2013’s Bangerter

Over 20 years ago, when I was just starting on my path to become a teacher, teachers were already complaining about Utah’s huge class sizes and lowest per-pupil spending in the nation.  Then Governor Norm Bangerter told teachers to quit complaining and “take two aspirins and go back to work.”

We’ve made a lot of progress since then.  Now Governor Gary Herbert, as reported by the Salt Lake Tribune, recently commented “A teacher could have gone to sleep 100 years ago, come back 100 years later and felt very comfortable in the classroom – because nothing has changed.”

That’s probably because he hasn’t been in a classroom for over 100 years.

For a (beginning) list of things that would freak out a teacher from 100 years ago, go HERE.

He did it again.

Since taking office, I have rarely been impressed, or even happy, with Governor Gary Herbert.  But he’s done it again.

Every county Sherriff in Utah, except for Salt Lake County’s, signed a letter to President Obama saying that they refuse to enforce federal gun laws that they think are unconstitutional.

State Representative Brian Greene, R-Pleasant Grove, has proposed a state law prohibiting enforcement of new federal gun laws in Utah.

Gov. Herbert’s response?

“I think we need to adhere to the law.  Nobody is above the law and, again, if we have laws that are passed that are unconstitutional…we need to fight that in court and change the law.”

“I have someone else out there who is worried about Congress sweeping in and taking away our guns.” … “I think it’s probably an emotional, knee-jerk reaction … If we don’t like the laws that are passed, if we don’t like the executive orders, we have a process in place.  Go to court.  We don’t have to have confrontations at the border.”

“…Utah will adhere to the law of the land.”

Standing up to the Gun Lobby in Utah.  As much as it hurts to say this, Gov. Herbert has guts.

Thank the Governor, so he knows you are still paying attention.

I got another email from the man who spearheaded the online petition for the repeal of HB363.  You can read the whole thing, but the main focus was thanking everyone and encouraging people to email the Governor thanking him for the veto.

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Congratulations Everyone!! Governor Herbert vetoed HB363!

Because of all of your efforts; signatures, comments, emails, phone calls and the rally, we truly made a difference.

It just goes to show, that all of us together can become a voice that cannot be ignored.

Last night after vetoing HB363 Governor Herbert Stated “After careful review of existing law and following extensive discussions with stakeholders on both sides of the issue,” Herbert said, “HB363 simply goes to far by constricting parental options.”

After hearing about the veto I sent Governor Herbert an email thanking him for doing the right thing for the people of Utah. Here is the link to email the Governor if you would like to do the same. http://governor.utah.gov/goca/form_comment.html

If you would like to know how your representative voted on HB363 here is the link:

http://le.utah.gov/DynaBill/svotes.jsp?voteid=551&house=H&sessionid=2012GS

If you are unhappy with how your representative voted let them know and remember this the next time they run for reelection.

There were many people involved in the defeat of HB363, I want to say thanks to the Utah PTA, Utah Education Association and special Thanks to Maryann Martindale with Alliance for a Better Utah for organizing the rally at the Capitol rotunda.

The Alliance for a Better UTAH is a year-round, multi-issue education and advocacy organization providing resources, commentary, and action on important public policy matters. To find out more, visit betterutah.org. To stay informed about important issues and to learn about opportunities to participate and make your voice heard, join the Alliance for a Better UTAH email list, here is a link.

http://betterutah.pnstate.org/site/Survey?ACTION_REQUIRED=URI_ACTION_USER_REQUESTS&SURVEY_ID=15522

I am going to leave the petition up until the Governor’s decision is a done deal as there has been some talk of a veto override. However, I don’t think they have the votes for an override.

Thanks again everyone, well done!

Paul Krueger

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Since I think it is important that the Governor knows that we appreciate his gesture, and that we are keeping tabs on developments, I sent him this email:

Dear Governor Herbert,

Thank you for the veto of HB363 and protecting the rights of parents to have the option of a trained professional instructing their children on human sexuality.  I am truly glad to see that you did not cede to the pressure of special interest groups that feel they know better than the 97% of the parents that actively opt to have their children participate in these courses.

HB363–Continued.

I got this email from the guy who set up the online petition and thought I would pass it on to everyone:

Thanks for taking the time to sign the petition to veto HB363. The Governor knows about the petition but has apparently decided that social media is irrelevant. This quote is from a Deseret News article "Herbert has said that he will not be swayed by mass email campaigns and would make a decision based on what is the best policy for the state of Utah." I am asking everyone who has signed the petition to contact Governor Herbert's office directly, either by email, or by phone (801-538-1000) and voice your opinion on this foolish bill.
http://governor.utah.gov/goca/form_comment.html
Thanks again
P.K.

Here is the message that I sent Utah Governor Gary Herbert:

Dear Governor Herbert,

As someone who fights against government intrusion into people's personal decisions, I urge you to veto HB363.

As things sit right now, parents have to sign permission for their children to receive sex education, by default if a parent does not sign schools have to excuse the student from the sex education curriculum and find an alternative place for them to be other than in the room where the subject is being covered.

By failing to veto HB363, you are taking away a parent's right to choose to have a professional educator inform their child on the subject of human sexuality, in essence you will be denying a choice for the 90% of parents that currently like that option.

I strongly urge you to veto HB363 not only because an informed person tends to make better choices, but also because you profess to believe it is better when the government does not make our decisions for us.

Thank you for your time.

S.R.

The 10% solution.

Current Utah state law requires parents to sign permission for their kids to be in sex education and currently 90% of parents chose to have their kids take these classes. HB363 would allow school districts to deny parents this option and would make any discussion of birth control (even when the student initiates the discussion) illegal for the districts that continue to offer sex education. Nobody elected Gayle Ruzicka and her Tea Bagger Eagle Forum to our legislature and they should not be allowed to undermine the wishes of 90% of the parents of this state.

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Subject: Gov. Herbert Veto HB363 (sex education)

Hi,

This bill would let schools skip teaching sex education and prohibit instruction in the use of contraception. It's critical that sex education is taught in the schools, as not every child has the opportunity to learn about these topics at home. This bill is nothing more than a attempt to dictate morality.

That's why I signed a petition to Governor Gary Herbert, which says:

"Governor Herbert, please veto HB363. Our children need to be given enough information about sex and contraception that they are able to make good decisions concerning sex."

Will you sign this petition? Click here:

http://signon.org/sign/gov-herbert-veto-hb363?source=s.em.cp&r_by=3143745

Thanks!

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Super Dell needs Super Straight-jacket.

Little history for those of you who don't know who Dell Schanze is. He's a local lunatic*. He used to own a string of computer stores in the Salt Lake area, his commercials were of the totally off the wall, in-your-face type. They were obnoxious and annoying, but not really offensive, except to your intelligence*. He made the news when confronted by a group of angry parents when he drove through their neighborhood at, some say, up to 50 MPH. He pulled a gun on the men because he felt threatened. Now, instead of just saying that the guys had a rock and he was with his young son and felt threatened, Super Dell starts arguing 2nd Amendment rights and that the State courts have no jurisdiction over him. I can't even remember how the court case came out, but I just remember him claiming that they had no right to judge him. A year later he's back in court and now he's claiming government harassment. This time he was flying his little one man helicopter and didn't understand why he wasn't allowed to buzz commuters on the freeway. After all, it's their own damn fault if they get startled by his copter and get in a crash* (my words, not his). Again I don't remember the outcome of the case, but he did lose his businesses shortly after, sold them to his brother-in-law for a song*.

So today, in the Salt Lake Tribune, I see his name again. I laready knew he was runnning for Governor of the Great State of Utah, I just didn't know how desperate he was to get the office*. He got one of those auto dialing machines and started calling with a recorded message calling Huntsman (our current Governor) an "anti-Christ socialist." And that's a direct quote from the Tribune, not just my opinion. Furthermore, when asked about it, he said "It's not name-calling. It's just stating fact." Now, Governor Huntsman is no Saint, nobody in government these day is, but to call him the anti-Christ is a little bit, um, how can I put this, totally and utterly deviod of reality?* Personally, despite his being a Republican, I kind of like Gov. Huntsman, he's lightyears better than that two faced Mike Leavitt* and the bonehead Nerm Bangerter who spent $60 million to water a concrete tree out in the middle of the west desert*. The democrats will have to come up with someone extrodinary to keep me from voting for Huntsman, and I rarely vote Republican. So Dell thinks Huntsman is responsible for outrageous taxes, not standing up for gun rights and, ironically, signing laws that ristrict our freedoms and failing to stop abortion. Even funnier, if it weren't for Gov. Huntsman, we'd all be driving cars that run off water. Yup, Super Dell is sure of that, after all he has a friend that has a 4 stroke Weed Eater that runs completely on water. (So, why doesn't his friend patent and sell the technology?). I hope he get's elected Governor, it'll give Bagely (a local political cartoonist) a lot of material for the next 4 years.

*These, and possibly other, statements are my opinion only, and are not proven facts.