Utah Can Do Better

2015 State of the State Democratic Response

Utah House and Senate Democratic Leadership
January 28, 2015

House Democratic Leader Brian King

My name is Brian King and Im the House Democratic Leader here in Utah. I appreciate the
opportunity to take a moment to lay out the vision Democrats have for Utah as we begin 2015.
The last few years have not been easy ones for working people in Utah or the United States.
Weve struggled to recover from the great recession. But our country and our state are coming
back, stronger every day.
Alison and I are the parents of four daughters. We want for them the same kind of economic
opportunity we had when we grew up here. We want them to have access to a high quality,
affordable public education. A chance to graduate from our public and higher education
institutions that feeling confident about their ability to handle a challenging national and world
economy. I want them to feel that they dont have to move out of Utah to find work that allow
them to provide for their own children. Our economy is booming right now. But are earnings
for the average working Utahn high enough and growing to make us feel confident for our
children and grandchildren? We can do better. We must do better.
Utah Democrats are committed to putting in place policies that help working people provide for
their families. Its shameful when a person working in a full-time job cant earn enough to
provide for themselves and their family without relying on government support. That happens
far too often in Utah. It needs to change. Business as usual is not the solution to this problem.

For years we have heard much from political leaders who say they care about education but do
little to change our steady downward trajectory in student performance over decades. The way
weve been doing things is not an effective way to deal with the challenge, the duty, the
opportunity, we have to educate our children in the best way we possibly can.
Utah Democrats are committed to investing the resources necessary to change the direction of
our public education performance over the last 30 years. The challenge of educating our
children well requires an ambitious strategy, a plan with aggressive short and long term effort
and investment. We are committed to that approach.
House Democratic Whip Rebecca Chavez-Houck
As a small business owner, I know how important it is for Utah to be business friendly,
regardless of their size. Regulations should promote growth, protect business owners,
consumers and their families, and provide Utahns an opportunity to shine in our states
economy.
Our employees are like family. We know that when they struggle, we struggle. If an employee is
out sick due to bad air days, or is worried about a mom or dad weighted down by medical bills,
we know they arent able to focus on their work. These issues are our issues. Our tax dollars
form a foundation of government that is supposed to help people succeed, not suppress them.
Hard-working Utahns deserve a hard working government to reinforce their dreams, not rob
them of it. Utahns, my family, deserves a shot at the American Dream, and Democrats want to
get us there.
By investing in a stable and diverse workforce through education, technical training, and
creating an environment where businesses can thrive, Utah can return to the success we have
accomplished before.

Senate Democratic Whip Karen Mayne

Jobs, fair wages, and a safe work environment these are working families issues, issues that
keep financial stability in our homes. As Utah citizens and Utah Democrats, we value and
support our educational responsibilities, and value our common sense thinking in solving the
challenges of government.
I serve because of Kelly, who needs medical care. For Brad who is unemployed. For Jane who
lives on a fixed income. I am so proud to do so.
We embrace leadership, and are excited by the challenges and solutions for the future.

Senate Democratic Leader Gene Davis

As Utahns, we are blessed to experience so many different things in the course of our lives. Our
unemployment rate in Utah is below the national average because we understand the value of
business friendly policies. Democrats are committed to reinvesting in our infrastructure,
educations system, and population health.
Our population is set to double in the next few years, and the legislature needs to focus on
reinvesting in the programs that improve the well-being of our citizens. We continue to believe
that government is of the people, for the people, and by the people. We are committed to our
future.
Education is the greatest investment ever made toward the greatness of this country. Utah is
last in the nation in funding. We need to ensure that teachers have the technology to teach our
children.
As a state that has one of the highest infant mortality rates, we need to ensure that all citizens
have access to quality healthcare at an affordable price.
Investment in our infrastructure is the best way to ensure economic sustainability into the
future. Government works when it serves us all.
House Democratic Leader Brian King
We know Utahns are struggling. We know the income gap between the very wealthiest and the
rest of us has grown tremendously in the past 30 years. Thats just a fact. And it creates dark
prospects for our economic and social future. If we dont put in place policies to change that
trend, well be in real trouble down the road.
But this path Utah has been headed down as a state for many years isnt inevitable. We can
change our direction relatively easily by smart policymaking that favors the interests of all of us
over the self-interest of a few. We owe it to those who will come after us to do just that.
Democrats have better ideas than the policies that have created larger and larger gaps between
the haves and the have-nots over the past few decades. Approaching our problems with a
were all in this together commitment is much more productive than trying to solve them by
saying, youre on your own.
Democrats know we can do better. Democrats are listening. We are committed, for the sake of
future generations, to improve the prospects for those were bringing along in our footsteps.
Join us. Help us make our state better.

Contact:

Elizabeth Roberts, Media Coordinator

Utah House Democratic Caucus
801-835-7087 | houseminmedia@le.utah.gov
Lisa Beaudry, Communications Director
Utah Senate Democrats
801-427-2232 | LisaB@UtahSenateDemocrats.org