State and National

Hatch: Justice Scalia Made Our Liberties More Secure

Washington, D.C.—As Congress returned to Washington this week, lawmakers paid tribute to the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, who passed away on February 13th. Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, a former Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and a personal friend of Justice Scalia, addressed the Senate to commemorate the Justice’s life and impact on the law. 

Hatch introduces Governor Herbert to Testify on Utah’s Education Reform Progress

Hatch Statement on the Confirmation of Robert Califf as FDA Commissioner

Washington, D.C.—Senator Orrin Hatch, the senior Republican in the United States Senate, and member and former chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, issued the following statement after voting in favor of the nomination of Dr. Robert Califf to serve as commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Gov. Herbert delivers message on national monuments to President Obama

SALT LAKE CITY (Feb. 22, 2016) – Utah Gov. Gary R. Herbert urged President Barack Obama today during a meeting to work with states and local community leaders on public lands issues instead of pursuing a unilateral national monument declaration.

HB 67 (Reduce Penalty for Firearms on Buses) Awaiting Final Senate Vote
HB 67 eliminates the third degree felony penalty for carrying a firearm on a bus without a government concealed carry "permit".  All other open or concealed carry statutory restrictions would still apply.

Utah State Board of Education appoints Interim Superintendent  The Utah State Board of Education today named Sydnee Dickson as interim superintendent of public instruction and announced plans to revisit the topic of appointing a permanent superintendent later this year.  

Dickson has served as acting superintendent since January, when Brad C. Smith announced he would take voluntary leave. On Wednesday of this week, Smith announced his resignation.  

Lee, Klobuchar Announce Hearing on Oversight of Antitrust Laws

WASHINGTON—Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) today announced that the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights will hold a hearing on March 9 at 2:00 p.m., in Room 226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, entitled “Oversight of the Enforcement of the Antitrust Laws.”

Lee, Klobuchar Call For Review of Proposed Charter, Time Warner, Bright House Merger

WASHINGTON—On Wednesday, February 17, Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights, sent a letter to Attorney General Loretta Lynch and Chairman of the FCC Tom Wheeler, requesting a close review of Charter Communications’ proposed acquisition of Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks.

News Advisory: Utah’s Youth Tell Legislators “We are #NotTobaccosGuineaPig”

SALT LAKE CITY (February 16, 2016) – For more information on the Utah Tobacco Free Alliance or the Outrage! Anti-Tobacco Youth Group, please contact Trudy Brereton, Outrage Advisor, Wasatch County Health Department, cell 435-671-9032 or Kaysha Price, Outrage Advisor, Southwest Utah Health Department, cell 801-318-7278.

State Superintendent Brad C. Smith Resigns  Brad C. Smith tendered his resignation as state superintendent of public instruction to members of the Utah State Board of Education today.  

Smith, who was named superintendent in November 2014 after serving as Ogden School District’s superintendent for three years, focused during his tenure on improving educational outcomes for each student, working to close performance gaps between subgroups, and providing means to measure results.