This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The Senate gave final passage Wednesday to a resolution asking the federal government to reimburse $1 million that the state spent to keep national parks open when the federal government shut down in 2013 during battles over the budget.
It voted 23-0 to pass HCR11, and sent it to Gov. Gary Herbert for his possible signature.
Sen. Scott Jenkins, R-Plain City, said that instead of paying Utah, the federal government did such things as spend $1.6 million to study the effects of excess alcohol on prostitutes in China, and $10 million towards a Pakistani Sesame Street program.
"Those are some of the things they spent our money on," Jenkins said, adding if the federal government can do that, it can repay Utah.
There was no mention in floor debate of Utah Sen. Mike Lee's leading role in the crusade to defund Obamacare that led to the 16-day government shutdown.
— Lee Davidson