During the first week of Utah’s 45-Day Legislative Session, Utah’s Governor gave a state of the state address, which covered key issues throughout the state.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox addressed the house and the senate jointly last Thursday for his first state of the state address.
While Cox laid out plans to deal with concerns about public infrastructure and transportation, his address largely focused on education throughout the state.
He said the legislature is working to expand education funding, which includes more than $100 million in bonuses for teachers.
“They deserve our respect. And they deserve a raise,” Cox said. “I’m grateful to you legislators who agree and have pledged historic education funding this year. And while I just referred to these investments as ‘historic,’ I’m looking forward to them becoming routine.”
Cox also addressed concerns over education inequality throughout the state. He said while education is supposed to act as an equalizer, rural and minority communities do not have equal access to education.
“I truly believe that this concept of educational equity is at the heart of so much of the pain and division in our country right now,” he said. “A high-quality education can change everything.”
By creating a more equal education system, he said it can also help to fix intergenerational poverty.
He also took issue with what he described as “contempt, tribalism and discord” over the last few weeks.
“That, of course, does not mean that we should never disagree,” he said. “I’m going to veto some of your bills. Probably more than my predecessors. Please don’t take it personally. But there must be no room for contempt or hate. We are friends. We must always be friends.”
In response to Cox’s address, Utah’s Democratic Senate and House members called on the governor to address accessibility to online learning as well as ensuring COVID-19 vaccines for all residents. They also brought up concerns over systemic racism and environmental issues.
In the response, House Minority Leader Brian King said he hopes to work with Republicans to address these issues.
“We see a lot of areas where we can work together across the aisle to solve some of Utah’s biggest challenges-like housing affordability, air quality, climate change and police reform,” he said. “We’re not interested in political posturing or divisiveness. We are here -as public servants- to solve problems, and to get things done, so that all Utahns have their own opportunities to thrive.”
Bills concerning education, police reform, climate change and housing affordability are making their way through the legislative session.
The Legislative Report on KPCW is made possible, in part, by the law firm of Hoggan Lee Hutchinson at HLHParkCity.com.