Gov. Herbert signs H.C.R. 12
SALT LAKE CITY (February 17, 2017) – Gov. Gary R. Herbert today signed H.C.R. 12, Concurrent Resolution Urging Federal Legislation to Reduce or Modify the Boundaries of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
Upon signing the resolution, the governor said:
The Antiquities Act directs that any national monument designation shall “be confined to the smallest area compatible with proper care and management of the objects to be protected.” The 1996 designation by President Bill Clinton of nearly 1.9 million acres as the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument violated both the language and intent of the act by setting aside an area far larger than what was necessary to properly protect the objects of concern.
We must keep the vast size of this monument in perspective. Consider that the combined acreage of Utah’s “Mighty Five” National Parks totals 840,589 acres. The total area protected by Grand Staircase-Escalante is more than two-times the size of our national parks combined.
I am not opposed to the use of the Antiquities Act, but I am opposed to its abuse. It was this abuse of the act that compelled Gov. Mike Leavitt in 1997 to sign a concurrent resolution opposing the monument; it is what spurred the Utah Legislature to pass a similar joint resolution in 1998; and it is what motivated me to sign a concurrent resolution just two years ago expressing the need for congressional legislation to improve the Antiquities Act to include public participation when creating new national monuments.
I lend my signature to this resolution to express not only opposition to the manner in which the Grand Staircase-Escalante was designated as a monument, but to call for federal legislative actions to correct this misuse of federal law.
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Notes:
The 1997 resolution, Escalante National Monument Resolution, can be found here.
The 1998 resolution, Resolution Supporting Lawsuit Opposing Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Designation, can be found here.
The 2015 resolution, Concurrent Resolution Regarding the Creation of National Monuments, can be found here.
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Gov. Herbert signs 2017 legislative session bills
SALT LAKE CITY (February 17, 2017) – Gov. Gary R. Herbert has signed the following 12 bills from the 2017 legislative session:
H.B. 1 Higher Education Base Budget
H.B. 4 Business, Economic Development, and Labor Base Budget
H.B. 5 Retirement and Independent Entities Base Budget
H.B. 6 Infrastructure and General Government Base Budget
H.B. 7 National Guard, Veterans' Affairs, and Legislature Base Budget
H.C.R. 4 Concurrent Resolution Recognizing 50 Years of Public Television
S.B. 1 Public Education Base Budget Amendments
S.B. 5 Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environmental Quality Base Budget
S.B. 6 Executive Offices and Criminal Justice Base Budget
S.B. 7 Social Services Base Budget
S.B. 20 Phased Retirement Amendments
H.C.R. 12 Concurrent Resolution Urging Federal Legislation to Reduce or Modify the Boundaries of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
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State leaders release revised FY2018 revenue numbers
SALT LAKE CITY (Feb. 17, 2017) – Utah's consensus revenue numbers were released today in cooperation with leaders from the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget and the legislature.
“The revised revenue numbers released today show how a vibrant, growing and well-diversified economy is the best way to support our funding priorities,” Gov. Herbert said. “I look forward to working with the legislature to assure that the majority of our surplus goes to supporting student learning and achievement.”
The new consensus estimates provide a total of $375 million after transfers for additional ongoing appropriations, $88 million higher than the December estimates. In addition, $13 million is available for one-time appropriations, $12 million higher than December estimates.
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Notes:
1. The most recent state revenue estimates may be found at budget.utah.gov.
2. For comment from the legislature, contact Greg Hartley (House of Representatives), 801-231-2756 or Ric Cantrell (Senate), 801-647-8944.
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State leaders release revised FY2018 revenue numbers
SALT LAKE CITY (Feb. 17, 2017) – Utah's consensus revenue numbers were released today in cooperation with leaders from the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget and the legislature.
“The revised revenue numbers released today show how a vibrant, growing and well-diversified economy is the best way to support our funding priorities,” Gov. Herbert said. “I look forward to working with the legislature to assure that the majority of our surplus goes to supporting student learning and achievement.”
The new consensus estimates provide a total of $375 million for additional ongoing appropriations, $88 million higher than the December estimates. In addition, $13 million is available for one-time appropriations, $12 million higher than December estimates.
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Notes:
1. The most recent state revenue estimates may be found here.
2. For comment from the legislature, contact Greg Hartley (House of Representatives), 801-231-2756 or Ric Cantrell (Senate), 801-647-8944.
