Lilly Ledbetter wins victory for women

Lilly Ledbetter finally received justice of sorts today when President Barack Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act this morning.  For those of you that don't know Lilly's story, she worked for years in a Goodyear tire plant as a supervisor only to learn late in her career even men with the same position as she that were relative newcomers were making more money than she was.  She sued, but the Supreme Court ruled against her.

While the bill signed into law today that carries her name will not bring her justice, it is a victory for millions of other working women around the country. As a parent of a daughter and a husband to a working woman, I am personally grateful to this remarkable woman for the fight she carried all the way to the Supreme Court and ultimately to Congress.

To read more about Lilly's struggle to improve the lives of working women listen to the NPR story regarding the passage of the Fair Pay Act that bears her name.  

Let them eat . . . popcorn?

Sen. President Mike Waddoups on the economy:

"I prefer to look on the bright side. Things aren't as gloomy as some would have us believe," Waddoups said. "Revenues are down a little, but we can still eat, we can have homes, we have health care, we have color TV … and most still have jobs."

Really, we have color TV? Vice President Cheney warned about being the Party of Hoover. He needn't have worried. Apparently, they are the Party of Marie Antoinette.

Stuck on the train: A perspective on the inauguration

By Laura Bonham

As the Red Line train rumbled along the track of Washington's Metro on Martin Luther King Day, I was completely struck by the enormity of the historic moment I was witnessing first hand. It is not as if I didn’t know what was going to happen the next day and the impact it would have around the world. And, it is not that I didn’t know how the inauguration of a person of color and all that entails would punctuate our history. I was fully aware of all these things. What happened to me on that train, crammed in like a sardine with people of all religions, races, and stations in life, was that my heart finally embraced it.

After all my years in politics, I’ve grown a bit skeptical. When Obama’s campaign began, I was no supporter. In large part, because from my skewed perspective, I didn’t believe we had it in us to elect a person of color. For too long I’ve seen the discriminatory practices of our policies play out at home and abroad. What had changed in my fellow citizens’ hearts that would cause a fundamental shift in our behavior and thinking? After all, it was the same electorate who catapulted George Bush into power, and those age-old discriminatory practices were still firmly in place.

I have never been happier to be so wrong.

When I awoke that day, I pulled up King’s “I have a dream” speech and watched it on my computer. Never have those words had more meaning. I watched a few other “you-tube” videos with montages of the March on Washington. I remembered watching the news clips and my now deceased mother educating me as a young child about Dr. King, his struggle, and the struggle of so many Americans still waiting for their place in the sun—the American Dream—with full rights and participation. And there I was, a part of an unfolding of promise that this country has not witnessed since the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

I thought about that on the train. It was filled with happy people wearing Obama schwag on their heads, ears, faces, around their necks, on coats, sweatshirts, pants, even shoelaces. The people came from all over the world, and they were everywhere on the streets of D.C. At any moment, they would break into song or begin chanting. (As I was exiting a Metro stop, the space between the turnstiles and exit escalators became jammed and the line spilled back onto the platform. Over the loudspeakers came the advice to “keep moving.” Within seconds, the crowd was chanting “Keep-mov-ing! Yes-we-can! Keep-mov-ing! Yes-we-can!”) It is truly an indescribable feeling to be in a crowd of over a million people, all of them happy. I think that may be what real peace feels like.

I looked around me on the train filled with smiling faces sharing stories and hopes with one another. White people engaging with black people, adults engaging with children, English-speakers engaging with German-speakers. It was the way things should be. A wave of brother and sisterhood swept over me—my fellow Americans had arisen to the occasion; I was very proud to sit squeezed in among them on that particular day. My skepticism had receded into the background, and my faith had been renewed. I exited the train a lot lighter in spirit.

And so it was as we filled the National Mall on Tuesday to witness the historic event—all of us feeling great hope and possessing a renewed interest in our democracy. Although I was only one of a million—we million were one in rejoicing the new dawn of America.

Laura Bonham is the communications coordinator for Progressive Democrats of America, the chairperson of the Summit County Democrats, and a member of the Utah Democratic Party Executive Committee. She lives in Coalville, Utah.

When Doug Macdonald speaks, we should listen

Doug Macdonald is an economic consultant and was the executive director of Utah Issues and the chief economist of the Utah State Tax Commission. He understands the funding of Utah’s state government better than anybody – or at least anybody that is willing to talk to the public.

And, better yet, he can explain things in a way that real people (read "not economists") can understand. Want to know how we got where we are with the State’s budget? Ask Doug. He can tell you.

For the last election, Doug provided us with a very detailed report how changes in Utah’s tax system had gradually shifted what now amounts $1 billion each year out of education programs.

Republican legislators can tell you all they like about how they have put the most money into education ever in the past few years, but had they left the funding system alone and done nothing we would have $1 billion each year more in education investment. Their actions hurt, not helped, education attainment in Utah.

Now, Doug is warning us that the Republican legislature’s plan for massive 15% budget cuts would shrink the Utah economy another 3% in this time of recession and that reducing public education salaries may have the perverse effect of derailing Utah's long-term economic growth potential, too.

He wrote in an editorial published in the Salt Lake Tribune on January 11 that, "For better or for worse, state government is a pretty big economic player in the Utah economy. Including public education, it accounts for 10 percent of the total employment. Its $10.6 billion budget equates to 10 percent of Utah's $100 billion economy."

Hmm . . . very alarming. What should we do?

Now, we come to Doug’s fix: During the early 1990s Utah’s sales tax rate was 5% with food sales in the tax base. Without food, the rate would have been 5.5%. If raised from the current 4.7% to 5.5%, the hike would bring in $400 million. On the income tax side, the governor lowered the nominal top rate from 7% to 5%. A rate of 6% would furnish education with at least $400 million. In total these two changes would bring in $800 million and almost eliminate the projected revenue shortfall with only two word changes to Utah's tax code.

Doug says, "We cannot afford to slow down our efforts to provide a first-class education just because it is politically inconvenient."

Our immediate reaction to increasing taxes in a recession is a firm "No way!"

But we bring up this subject today in response to yesterday’s inauguration. As the Salt Lake Tribune editorial put it, "Obama's message also was a summons for all Americans to grow up and embrace their responsibilities as citizens."

The Republicans in Utah have put tax increases on cigarettes, gas, internet purchases, services and a whole host of other fees on the table. These targeted fees and taxes that disproportionally hit certain segments of the population are really being used to "backfill" general funding needs. We should at least ask ourselves if small increases in broad revenue programs that ask each of us to share the burden is more responsible and grown up.

Whether Mr. Macdonald is right or wrong about where we go from here, he is thought provoking and well worth listening to his concerns and his proposals.

What say you?

It was like a big inaugural hug

Many thanks to the local news outlets that have provided extensive coverage of the inauguration of our 44th President of the United States Barack Obama with live reporting by KSL, KUTV, KTVX, FOX13, KUED, KUER, KCPW, the Salt Lake Tribune, and too many others to name with smaller audiences like Salt Lake’s Spanish language paper La Prensa.

They allowed all of to be a part of the day’s historic events.

I want to highlight stories from the Deseret News that show what motivates those of us who labor daily in politics. It is not only the partisan argument about the manner in which our society may progress, however invigorating that can be, but the coming together as citizens after the campaign season to actually move our nation forward. The Deseret News reports:

Rob Miller, vice chairman of the Utah Democratic Party, is going [to Washington DC], as might be expected. But two guests he chose to invite to share his tickets to the swearing-in ceremony are a bit unusual: Republican Attorney General Mark Shurtleff and Todd Weiler, vice chairman of the Utah Republican Party.

"This is an American president. I wanted to have a bipartisan feel to the delegation from Utah," Miller said.

Shurtleff said he jumped at the chance, and explained about Obama, "He's the president. I want to support him, and it's historic."

Weiler also was thrilled to accept the offer for tickets. "I decided to go because I am at heart a political junkie. Although I savor the Republican side of the aisle, this is an incredibly historic event with the nation's first inauguration of a black
president. It was an offer I couldn't refuse."

He adds that with the challenges the country is facing, even though Weiler is a Republican, "I sincerely hope that Barack Obama will be the greatest president we ever had. I am an American first and a partisan politician second. We need great leadership."

As for the event itself:

Todd Weiler, vice chairman of the Utah Republican Party, had adventures, including being crushed by crowds and seeing people climb trees and porta-potties to try to get better views of the swearing-in.

"And these were people with the good tickets," he said.

He said he followed the printed directions to get to the entrance of his section. "And I stood in a crowd of about 10,000 people that never moved for about two hours. It was a dead end but nobody knew it and nobody could get out."

He said, "People were literally being crushed and injured. They brought four ambulances through our crowd, and we were crushed even more. At one point, I had my arms over my head and I couldn't lower them."

He finally worked his way out of that crowd and arrived at the real entrance just when the ceremony was beginning. He found his section was full, with thousands more with tickets trying to enter. "That crowd crushed in and did the same thing. It was like a big inaugural hug," he said.

"There were actually people standing on top of porta-potties to try to see, and people climbing trees trying to see over the crowd," he said. "Even to see the Jumbo-tron, people would have to push and shove."

But, he said, "Even with all of that, I'm glad I was here. It was an historic day. The most poignant thing for me was seeing literally hundreds of thousands of African Americans here who are just so proud of the country today, and I am proud with them. And it's Obama-mania."

As someone who has been to these events before, I can attest that indeed this is a true picture. The whole process is a hassle, but Oh! What a glorious thing to see the peaceful transition that brings us all together. Just seeing all three branches of government sharing the stage, representatives from both major political parties, and the sustaining witness of the Amercian people is affirming that our American ideals still bring hope for a better tomorrow.

What are we thinking?

As we enter the 2009 legislative session, I think our State Party Vice Chair Rob Miller in his column for the Davis County Clipper has written a good article summing up what the Democratic Party is thinking as we get underway. He wrote:

On Jan. 26, 2009, the Utah Legislature will convene. My assignment: list the top three best and three worst bills I expect to be passed during this session.

Unfortunately that is a secret you can’t be told.

According to legislative lawyers, there are roughly 770 bill files that have been opened. Most are not public at this time. Legislators keep them "protected" until they are ready to tell us.

The bills that will most likely be considered during the first 10 days are the approximately 95 bills that were passed in 2008 during the interim sessions. Most, but not all of these bills, are available for public view. I encourage you to look at the legislative web site to see them.

Additionally, there is no doubt that the bill with the greatest effect on our communities will be the budget bills.

Due to lower tax revenues there simply isn’t any money for new projects. Instead of focusing on healthcare reform and improving mathematics education, which are high legislative priorities, we may find Utah legislators more interested in changing policy that has no, or a low, fiscal note. Beware the legal challenges that this endeavor to save money will produce.

We are already seeing heightened attention to liquor, abortion, tobacco, gambling, property tax, immigration, domestic partnerships, ethics and campaign reform. Many of these issues are likely to be dealt with poorly because they were not truly on most legislators’ priority lists until this last election cycle and, quite frankly, haven’t been worked through in the appropriate manner.

Whether you’re interested in the budget or policy, 2009 is shaping up to be a year of disappointment for moderate voters.

In the base budget they are debating cuts to every department across the board of 15 percent. Cuts to education, healthcare, and programs like "Meals on Wheels" will be most harmful. If you’re a young person in public school it is my hope that Utah legislators realize that you will only go through this stage of life once, and I plead with Utah’s lawmakers to not tell senior citizens, "We’ll be happy to feed you two years from now when we have more revenue."

It may be inconvenient for us now, but putting off capital improvements on state buildings and roads is a leadership decision that should be made. The same isn’t true with bills that affect a child’s developmental stage, healthcare for those who have a current illness, or seniors who benefit from a warm meal.

There may even be hope for those capital projects getting done sooner rather than later. It appears that the incoming Obama administration wants to help states with this because they understand that it is the most reasonable area for budget cuts during an economic downturn.

One bill I am very optimistic about is Rep. Lynn Hemingway’s (D-Millcreek) bill to help new educators with housing. Although it has been dismissed over the last two sessions it is a step in the right direction and should find support from both Democrats and Republicans, especially in areas like St. George where housing is simply not affordable for those who are teaching our children.

The fact is before we pass judgment on the best and worst we need to watch the legislative process. It is through this process that poor and mediocre bills can take flight and where great bills can be cannibalized.

Whatever happens this year, it is my hope that our lawmakers are pragmatic and truly focus on being helpful regarding the issues that affect all of us. Lawmakers have a tough road ahead, one which I don’t envy.

What are they thinking?

The system is designed to keep us from knowing what legislators are thinking until they are ready to tell us. According to the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel (OLRGC), there have been some 770 bill files that have been opened. More will come. Most are not public at this time. Legislators keep them "protected" until they are ready to tell us.

Certainly one source is the news media. Many thanks to the reporters at newspapers, television stations and radio stations who keep asking questions that many of us never get the opportunity to ask. Besides their normal reporting, many of these organizations also sponsor web logs, or blogs, which contain additional insight.

However, most of the best web logs are put together by good citizens who like to watch the process and tell us what is happening. One of the most popular is run by Democratic State Party Vice Chair Rob Miller at utahamicus.com. Others can be found at utahbloghive.org.

Finally, we’ll point you to two which give a first hand accounts from legislators themselves: the Senate Democrats post at www.utahsenatedemocrats.org and the House Democrats post at www.utahhousedemocrats.org.

Not a Day to Waste

Legislators always feel that time is short to complete their business.

They start the ball rolling passing legislation right from the opening day.

Sure there will be the ceremony starting the session and the State of the State address by the Governor. But the action has already started with important debates about the base budget and a list of 95 bills recommended by the interim committees and task forces that met throughout 2008.

What is likely to move fast in the first ten days and make you feel as though the process is rigged with no time for meaningful input? Well, first the base budget and, then, this group of 95 bills:

Administrative Rules Review Committee
H.B. 32 -- Amendments to Agency Rulemaking Regarding Criminal Penalties (Rep. Ferry, B.)

Business and Labor Interim Committee
H.B. 39 -- Utah Injured Worker Reemployment Act (Rep. Morley, M.)
H.B. 51 -- Exemption for Alcoholic Beverage Manufacturing License (Rep. Johnson, C.)
H.B. 52 -- Insurance Code Amendments (Rep. Dunnigan, J.)
S.B. 15 -- Workers' Compensation Premium Assessment and Workplace Safety Funding (Sen. Mayne, K.)
S.B. 30 -- Enhancement of Truth in Advertising Act (Sen. Dayton, M.)
S.B. 31 -- Utah Residential Mortgage Practices and Licensing Act (Sen. Niederhauser, W.)

Child Welfare Legislative Oversight Panel
H.B. 63 -- Amendments to Child Welfare (Rep. Harper, W.)
H.B. 69 -- Guardian Ad Litem Amendments (Rep. Harper, W.)

Government Operations Interim Committee
H.B. 43 -- Coordinating Municipal and Special District Elections (Rep. Grover, K.)
H.B. 44 -- Local and Special Service District Election Amendments (Rep. Fowlke, L.)
H.B. 45 -- Per Diem and Travel Expenses for State Boards and Commissions (Rep. Aagard, D.)
H.B. 48 -- Ballot Question Amendments (Rep. Grover, K.)
H.B. 49 -- Voter Challenge Amendments (Rep. Hansen, N.)
H.B. 56 -- Declaration of Candidacy Amendments (Rep. Aagard, D.)
S.B. 24 -- Early Voting Amendments (Sen. Knudson, P.)
S.B. 25 -- Online Voter Registration (Sen. Knudson, P.)
S.B. 26 -- Open and Public Meetings Act - Meeting Record (Sen. Knudson, P.)
S.B. 27 -- Election Law Changes (Sen. Knudson, P.)

Higher Education and Applied Technology Governance Committee
H.B. 15 -- Career and Technical Education Amendments (Rep. Bigelow, R.)

Health and Human Services Interim Committee
H.B. 17 -- Expedited Partner Therapy Treatment (Rep. Seelig, J.)
H.B. 31 -- Utah Sudden Cardiac Arrest Survival Act (Rep. Wimmer, C.)
H.B. 33 -- Refund of Unearned Health Insurance Premiums and Medicare Supplement
Insurance Premiums (Rep. Ray, P.)
H.B. 42 -- Adoption Revisions (Rep. Allen, S.)
H.B. 60 -- Family Preservation Services Amendments (Rep. Harper, W.)

Immigration Interim Committee
H.B. 64 -- Deterring Illegal Immigration (Rep. Dee, B.)
S.B. 39 -- Immigration Amendments (Sen. Jenkins, S.)
S.B. 40 -- Lawful Presence Verification for Issuance of a Driver License or Identification Card (Sen. Bramble, C.)
S.C.R. 1 -- Concurrent Resolution Requesting a Federal Waiver to Establish an Employer-sponsored Work Program (Sen. Jenkins, S.)

Judiciary Interim Committee
H.B. 10 -- Condominium and Community Association Provisions (Rep. Webb, R. C.)
H.B. 14 -- Material Harmful to Minors Amendments (Rep. Allen, S.)
H.B. 22 -- Harboring a Runaway (Rep. Fowlke, L.)
S.B. 32 -- Wrongful Death Amendments (Sen. McCoy, S.)

Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Interim Committee
H.B. 12 -- County Sheriff Qualification Amendments (Rep. Greenwood, R.)
H.B. 13 -- Crime of Strangulation or Smothering (Rep. Seelig, J.)
H.B. 25 -- Gun Dealer Penalty Amendments (Rep. Oda, C.)
H.B. 26 -- Child and Vulnerable Adult Endangerment Provisions (Rep. Morley, M.)
H.B. 29 -- Sex Offenders' Contact with Children (Rep. Greenwood, R.)
H.B. 36 -- Criminal Offense Elements and Penalties (Rep. Wimmer, C.)
H.B. 37 -- Violent Offenses Amendments (Rep. Seelig, J.)
H.B. 41 -- Sex Offender Registration Amendments (Rep. Sumsion, K.)
H.B. 47 -- Criminal Procedure - Investigation Amendments (Rep. Ray, P.)
H.B. 59 -- Subpoenas for Records in Certain Criminal Investigations (Rep. Daw, B.)
S.B. 11 -- Incest Amendments (Sen. Stowell, D.)
S.B. 16 -- Prohibited Gang Activity (Sen. Greiner, J.)
S.B. 19 -- Criminal Offense Penalties Amendment (Sen. Greiner, J.)
S.B. 28 -- Prohibited Activities of Gang Offenders (Sen. Greiner, J.)

Native American Legislative Liaison Committee
S.B. 37 -- Utah Substance Abuse and Anti-violence Coordinating Council Amendments (Sen. Van Tassell, K.)

Natural Resources Agriculture and Environment Interim Committee
H.B. 11 -- Recodification of Natural Resources Provisions (Rep. Mathis, J.)
H.B. 18 -- Water Right Applications and Records (Rep. Painter, P.)
H.B. 19 -- Water Rights - Informal Adjudications (Rep. McIff, K.)
H.B. 27 -- Protections for Agricultural Practices (Rep. Morley, M.)
H.B. 34 -- Penalties for Destruction of Bald Eagle (Rep. Barrus, R.)
S.B. 13 -- Administering Substances to Wildlife (Sen. Dayton, M.)
S.B. 17 -- Surface Coal Mining Amendments (Sen. Stowell, D.)
S.B. 29 -- Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments (Sen. Stowell, D.)

Political Subdivisions Interim Committee
H.B. 16 -- Assessment Area Amendments (Rep. Hunsaker, F.)
H.B. 61 -- Local Government Entity Changes (no public sponsor)
S.B. 20 -- Local Public Health Emergency Funding (Sen. Stowell, D.)
S.B. 21 -- State and Local Health Authorities Amendments (Sen. Stowell, D.)

Public Utilities and Technology Interim Committee
S.B. 33 -- Utility Transmission Corridor Siting Task Force (Sen. Jenkins, S.)

Revenue and Taxation Interim Committee
H.B. 20 -- Repeal of Certain Income Tax Credits and Contributions (Rep. Fisher, Julie)
H.B. 23 -- Certified Tax Rate Amendments (Rep. Hunsaker, F.)
H.B. 28 -- Personal Property Tax Amendments (Rep. Frank, C.)
H.B. 35 -- Nonrefundable Higher Education Tuition Credit (Rep. Dougall, J.)
H.B. 54 -- Amendments to Vehicle Registration Requirements (Rep. Gibson, F.)
H.B. 55 -- Amendments to Tourism, Recreation, Cultural, Convention, and Airport Facilities Tax Act (Rep. Harper, W.)
H.B. 57 -- Exemptions from Requirements to Deduct and Withhold an Income Tax (Rep. Frank, C.)
H.B. 58 -- Sales and Use Tax - Determining the Location of Certain Transactions (Rep. Harper, W.)
H.B. 65 -- Reporting of Certain Transactions Exempt from Sales and Use Taxes (Rep. Fisher, Julie)
H.B. 66 -- Property Tax Amendments (Rep. Newbold, M.)
H.B. 67 -- Public Hearings on Property Tax Increases (Rep. Froerer, G.)
H.B. 70 -- Cigarette Tax Exemption Amendments (no public sponsor)
H.B. 71 -- Withholding Tax Amendments (no public sponsor)
S.B. 18 -- Utah Transparency Advisory Board Amendments (Sen. Niederhauser, W.)
S.B. 23 -- Income Taxation of Pass-through Entities and Pass-through Entity Taxpayers (Sen. Niederhauser, W.)
S.B. 34 -- Amendments to Sales and Use Tax Exemption for Certain Machinery, Equipment, or Parts (Sen. Niederhauser, W.)
S.B. 35 -- Sales and Use Tax Definitions Relating to Property (Sen. Niederhauser, W.)
S.B. 36 -- Sales and Use Tax Amendments (Sen. Bramble, C.)
S.B. 38 -- Severance Tax Amendments (Sen. Valentine, J.)

State Water Development Commission
H.B. 62 -- State Water Development Commission Amendments (Rep. Gibson, K.)
H.B. 68 -- Development Exactions (Rep. Painter, P.)

Transportation Interim Committee
H.B. 21 -- Amendments to Driver License Sanction Requirements (Rep. Greenwood, R.)
H.B. 24 -- Traffic Accident Clearance Amendments (Rep. Hutchings, E.)
H.B. 30 -- Commercial Motor Vehicle Amendments (Rep. Kiser, T.)
H.B. 40 -- Motorcycle Rider Education Program Amendments (Rep. Daw, B.)
H.B. 46 -- Designation of State Highways Amendments (Rep. Kiser, T.)
H.B. 50 -- Firefighter Special Group License Plate Amendments (Rep. Menlove, R.)
H.B. 53 -- Driver License Amendments - Motor Driven Cycles (Rep. Kiser, T.)
S.B. 12 -- DUI Amendments (Sen. Killpack, S.)
S.B. 22 -- Street Legal All-terrain Vehicle Amendments (Sen. Jenkins, S.)

Utah International Trade Commission
H.J.R. 1 -- Resolution Urging the Withdrawal of United States' World Trade Organization Commitment on Gambling (Rep. Allen, S.)

Workforce Services and Community and Economic Development Interim Committee
H.B. 38 -- Refugee Services Fund Amendments (Rep. Herrod, C.)
S.B. 10 -- Department of Community and Culture - State-owned Art Inventory (Sen. Madsen, M.)
S.B. 14 -- Financial Incentives for Motion Picture Productions (Sen. Hillyard, L.)

So, if you are interested in any of the bills listed above, speak up soon or you will miss the opportunity.

The Happening (A Utah Legislative Experience)

Trying to keep track of what is happening this legislative session? Go to their website: www.le.state.ut.us. It has a great number of tools and information.

You should be able to follow most of the legislative action without having to set foot inside the State Capitol. The tools provided can be used in real time or you can time shift and get the inforamtion when it is convenient to you.

• You can listen to debates and committee meetings from the comfort of your own home or office with the click of a mouse.
• You can see most of the documents provided to the legislators.
• You can see the calendars and tote boards that are on the walls of the legislative chambers.
• You can find legislators’ biographies and get their e-mail addresses for direct contact.
  

The only thing you don’t get from using the web tools provided by the legislature is the parking hassle and the action of the lobby (the interaction between the public, news media, lobbyists and legislators that takes place in the public spaces, caucus rooms, and private offices around the Capitol building.)

According to the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel (OLRGC) there have been over 770 bill files opened for this coming session. There will be more – perhaps another 100. By the end of the session, using recent history as a guide, around 400 will pass into law.

As of this writing, only about 112 have been released for public review. They can be found here:
http://le.utah.gov/session/2009/bills.htm

At another place on the site you can search by topic, by legislator, or by committee assignment. This site is frequently the easiest way to find bills on the subjects that interest you:
http://le.utah.gov/asp/billsintro/index.asp?year=2009GS

When you click on a bill, you can find out more information:

Bill Status - will tell you where the bill is in the process including any votes taken
Audio Recordings - lets you listen to the debates on the bill in committee or on the floor

Bill Text - can show you the actual text of the bill and any changes (introduced, amended, and if passed how it is "enrolled")

Committee Reports - usually a simple transmittal letter from the committee, it is better to look at the minutes in the section "Standing Committee Information"

Fiscal Notes - this is a simple statement of the anticipated cost of the legislation

There can be other information that indicates that a bill is being looked at closely by other legislators, lobbyists, or the public. Clues include notations for a substitute bill or substitutions that were not adopted, amendments and amendments not adopted, conference committee reports showing that the House and Senate were not in agreement with what should be contained in the bill.

The general session page is also a good place to look:
http://le.utah.gov/~2009/2009.htm

It has tools to allow you to track a number of bills that you are interested in reviewing. It has links to the floor calendars to see which bills are being debated in the House or Senate on a given day. It has the weekly schedules for committee hearings; links to the committee agenda’s, notices, and supporting material; the legislative journals that give an account of all the proceedings on the floor of the House and Senate; information on budget issues, key issues expected for the session; legislative rules; even parking information and key dates for legislative action.

Use of the legislative web site is a good way to bypass the news media and find the primary sources of information that is important to you. Better yet, read and listen to the news media and then supplement the information they provide by looking at the primary documents that can make you a better informed citizen.