Resolution calling for fiscal discipline

HJR 17 was substituted in title and body by Representative Craig Frank, putting forward a bill that is succinct and easy to understand.  It clearly states that our current economic crisis is a bipartisan problem that has been building for some time, yet also calls for the federal government to stop the path we’re on of binding future generations, of bailing out private industry whose executives feel they need to fly to Washington DC on private jets, when they go to beg for money and of the out-of-control deficit spending and increasing of the debt load.

Representative Frank stood and said that each year before the session starts, they receive many resolutions and proposals from think tanks, lobbying groups and other organizations, but this bill is not one of those.  This bill was brought forward by his neighbors.  “The people whose children go to the same schools mine do, who drive over the same potholes I do”, he said.  Those neighbors are concerned about what is happening in Washington.  Utah is fiscally responsible and we want to ask Washington DC to also be fiscally responsible.

Representative King stood to speak against the bill, calling it ” a rant, filled with overheated rhetoric and pure partisanship”.

There was a fair amount of discussion on what strings were attached.  Some strings are ones people can live with, some are not.  Not only does the federal governement attach strings coming to Utah, but the state of Utah also attaches strings to some of their funding as well.

Representative Wimmer stood and stated that this is NOT a partisan bill.  He added: ” I am ashamed to say that the beginning of the destruction of capitalism started under my party”.  He said he regretted that this resolution did not have more teeth.

Representative Herrod stood in support of the bill and said that he thought this might be one of the most important things to pass out of the House this year.  He had one additional pointed remark when he said: ” A better analogy than “strings” is flaxen cords.”

It passed out of the House on a  47 to 22 vote and has moved to the Senate where it will be run by Senator John Valentine.