Utah's Legislature is done for the year, but the impact of what it did, or failed to do, is still being reviewed. Other states still have their lawmakers debating away.
- More U. doctors: Raise enrollment at medical school - Salt Lake Tribune Editorial
The shortage of seats in the University of Utah medical school means that some of the Beehive State’s brightest youths will leave for medical school elsewhere and the potential for Utah to add to its pool of primary-care doctors will shrink. ...
... The Utah Legislature decided not to restore the U. medical school classes to 102, an increase of 20 over the current number, set in 2010 because of declining revenue. The U. medical school gets just 4 percent of its budget from state funds, while the national mean for public university medical schools is 14 percent. ...
... The Legislature was generous in filling some requests from higher education officials in its session just ended. But the university is farsighted in continuing to press for additional medical school funding to boost enrollment. ...
- Veto the pledge bill - Provo Daily Herald Editorial
A bill that ratchets up the frequency of the Pledge of Allegiance for junior high and high school students through a daily ceremony is now before Gov. Gary Herbert. The idea behind SB 223 is that more repetition of the Pledge will stir hearts to greater heights of patriotism.
It won't work, and the governor should veto the measure. ...
[He didn't]
- Unfunded tuition mandates - Ogden Standard-Examiner Editorial
... Weber State University is a great school, with high-quality faculty who have provided quality educations for students. We understand it faces annual budget pressures. Nevertheless, the constant increases in tuition and fees in virtually all universities is a problem that won't go away and must be addressed....
- The ugly ultrasound bill ends, for now - Idaho Stateman Editorial
It’s a good outcome — even if it’s inconclusive.
A bill requiring women to undergo an ultrasound before getting an abortion has been tabled for 2012.
For the time being, score one for citizen engagement. For the Idahoans who stood up against intrusive, demeaning legislation. For the Idahoans who went to a conservative Statehouse to espouse conservative principles — personal privacy and freedom from government mandate. ...
- Early literacy is key to learning - Denver Post Editorial
... House Bill 1238 holds great promise for improving early childhood literacy. We hope lawmakers rally around it rather than getting caught up in debates over flunking students as a result of its retention recommendation and whether the state spends enough on education. ...
- California lawmakers should stand by their votes - San Jose Mercury News Editorial
... California is one of 10 states in which lawmakers are allowed to change or add votes after a bill has passed or failed. It's ridiculous, and the Legislature should put an end to it. ...
- Tennessee tax breaks and racism - Chattanooga Times Editorial
The Tennessee Legislature's Republican bent to favor the wealthy and appease racists has rarely been so obvious. Consider the Legislature's actions last week on two specific bills -- one to dismantle the inheritance tax on estates of more than $1 million, the other to block the merger and integration of Memphis City and Shelby County school districts. ...
