Creating Crime in Utah
Each year bills passed by the legislature have the potential of creating new, or altering existing, crimes and the penalties associated with them. In an age when government policy can result in criminalizing everything from...
Utah “Cash for Clunkers” Lawnmower Program Spends $250,000 for 5 Minutes of Clean Air
In a nod to the federal government’s oft-ridiculed “Cash for Clunkers” program, Utah is giving away deeply discounted electric lawnmowers in exchange for gas-powered ones. The Utah Department of Environmental Quality held its 2nd...
Utah ‘measurable amount’ drug statute ruled unconstitutional
Earlier this month, a Utah court of appeals ruled in State v. Ainsworth that the penalties under the state’s Controlled Substance Act, which criminalize having “any measurable amount” of a controlled substance...
The Utah Legislature said NO to REAL ID—So Why is the State Now Fully Compliant?
Starting this year, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is threatening that the TSA will begin rejecting driver’s licenses from states that refused to comply with the federal REAL ID guidelines. This now sets the stage...
Here’s How Many Utah Parents Have Been Imprisoned for their Child’s Truancy
Childhood education in our country has gone from private and optional to public and mandatory. However, schools were never intended, and are not equipped, to replace parents. Local control of education at the state, district, and...
Common Core Lawsuit’s First Legal Hurdle
The district court heard the Utah State Board of Education’s motion to dismiss our Common Core lawsuit on Tuesday. The hearing is an early procedural tactic by the state to terminate the lawsuit by arguing that the law does not...
Can the Government Make Laws—and Punishments—Retroactive?
“No bill of attainder, ex post facto law, or law impairing the obligation of contracts shall be passed.” —Utah Constitution, Article 1, Section 18 (see also Article 1, Section 10 of the U.S. Constitution) A...
Police Body Cameras in Utah
In an age where every cell phone user is a potential videographer, police tactics have come under increased scrutiny from the public as headlines of law enforcement confrontations gone wrong are captured by citizen bystanders....
Obamacare, where did our love go?
“[Medicaid expansion] you came into my heart So tenderly With a burning love That stings like a bee” -“Where Did Our Love Go,” The Supremes, 1964 The following is in response to a recent post...
Medicaid Expansion in Utah Fails to Protect Utahns
Recently we wrote about some of the problems with Medicaid expansion and reasons why the Governor and legislature should not proceed with the Healthy Utah proposal. Simply put, the discussion over Utah Medicaid expansion under...