Utah State legislators are gearing up for the debates that will ensue during the 2008 legislative session regarding the hot issues of health care, immigration and education among a smorgasbord of others.

Beginning Monday, Utah lawmakers will meet in the newly renovated Capitol Building and have 45 days to wade through the bills that will cope with what their writers deem significant concerns.

"One of the big issues is health care reform," said Rep. Bradley Daw, an Orem Republican representing House District 60. "We need to do things to control costs."

According to Daw, the best approach to lowering the price of medical care in Utah "depends on who you ask."

A line between Democrats and Republicans will likely be drawn as health care bills are argued in the House and Senate chambers.

Democrats want more government programs while Republicans are poised to advocate market reform, Daw said. As a Republican, he supports setting up a system where patients are made aware of the real cost of medical care.

Daw said he favors setting up a system where the first $1,000 for medical expenses would be paid by the patient, not covered by insurance co-pay. His hope is that such personal accountability would encourage patients to shop around and awake in them a realization that visiting the doctor costs more than $10.

Another heath care reform proposal is aimed at making health insurance in Utah mandatory. The system would be privatized; no funds would be appropriated to sponsor government assisted insurance programs. Under this suggested legislation, Utah's health insurance policy would be akin to its car insurance policy. There will be penalties for failing to maintain coverage.

However, Senate President John Valentine said although the idea of mandatory insurance is "floating" around, "it's not one that has a lot of support."

Rep. Christopher Herrod, a Republican representing the area of Provo encompassing BYU (House District 62), said 60 to 80 percent of Utahns want some initiative taken to curb illegal immigration.

"States around us, like Colorado, have enacted tough measures, making Utah look like a safe haven," Herrod said.

With most immigration laws being dealt with on a national level and enforced by federal agents, there is a limit to what state agencies can enforce.

Herrod is pushing for change. He wants to empower local officers through cross-deputization, which would allow local law enforcement officers to act temporarily as federal agents by granting them the authority to question someone's legal status, Herrod said.

Daw also listed illegal immigration as a big issue.

He said the state can take measures to rein in illegal immigration by not offering state benefits without proof of citizenship and penalizing businesses that hire illegals.

"There are ways we can make it less comfortable to be here," Daw said. He cited refusing to give illegal immigrants a driver's license as an example.

Education always tends to be a big issue, as funding Utah's schools requires a substantial amount of state funds.

This year, the legislature will address the current shortages in special education, math and science teachers. One solution posed involves offering differentiated pay to teachers in those fields, Valentine said.

Also, the legislature will consider a measure that will increase each Utah teacher's yearly pay by $2,500.

Valentine said he is a strong proponent of getting the money to teachers. He said investing in teachers means investing in classrooms.

Mathematics education in Utah schools also promises to be a topic of discussion. According to a document prepared by The Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, Utah students' math abilities are not up to par and many graduate unprepared to tackle college-level math.

The legislature may consider establishing a task force to examine state mathematics education throughout the state and instituting year-round math education centers, according to the document.

Other issues that will surely demand the spotlight this session include property tax, prison overcrowding and transportation.

"Most people in Orem get their property tax and choke," Daw said.

Some areas in Utah have been subject to a pretty intense spike, and legislators will be considering ways to prevent such abrupt jumps.

Utah's inmate population numbers 6, 498 while the number of beds is an insufficient 5,071, stated the document by The Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel. The prison in Gunnison is on the list for funding.

"There's a project on the governor's request that would add an additional pod next year at the Gunnison prison," Valentine said.

Transportation continues to warrant a significant amount of time during the congressional session because, like education, it sucks a good deal of state funds.

For more information about the Utah State Legislature and access to the text of all numbered bills, access the legislature's Web site at www.le.utah.gov.

Copyright Brigham Young University 18 Jan 2008