This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
I was excited to read "Poorest Utahns repeating cycle lived by parents, grandparents" (Tribune, Sept. 29). Finally, a redeeming effort by the Utah Legislature to begin dealing with reducing the need for support of Utah's needy.
Congratulations to Sen. Stuart Reid, R-Ogden, for sponsoring an effort to truly solve a problem, as opposed to simply imposing budget cuts as a business solution to a humanity problem.
Unlike the approach by Sen. Michael Waddoups, R-Taylorsville, to wean people from the teat of government by imposing funding constraints, this action looks to find a way to determine how to improve a group of people who are challenged over multiple generations.
The Legislature is guilty of having sentenced people to likely death by legislating this problem of society as if it were only a line item in the budget rather than improving process efficiency and solving difficult social issues.
Let's pray the Legislature is mature enough to move this approach forward.
Dave Misner
Salt Lake City