Sen. Scott Sandall’s SB95 to assist Utah’s rural economies is much needed. But the proposed $10 million this year is far short of the $53 million that legislators have already set aside to be wasted seeking a West Coast coal export facility in either California or Mexico.
That fund is now in the process of being depleted by legal, lobbying and administrative fees that provide not one dime of benefit to communities in Utah's coal country and other rural areas.
If the Utah Legislature cared more about the long-term economic and environmental well-being of rural families than it does about continued corporate welfare for coal, oil and gas businesses, it would shift what's left of the $53 million back to those most in need and deserving.
Stanley Holmes, Salt Lake City