January 22, 2013 2013-2015 Vol. 2

GENERAL SESSION October 23, 2013

Program Topic: Perspectives on State Issues

Presented by: National Issues Committee Co-Chairs: Melanie Bowen & Kathryn Rowley

Speakers: Sen. (R) – U.S. Senator for

Frank Pignanelli – Attorney, lobbyist and political adviser; former Minority Leader, Utah House of Representatives

Emily Ellsworth – Constituent Affairs Manager for U.S. Congressman Chris Stewart (R)

Sen. Hatch mentioned he is a former Act (ACA). However, he is not in favor Democrat who changed political of the law and believes it will be parties after he graduated from harmful to our economy. He remains college. He responded to questions in favor of a balanced budget while addressing a wide variety of amendment, and lamented the fact subjects. First, he said it is vital to pay that such an amendment was once off our national debt. The U.S. dollar within a single vote of passage. is “the world’s currency” and its strength or weakness influences the Are we facing another federal economy of countries all over the government shutdown in January? world. Sen. Hatch quoted U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell from Kentucky as saying The senator said he did not support there is nothing to be learned “from a the methods used by some in his party second kick in the head from a mule.” who opted to impose a government In essence, another shutdown would shutdown over the Affordable Care be worse than counterproductive for 1 both the nation and the Republican U.S. citizen or resident is not Party. The best legislation results available. Currently, illegal residents from reasonable, responsible input face a 13-year wait to obtain U.S. and compromise from both sides of citizenship. Regarding those who are the aisle. in the country illegally and, “frankly, not going home,” he said the current The senator asserted that the U. S. national policy amounts to de facto currently carries an astounding $100T amnesty. in unfunded liabilities, he continued. All entitlement programs will be Canada is successfully poaching many severely impacted going forward if we of our STEM (science, technology, cannot get federal spending under engineering & math) professionals. control. For example, some form of We ought to be able, he said, to hire “means testing,” (formulas used to all the STEM experts who graduate screen applicants for eligibility to from our own universities. welfare programs such as Medicaid) will likely need to be applied to the Recalling his work on The State rapidly increasing Medicare Children's Health Insurance Program population at some point in the (SCHIP), Sen. Hatch said he was future. disappointed in the changes that were later forced into it. Ironically, they Sen. Hatch again stressed our resulted in his having to finally vote national debt, saying it is an issue of against his own bill. national security. China’s ownership of U.S. debt is shifting the economic Frank Pignanelli, filling in for U.S. balance of power in its favor, giving it Congressman Jim Matheson (D), who political leverage against us. If China was unable to attend, said he himself were to call in its loans, the senator has been a frequent guest of WSLC warned, the value of the dollar would since 1986. His mother was a member plummet, disrupting our own and of WSLC. He expressed appreciation international markets worse than the for the positive influence the 2008 financial crisis. organization has been on the women of Utah. Turning to his thoughts on immigration reform, he stated it to be Immigration reform is a great concern one of the country’s most important to Congressman Matheson. The issue issues. We need to find sensible, is key to our own state. Utah has a real compassionate and fair solutions. For and continuing need for a reliable example, he believes the H-1B immigrant labor force. We should also program should be expanded. H-1B be aware, Mr. Pignanelli said, that visas are available to companies undocumented residents could also wishing to hire a foreign worker if a make significant contributions to 2 technology in our state. Additionally, the country. He is true to his earned we should be mindful that over ½ of reputation of reaching across the the membership of the LDS Church is congressional aisle to get things done. Hispanic. Both the political far right Turning to the Utah caucus system and far left are becoming stumbling and the emerging “Count My Vote” blocks to constructive immigration movement, Mr. Pignanelli said he reform, each for its own reasons. supports the movement in general. However, he is not optimistic about Another mounting issue is healthcare the chances for the ballot initiative to reform. A basic problem for the prevail. ObamaCare system, he said, is that if enough people don’t sign onto it, the The current delegate system has seen whole system will collapse. Although far right activists assume greater problems are arising with its control of the state Republican Party. implementation, he hopes they will be Mainstream Republicans may not like resolved soon. that. However, it may be a surprise to some that the caucus system has also Everyone can agree, he urged, that been instrumental in significantly reform of some kind does need to weakening Utah’s Democrat Party. occur. For example, pre-existing Some years ago, far left groups medical conditions should not obtained undue power within the preclude coverage. Catastrophic party through the state nominating illness’ medical bills can bankrupt a conventions. It’s taken awhile to family. He stressed that, although we recover from that. Again, it will be may have concerns regarding the interesting to watch this issue unfold. ACA, it is now the law and will not be going away. We need to find a way to Emily Ellsworth began by offering deal with it. sincere regrets from Congressman Stewart (R) for being unable to Regarding the federal government attend, and extended greetings on his shutdown, Mr. Pignanelli referred to behalf. Responding to questions, Ms. a recent poll indicating Sen. Mike Lee Ellsworth addressed the hardship (R) is facing his own political issues in imposed on the state by the recent its aftermath. Sen. Lee’s popularity government shutdown. has dropped to 40% among Utahns. It will be interesting to see how that When the parks within the state were plays out in the coming months. closed, the governor’s office was able to hammer out an accord with the Mr. Pignanelli affirmed Jim Matheson federal government whereby Utah was to be a fiscally able to re-open the parks, using its who has proven himself adept at own funds. Implicit in the accord was bringing forward good legislation for Washington’s ability to reimburse the 3 state. It remains to be seen whether direction of reform are often the payback will come through. dismissed as unworthy of attention. Subsequent to the park closures, Rep. However, they are the ones proven to Stewart’s office has been working on a be most meaningful in the long run. bill to put language in place whereby Sweeping proposals and mandates any state could do the same as Utah tend to be far less effective. has done, should the need arise again. Finally, Ms. Ellsworth stated that Rep. Ms. Ellsworth’s particular specialty is Stewart voted with U.S. Reps. Rob immigration. She has handled Bishop, and Jim immigration cases routinely for the Matheson to support the Continuing past five years. She shares the Resolution to fund the federal congressman’s believe that the government and defund ObamaCare. foundation for real immigration She said that while the congressman reform must be to repair the current does not support ObamaCare, neither legal immigration process. It is did he support bringing the federal currently unwieldy, unfair and very government to a partial shutdown often incomprehensible. over the funding of it. He believes the tactics used to force the shutdown Rep. Stewart, she said, supports a were clearly bound to fail. reasonable pathway to citizenship. It would need to be a long & certifiable Reported by Pam Grange process. Piecemeal efforts in the

This Bulletin is a publication of The Women’s State Legislative Council of Utah, Inc. http://www.wslcofutah.org

“Celebrating 93 years of service” 1920 – 2013

President: Kari Malkovich Advisor: Skip Reese Printed by AlphaGraphics Editor: Pam Grange 117 West 900 South Assist. Editor: Eileen Hallet Stone , UT 84101

4