic differences between the two coasts. Representative Ivory is currently working with lawmakers in five western states to pass similar legislation: Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Idaho, and Wyoming. It is absolutely essential that the states control the majority of their public lands.

On a lighter note,

A friend of mine sent me this link that I found to be amusing in light of today's current debt crisis.

Local Political Blog

LOCAL POLITICAL BLOG: A neighbor of mine recently uploaded a local political blog to keep up to date with current legislation and important events in Utah, specifically in the Orem District. Check it out here.

- Brad Daw

From the office of Senator Mike Lee: Tribute to Officer Jared Francom

FOR IMMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Sen. Lee Pays Tribute to Fallen Officer Francom on Senate Floor

Today, Senator Mike Lee spoke on the Senate floor about the tragic death of Utah policeman Jared Francom, who was shot in the line of duty on January 4th. A video of the speech is available here, and a transcript of Senator Lee’s remarks is below:

Mr. President, today I rise with a heavy heart to mourn the loss of Ogden police officer Jared Francom.

Earlier this month, on the evening of January 4th, 2012, Agent Francom was senselessly gunned down defending his fellow officers as they attempted to serve a search warrant in Ogden, Utah. Five other officers – Shawn Grogan, Kasey Burrell, Michael Rounkles, Nate Hutchinson, and Jason Venderwarf – were wounded in the gun battle.

A week later, a crowd of roughly 4000 family members, friends, and supporters, including more than a thousand uniformed officers, gathered at a public memorial for Jared to saygoodbye to one of America’s fallen heroes.

The sentiment from all that knew him was the same: Jared was a devoted family man, a dedicated father to his two young daughters, a fun loving brother and son to his family.

At the funeral, which I attended, I heard Jared’s brother Ben say he “taught people to care for each other and taught others to change the world like he was doing on the streets of Ogden.”

Commenting on the outpouring of support, Jared’s brother Travis said, “I know my brother would be proud, because we all are his family.”

Achieving a goal he’d set for himself as a young boy, Agent Francom became a member of the Ogden police force seven years ago and and was assigned to the Weber-Morgan Narcotics Strike Force.

Jared’s sacrifice should be a reminder to us of the incredible risks our brave law enforcement officers all take to protect the people they serve. I have a deep and unwavering respect for the law enforcement community and, as a former Assistant U.S. Attorney, have seen up close how these men and women serve with honor, integrity, and dedication.

Jared Francom was no exception. He will be remembered for giving his life in service to the people and community he loved.

###

Orem 28: Senator Mike Lee Responds to S&P Downgrade of U.S.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, August 5, 2011

Senator Lee Responds to S&P Downgrade of United States

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee responded to S&P lowering the long held AAA rating for the UThe Freedom Agenda: Why a Balanced Budget Amendment is Necessary to Restore Constitutional Governmentnited States saying, “This downgrade confirms what we have known was coming, but have chosen to ignore, for a long time. This downgrade further confirms that the true threat to our country, our economy and our way of life is our debt and the continued deficit spending Washington and the current administration are pursuing.”

For the first time ever the United States does not hold a AAA rating. The impact could be felt in numerous ways including higher interests rates for car, home or student loans along with credit card rates. Lee then stated, “Unfortunately, when it comes to the significant financial challenges this country faces, we have been swatting at the branches and symptoms issue instead of attacking the root and core causes. Never has there been a greater need for a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution – to ensure we get our fiscal house in order, reduce our debt, and get Washington to live within its means.”

Calling on his colleagues in the House and Senate along with the Administration and Americans across the country Lee said, “The answer to our economic challenges lies within a simple concept most Americans and most states understand and live by – balance your checkbook and don’t spend more than you bring in. This is not a liberal or conservative issue, it isn’t a Democrat or Republican issue – it is an American issue. If ever there were a time for Americans and members of Congress to have an open debate and dialogue about the future of our country, that time is now. I invite everyone to begin to understand where we are as a nation and what it will take to restore both our AAA rating, and more importantly, our strength and greatness as a country.”

# # #

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Copyright 2011. All rights reserved by Candace E. Salima.

Brad Daw: Child Protection Laws and Administrative Subpoenas

Dear Delegate:

One of the lessons I have learned in my time at the legislature is that good legislation is often a very carefully crafted balancing act between two worthy but opposite goals. HB150 is a great example of this. The two goals are: 1) Give law enforcement useful tools to quickly pursue sexual predators and kidnappers; 2) Preserve people’s right to privacy. In its final form, HB150 was able to give investigators a much improved ability to track down sexual predators and significantly increase safeguards against prosecutors overstepping their bounds. Prior to HB150, investigators had to approach a federal prosecutor to obtain a subpoena to get contact information for suspected predators from internet service providers or telephone companies. The time lag involved in getting a subpoena from a federal prosecutor often put abducted children at grave risk. Also, having to use a subpoena from a federal agency prevented the state from having any real oversight on how the su bpoena power was being used or, in some cases, abused. With the passage of HB150 we accomplished three important goals:

1. State investigators now have the ability to issue subpoenas in a timely manner, which in the case of a child abduction may mean the difference between life and death.

2. Since this is now a state granted power we are able to add two specific checks:

a) Anyone using this subpoena power will be required to report to the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice annually detailing how many subpoenas they issued using the state granted authority and how many were issued on their behalf by a federal prosecutor;

b) Any person whose contact information has been obtained via the state granted subpoena power must be notified of this fact within 90 days after the information was obtained.

3. By this being a state granted power it is now subject to oversight and review by the legislature and if further checks are deemed necessary, the state has the ability to implement them.

By moving our prosecutors from using a federal subpoena with no oversight from the state to a state subpoena with specific and implied oversight in place, I believe we have taken a good step forward. But, constant vigilance on the part of the legislature and the citizens in general is vital to maintaining a free society and I openly welcome any reasoned discussion of what can be done to improve this or any other law. As many of you know from experience, I am always ready to listen, to respond to your questions, and bring all interested parties together to try and work towards a better law.

For those of you who are interested, here is the text of HB150 and here is a discussion on what the law does and why it falls within the bounds of the constitution.

Brad Daw

Brad Daw: Federalism, Health Care Reform, and States Rights

Dear Delegate,

Throughout the next few weeks I want to take the opportunity to inform you of several issues that I am involved with and feel are important for the betterment of our district and the state of Utah.

The first issue I would like to address is federalism and health care reform. I am deeply concerned by the federal government’s overreaching role in this matter. It seems to be a federal government power grab in the name of health care reform, a reform that is very personal to all US citizens.

During the past session, I backed legislation which supported states rights as mandated by the United States Constitution and attempts to push back on federal encroachment.

I have also been recently appointed to the Health Reform Task Force for the third year in a row where we will work on an effective consumer driven, market oriented approach. This will serve as a strong counter-point to the federal plan and will be a model that other states can adapt and implement. Thus, it will have the potential to contest and ultimately defeat the federal reform.

Thank you for your support,

Brad Daw

Brad Daw has become a proven leader in the fight for market-driven, consumer-oriented health care.

"Brad Daw is a champion of consumer and private health care solutions. He understands the importance of solving our health system challenges on a state level rather than an undesired federal option. Brad helped launch the idea of defined-contribution health plans which I think will revolutionize the way health insurance is purchased in the state of Utah.

I appreciate his support of consumer driven health plans like health savings accounts and business-friendly solutions like the Utah Health Exchange. Representative Daw has proven to be an integral and effective leader. I support him in his strong legislative work to improve our health system and find solutions to control cost."

S. David Jackson, SPHR

President

FirstWest Benefit Solutions

Brad Daw is a proven champion of states rights.

Brad Daw is a man of integrity, courage and strength. He has consistently fought to make Utah safer with his fight against prescription fraud and addiction, strengthening Utah in many ways and through his work with the Patrick Henry Caucus has worked hard to protect Utah against the ever encroaching federal government. He has always been responsive when approached and helpful in every way. I am more than pleased to publicly endorse Brad Daw as our Legislative District 60 Representative. He has my vote.

Candace Salima

Author, entrepreneur, and publisher

Brad Daw: Post Session Wrapup

Emailed to me 6 April 2010.

Dear Neighbor:

The session is fully over now. All the bills have been signed or vetoed and all the legislators are back to real life. As part of the legislative wrap up, I’ve been asked for an item of information that have just become available: My voting record. Now you have always been able to see how I voted on a specific bill, but this link allows you to see all my votes in one place. Just click here to see every single vote that I took on the floor of the House.

Another part of the end of the session is the preparation for interim. This is when committee assignments are made and we begin to discuss what topics will be on the agendas of each committee. This is a vital step in the legislative process as many major legislative initiatives are first heard in an interim committee. I will be proposing a couple of topics. First, I had the chance to see the latest technology in tamper proof prescription pads and I would like to bring that to a committee to see how this might be used in Utah. Second, I have met with the chair of the education committee to see about devoting a part of a meeting to promoting on line education. I see a wide expanse of knowledge available over the internet and I’d like to find ways to open up this world to more Utah students.

I have also been reappointed to the Health Reform Task Force for the third year in a row. This committee becomes ever more vital as we work hard to find ways to preserve our health care system from federal encroachment and move it more towards a free market, consumer-driven system. We’ve had some good success already, but the effort is far from over and with the passage of a very ill advised national health care bill we are under a tight timeline to show real progress and clearly demonstrate that the national plan is the exact wrong direction to move in.

Finally, I’d like to welcome all of the county delegates to my newsletter and congratulate them for getting out to caucus and being willing to take part in what makes our country free. My hat is off to you and I hope you enjoy this newsletter. I try to send it out around once a month during the interim and once a week while we are in session.

If you prefer not to receive this letter you can hit the unsubscribe link below and your email address will be automatically removed from the list.

Brad Daw

Utah Senate Debate

Utah Valley University is proud to welcome candidates running for the 2010 United States Senate seat that is being contested this election year. Engaging in debate Friday, April 2 at UVU are willing candidates Senator Bob Bennett (R incumbent), Mike Lee (R), Tim Bridgewater (R), Cherylin Eagar (R), Merrill Cook (R), and Sam Granato (D). The Senatorial debate is sponsored by the UVU Student Association (UVUSA).

“This debate is unique because it has been completely student-driven. We are an engaged University and with that comes immense civic responsibility for the students here,” said Christina Lowe, UVUSA chief justice. “Many clubs and organizations have collaborated with UVUSA to host this debate. UVUSA feels that this collaboration of these organizations is key to helping students become more civically engaged.”

The debate will begin at noon in the Lakeview Room, on the fourth floor of UVU’s Library. In addition to UVUSA, other student group sponsors for the debate include UVU College Republicans and Young Americans for Liberty. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend “and to learn the standpoints of all of the candidates before the upcoming elections,” Lowe said.

UVU Senate Debate
April 2nd: Friday, 12:00-2:00 PM
Utah Valley University

Lakeview Room, 4th floor of Library
800 West University Parkwa
Orem, UT 84058-6703

Legislative District 60 Debate

For all Orem 28 County Delegates:

I would like to invite you to a debate that I am hosting between the candidates for House District 60 on April 14th at 7:00 p.m. The debate will be held in the gym at:

Noah Webster Academy
205 East 400 South
Orem, UT

Brad Daw - Incumbent

Website: www.braddaw.com

Email: brad at braddaw dot com

Calvin Harper - Challenger

Website: www.electcalvinharper.org

Email: calvin at electcalvinharper dot org

Moderator: Ivan Keller, Legislative Vice-Chair

Please plan on joining me for this great opportunity to hear the candidates in this race. Please respond to this e-mail with any questions you would like asked at the debate.

Richard Jaussi

Delegate Training April 7th

This delegate training is for all state and county delegates in Legislative District 60. I strongly urge all of Orem 28's state and county delegates attend this training as well as the County Commissioner debate right afterward.

Dear Delegate:

I am inviting you to a great night of training and fun.

The location:

Noah Webster Academy

noahwebsteracademy.org

205 East 400 South

Orem, UT 84058-6311

(801) 426-6624

The time: 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM EXACTLY

The date: April 7th, 2010 (Next Wednesday night)

Come enjoy an hour with a wild and crazy Education Officer (that would be Steve Diamond.) You will learn:

• How to prepare for the Republican State and County Nominating Conventions.
• What it means to be a delegate--the great privilege it is to represent the people in your precinct.
• What you can do to make a difference in the Party.
• How to submit ideas to your legislators and participate in getting them passed. I will give you examples of legislation that has passed and how it happened.
• How to put the FUN back into the fundamentals of politics.

And we'll have a Question and Answer period at the end -- I hope I can answer your questions! All this in one hour or less. I believe in getting to the point. Short and sweet. We must be done by 7:00 PM because a debate for County Commissioner will take place at 7:00 PM. You are encouraged to stay for the debate if you would like to.

I look forward to seeing you there.

We are also extending an invitation to anyone in Legislative District 58 who could not come to the last training. You are welcome to come to this training.

Sincerely,

Steven Diamond

Legislative District 60 Education Officer

Email: redcastle at comcast dot net

Please adjust your schedules and plan on attending this training. I look forward to seeing all you there.

Candace E. Salima

Orem 28 Precinct Chair

You're Invited!

Mike Lee, U.S. Senatorial candidate and constitutional scholar, will be speaking at a rally this evening and you're invited. It is an amazing opportunity to hear one of the greatest constitutional scholars of our generation.

I've heard Mike speak about the U.S. Constitution, America and the situation we find ourselves in many times. He has many wise solutions to the problems we face. And he has given me hope. When hope becomes present, a wise person seeks the source and does all they can to keep that source burning brightly...in this case, keeping the light of freedom burning brightly, and it does that in Michael S. Lee.

For Mike, the solutions to the problem we face are outlined on his website.

In addition, I have posted on my blog the reasons why I am supporting Mike Lee in his bid for Senator Bennett's seat. You can read more about that at Why I Support Mike Lee.

In the meantime, I hope to see everyone in Utah County there tonight. It is always inspiring and always leaves me with a brighter hope for America.

Rally for Mike Lee

7:00 p.m to 8:30 p.m.

644 North 2000 West

Lindon, UT

(Access off Exit 275. Turn right at 700 North, which is the first light. Then right at 2000 West. Noah's is the big gray building off to your left.)

"Posterity, you will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it. If you do not, I shall repent in heaven that ever I took half the pains to preserve it." -- John Adams

May God bless and preserve this great nation we call the United States of America.

Caucus Meeting Tonight

Our precinct caucus will be held at Orem High School tonight. Each of you should have a received a flyer on your door, thanks to Robin Devey and her helpers.

Orem High School

175 South 400 East

Orem, UT

The caucus will begin at 7:00 p.m.

Many people wonder why they should even bother to become politically active and how the caucus plays a role in the process.

The caucus is where it all begins. At the caucus is where you elect the precinct chair, vice chair, two state delegates, four county delegates, secretary and treasurer. At the caucus, you should vote for those people who you feel will best represent your interests in your city, county, state and country.

The precinct chair and state delegates will meet and assess every single candidate running on the federal level and attend the state Republican convention on May 8th to whittle the field down to the federal candidate (congressmen, senators, governor, etc.) who will represent you in the November election, assuming a clear candidate emerges. If not, a primary will go forward and you will cast a vote again to choose your November candidates.

The precinct chair, vice chair and county delegates will meet and assess every single candidate on the county and state levels and attend the county Republican convention on April 24th to whittle the field down to the candidates (representative, state senator, etc.) who will represent you in the November election, again assuming a clear candidate emerges. If not, a primary will go forward and you will cast a vote again to choose your November candidates.

The neighborhood caucus, our is Orem 28, is where it all begins. No one is elected into office without beginning at the neighborhood caucus. Those you elect tonight will choose the candidates who will go forward in the general election. Even the president of the United States begins his journey at the neighborhood caucus.

I hope to see you all there tonight.

Governor Herbert Signs HB67

Governor Herbert Signs HB67, Responds to Passage of Federal Healthcare Reform

Monday, March 22, 2010

SALT LAKE CITY - Governor Gary R. Herbert has signed HB67, which requires the Utah Department of Health to carefully analyze federal healthcare reform efforts prior to implementation and to report to the Legislature potential impacts on Utahns and to the state's own healthcare reform efforts.

"States must take reasoned, proactive steps to keep themselves in control of their own reform efforts," Governor Herbert said. "With last night's passage of federal healthcare reform legislation, it is more important than ever that we stand up to the federal government. States simply cannot afford an unfunded mandate of this magnitude that creates yet another unmanageable federal entitlement program."

"In addition, every Utahn should be concerned about the impact of this legislation on our economic recovery, the chilling effect on job creation for small businesses, and the added burden to an already unacceptable and growing national debt."

One possible response to the expected signing of the legislation by President Barack Obama is a lawsuit against the federal government, such as that proposed Monday by Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff.

"In light of the concerns shared by many people in Utah and around the country, it is entirely appropriate that the Attorney General and his counterparts across the nation consider every option on this issue," Governor Herbert said. "A lawsuit puts into action concerns over a federal government overreach that is unprecedented and possibly unconstitutional."

Of particular concern to the Governor is the possibility that the federal legislation will supersede Utah's own healthcare reform efforts, which have been ongoing for several years and are beginning to show great promise toward increasing transparency, access and choice in Utah's healthcare system.

"I have consistently said that one-sits-fits-all federal solutions do not address states' unique circumstances, on this issue or any others," Governor Herbert said. "We must recognize the differences that exist throughout the country and develop customized solutions to healthcare reform that addresses the needs of our citizens."

# # #

Brad Daw, our own representative, strongly supported HB67, voting for it to pass out of committee and against casting a vote in the positive on the floor. Thanks, Brad, for watching out for Utah. And thank you Governor Herbert, for signing the bill sponsored by Representative Wimmer into law.

March Madness at the Legislature

March Madness at the Utah Legislature

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Dear Neighbor,

As the session draws to a close, the legislature is at full speed. We have one week left, just one, to do everything that we need to do. This means that our last committee sessions have taken place and we are now in floor time from sun up to sun down (but every once in a while they allow us a motion for a fifteen minute “saunter”).

I have recently completed the analyses of the constituent surveys that I sent out with Senator Dayton prior to the commencement of this year’s session. The results of this survey can be found by clicking here.

The majority of my bills this session have been given the gubernatorial stamp and been set in stone as a law of Utah. HB 401, Residential Facilities for Elderly Persons, has been sent back to Interim Committee to work out some final quirks before a final vote, and HB 366, Motor Vehicle Business Regulation Act Amendments, and HB 150S01, Administrative Su bpoena Amendments, still sit in the Senate to await a final debate and vote. Also, my trio of prescription drug abuse bills have finally passed through the senate and are enrolled to be sent to the governor.

Highlights of this week include the following: The Legislature passed legislation that would expand and strengthen the state's health insurance exchange. House Speaker David Clark says, in regards to his bill, that he wants Utah to be the model of a market based health care solution. HB 294 now advances to the governor's office. For information on the health exchange, visit http://le.utah.gov/~2010/htmdoc/hbillhtm/hb0294.htm.

Other bills to take note of that have passed through both the Senate and the House and are: Two bills to overhaul the state's retirement system, four bills regarding ethics reform one of which establishes an independent five-member ethics commission and a tobacco tax bill which increases a pack of cigarettes by a dollar and will generate about $43 million in revenue.

I truly am grateful to all of you for expressing your support during this past year and not hesitating in contacting me with questions on legislation or in providing your own insight on issues here at the capitol. With that said, I do have one last favor—as if you’re not tired enough of surveys already—I have compiled together a survey asking for your opinions on this session’s newsletters and my communication. I would very much appreciate if you took a moment to fill it out so that I may be able to improve my ways of connecting to our district while working at the capitol. It is only eight brief questions and can be found here: 2010 Newsletter, Tell Me What You Think.

Thanks again and have a great week!

Sincerely,

Brad Daw

Utah County Republican Party Platform

Utah County Republican Party Platform
(as adopted 25April 2009)

PREAMBLE

We the members of the Utah County Republican Party do hereby affirm our belief and trust in God and that it was through His intervention that this nation was established. The foundation of our platform is the knowledge that all people are created equal and that the role of government should be limited to protecting and preserving the God-given rights of life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, and the ownership and control of property.

And in order to identify our Party and our elected officials with certain shared values and principles, we do hereby present this platform to convention delegates and the public and invite all who share these values and principles to vote for Republican candidates.

PROPER ROLE OF CITIZENS

Individual responsibility and accountability are necessary for government to operate within the limited powers granted by the divinely

inspired Constitution of the United States of America in keeping with the principles established by our Founding Fathers. We believe a society can only remain free when the majority of its members lead spiritually grounded and morally upright lives and are willing to become involved to preserve these values. We support the “Rule of Law” and believe in upholding the law of the land.

PROPER ROLE OF GOVERNMENT

The proper role of government at all levels is to protect each person’s unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; and each individual's right to own and control property. Any other rights or privileges should not be construed or applied in any way to infringe on our God-given unalienable rights.

Freedom of Religion. God is our supreme Sovereign, and the sole source of our rights. We must, therefore, be free to worship Him in public and private. Government should not restrict public prayer or other forms of public religious expression.

Right to Bear Arms. The right of individuals to keep and bear arms must not be infringed.

Support of Local Government. Local governments allow for greater community involvement and are most aware of the needs of the people. Federal regulations of state and local governments should be restricted to powers specifically enumerated in the Constitution of the United States.

Accountable Government. All government officials are accountable to the people. Any government agency or entity that receives public funds must be open to public audit and review. Elected officials are accountable for all taxpayer money and will not delegate appropriation authority to non-elected or appointed entities.

Voter Registration. The Party supports needed legislation to ensure the integrity of the voter registration rolls and to reduce voter fraud.

Fiscal Responsibility. Government at all levels should be required to live within a balanced budget. Increases in government spending should not exceed inflation and population growth.

National Sovereignty. Ours is a sovereign nation governed solely by the Constitution of the United States of America. Our government shall not relinquish its authority to foreign or world powers.

National Defense. We affirm the principle of peace through strength and call for the rebuilding of our armed services to defend our nation. The United States of America should only be involved in armed conflicts when there is a clear and present threat to our safety or vital national interest. It is the right of the United States Congress alone to declare war.

EDUCATION

A well-educated and informed citizenry is essential to the long-term well being of a free society. The primary responsibility for education rests with the student and the family. Parents have the right to choose whether a child is educated in private, public or home schools and government should not infringe on that right. To promote excellence, consumer choice in education should be encouraged. Schools or other government entities should not invade the privacy of parents or their children. We favor local accountability and control in all aspects of the education system.
Public schools should abstain from teaching promiscuity in any form.

Higher Education. Funding for Utah’s public higher education institutions should be based on the number of students currently attending that college or university and the type of degrees offered, and not on past history.

ECONOMY

The proper role of government in economic development is to create an environment in which free enterprise, innovation, investment and risk-taking can thrive. In order to create such an environment, we believe the following principles:

Economic Development. Utah's economic growth should be sustained through the principles of free enterprise. We encourage the privatization of public services where appropriate.

Regulation. We oppose excessive and restrictive government regulation. Regulation should be minimized, or eliminated, unless a convincing case can be made that the collective good is clearly improved by such regulation. Regular review of regulatory goals is necessary to insure their effectiveness.

Taxation. Taxation should be as equitable, simple, and minimal as possible. Limited government dictates that taxpayers should keep the majority of their money instead of giving it to government. Utah’s system of taxation has improved and government should continue to refine and improve it. Appropriate tax policy is essential if Utah is to compete globally.

Infrastructure. Funding shall be formula based to provide an adequate source of funding to develop and maintain Utah County’s infrastructure. Decisions need to be made now on how to build the necessary infrastructure to handle growth, or future economic development could be lost, and our quality of life rapidly diminished.

ENVIRONMENT

There must be a balance between the economic benefits of growth and the need for clean air, clean water, and a healthy environment.

We are stewards of the earth, and we should leave our posterity an earth in better condition than we started with. Market forces should be considered when managing environmental issues.

LAW ENFORCEMENT AND JUSTICE

Law enforcement agencies and the judiciary should strictly uphold the law in the exercise of their duties and work with citizens to maintain safe communities.

Crime Prevention. The primary defense against crime is stable and responsible family life emphasizing personal accountability and respect for the law. Swift and certain punishments with just and appropriate penalties are essential deterrents to crime.

Victims’ Rights. Victims’ rights are always superior to criminals’ rights. Victims’ right of restitution should be required of criminals.

Judicial System. Each individual is entitled to a trial by jury in both criminal and civil cases. It is the duty of juries to rule on the law as well as the facts of a case. We call upon the judiciary to reestablish this process and to inform juries of this duty. State senators must hold thorough hearings for all judicial nominees, and members of the Judiciary should undergo regular reviews. The results of such reviews should be a matter of public record. We support the appointment of judges who respect traditional family values and the sanctity of human life. Judges should not make statute but apply it.

Juvenile Crime. Juveniles who are charged with a serious violent crime should be tried as adults, acknowledging that in some instances the judicial system must use discretion when dealing with young offenders. We support adult punishment for the conviction of adult crimes. We call for swift, just, and appropriate punishment for adults who aid in the commission of crimes by juveniles.

SOCIAL NEEDS

Family. We believe that marriage consists only of the legal union between a man and a woman and that no other domestic union should be recognized as a marriage or given the same or substantially equal legal effect. Parents have the right to bear children, (or otherwise add children to their families), to determine their own family size, and to determine what is in their best interest without interference from government. We encourage all efforts to strengthen the moral character of our children and oppose policies, practices, and public expressions that degrade humanity and the sanctity of family relationships. We oppose efforts to include sexual orientation as a protected minority.

Protection of Human Life. We affirm the fundamental, unalienable right to life for both the born and the unborn. We oppose using public funds for abortion or to support any organizations that promote abortion. Abortion should be illegal except where the life of the mother is at serious risk, or the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. All people should be protected from abuse and exploitation.

Personal Agency and Accountability. Individuals have the primary responsibility for their own welfare. Family, church, and private organizations should provide secondary support when needed. The focus of assistance programs should be the development of self-reliance.

Gambling. We oppose all efforts to legalize gambling in any form.

Pornography. Pornography is destructive to the individual, family, and the community. We support the vigorous prosecution of those who create, distribute, or promote pornographic materials, especially in connection with children. Local communities have the right to
establish moral and ethical standards.

IMMIGRATION

We support the 2008 National Republican Party Platform under the title of Immigration, National Security, and the Rule of Law. We also support measures to ensure that the immigration system is structured to address the needs of national security. We support efforts to
enforce the law while welcoming immigrants who enter America through legal avenues. America is a stronger and better nation because of the hard work and entrepreneurial spirit of immigrants. We support the Constitutional mandate for the federal government to protect and secure our national borders. Taxpayers should not be covering state benefits for illegal aliens.

SOCIAL SECURITY

Social Security must satisfy its obligations to those who have contributed to it, and become an optional program for any who wish to participate.

All Republican elected officials, candidates and party officers are expected to endorse these principles and agree to be held accountable to the people and to the party.

Brad Daw, Our Representative, In Session

Joe Pyrah and Heidi Toth - Daily Herald | Posted: Tuesday, January 26, 2010 12:45 am

More than 4,000 people are admitted to the emergency room every year with a prescription drug overdose, says one Utah County lawmaker, and it's time to put an end to it.

"Even if it was an accident, if there was an overdose, there's a problem there," said Rep. Brad Daw, R-Orem.

Daw is running a trio of bills targeting prescription drug abuse, a growing problem in Utah and specifically Utah Valley. His bills would require the state Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing to send notification to a doctor anytime someone went to the ER on an overdose or was arrested for DUI involving prescription drugs. -- Read More

And from Brad to his constituents (that would be us), he emailed on January 23, 2010:

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Dear Neighbor,

This coming Monday, January 25th, the 2010 session of the Utah State Legislature will begin. The session will last for 45 days ending on March 11th. I will be sending you weekly updates to keep you informed on the activities of the legislature. Additionally, during this time, I invite you to e-mail me with your comments and concerns; I would love to hear from you and will take all input with the utmost consideration.

During this session I am sponsoring three main bills that involve prescription drug abuse. They all deal with helping to educate and inform those that write the prescriptions. Hopefully, through this heightened awareness, preventative measures can be taken to reduce the number of unnecessary deaths resulting from prescription drug abuse. If you wish to follow these bills during the times of the session, you can find them on the quick bill search on le.utah.gov. You can also see what these bills are about by clicking on the following links: HB 28, HB 35, HB 36.

Another piece of legislation you may be interested in coming to the floor this session is an ethics bill. A great article describing this bill can be found on the Deseret News [website.]

On the national front, some interesting events have happened as of late involving national health care reform. Scott Brown, Republican, landed the Massachusetts’ senate seat, thus representing the 41st vote in the senate against the health care bill. The LA Times summarizes the situation in the following paragraph:

“To many Democrats, the bill is a victim of simple math. All 435 members of the House and one-third of the Senate are up for reelection in November, a fact that makes them acutely tuned to shifts in public opinion. With Brown campaigning . . . against healthcare in the Senate, they're not sure they want to risk their own political necks for a proposal that is spurring a huge voter backlash.” (Does Scott Brown’s Election Doom Healthcare?)

Other insighful articles on this topic can be found at Newsmax - Scott Brown Win Is a Wake-Up Call, and the Daily Caller: What’s next for health-care reform? We are currently diligently working in the state of Utah on reform that empowers consumers to make their own health care decisions as opposed to reform that enables the government to have that right.

Once again, I welcome your comments and concerns and invite you to visit me at the capital during the session. Thank you for your support and I promise to do all that I can to make this 2010 session the best one yet in representing the needs of our district.

Brad Daw

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