Hello everybody welcome to this week's episode of the county seat I'm your host Chad booth we are at the Capitol today
In one of the conference rooms that is usually very busy during the session
it's appropriate because this room is where weekly all the county officials from across the state meet the treasurer's the
recorders the Assessors the commissioners the sheriff's to talk with legislators about pending legislation to make sure
That the policies the state makes does not have a crippling effect on the counties, or you as its citizens
So that's the topic of our show today to see how important this relationship is between County elected officials and state legislators
We're going to start by trying to understand the mechanics of the process we will do that with this week's tutorial with Brigham Larson
Thanks, Chad over
the course of the next few months if you visit your County Commission
Offices or almost any other office at your county seat for that matter
You might find them oddly empty, but I can tell you with all honesty
That is a good thing
From January through the start of March many of your county officials will be finding their way over and over again to Salt Lake City
And Capitol Hill as the Utah legislative season moves forward, but don't worry it isn't parties or dinners bringing them
It's hard work to make sure that the legislature knows best how to help your local counties
To understand why this is important, let's first learn what it is that the legislature does?
the Utah Legislature consists of two bodies the Senate and the House of
Representatives together these two bodies of government work together to draft and approve new laws
Ordinances and budgets what makes the Utah Legislature different from other legislatures across the country, it's too simple
but very
Important details speaker the House Greg Hughes explained it to me when I met with him earlier this month our state legislature has been in
In our state constitution we have 45 calendar days
45 calendar days actually include Saturday and Sunday, but we don't really come in on those days, so we really have about 31
working days
to put to review bills House and Senate and
In committees as well as on the floor, and then put our whole state budget together, and so we are on a very fast-paced
It's one of the shortest General Sessions of any state in America
Even the governor says the buzz on the L is because of this busy season here it's a beehive of activity
I don't pun intended at the Beehive State but a lot of things will happen
I know that they hear a myriad of pieces of legislation being talked about over 1200 pieces
I expect they'll pass around 500 the second factor ties in with the first the Senators and Representatives
are part-time
legislators these men and women while making sure laws are written and passed still have to eke out an existence just like you or I
They've got jobs and businesses to get back to which motivates them to keep on pace and wrap up a session
It also means that they know the struggles their communities are facing because they are there on the ground right along with you
But how does all of that tie back to County leadership?
On some level each and every law that is written and considered by lawmakers on Capitol Hill
Will have an effect on your County?
If that changes to medicating you talk you can count on the county needing to step in and help to administer those changes
If the state level law is established such as new drinking limits
It's gonna fall on the sheriff to get involved and help enforce those laws
To make sure that the right changes are made and the county's concerns are heard state lawmakers rely on County leaders like
commissioners to step up and make their voices heard
That's why on any given day most if not all of the county's leadership can be found in Salt Lake talking with legislators
Attending meetings and giving testimony on how a new law will affect their County
So now you know why you might find your county offices empty during the beginning months of a year to help us understand better
How counties in the legislature work together? We'll be right back with our panel?
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Welcome back to the county seat today. We are answering the question
Why do County officials spend so much time at the legislature where there are other elected officials?
Doing the business of the state well
We're going to continue that conversation and answer the questions on how important it is for County officials to be
Engaged with the legislature to make sure both sides are represented joining us today is a sheriff from Weber County Terry Thompson
we have representative Lee Perry district 29 in northern, Utah from the House of Representatives here at the
Legislature, and we have Breton Coburn who is a Davis County Commissioner gentlemen. Thank you for taking the time
I know this isn't at your leisure, but it'll be a good conversation
That's somebody else's leisure. I'm sure
Exact and we start with you
Lee as to how important it is for you to get input from these guys when you are working on legislation
Well as a member of the house representatives
one of the titles in front over the speaker's desk says Vox Populi which is voice of the people in order for us in the
house to do our job right we have to be in touch with the people and
in order to do that you have to reach out to county officials city and mayor's and
Reach out to the citizens as well
But these folks in the county are as close to anybody in our communities as we can get
Specific to law enforcement and the things that go on in individual counties, and I represent two counties Weber in boxelder
So I have to reach out to my commissioners in both areas the sheriff's in both areas and long as the mayors of City Council
and it's critical because
Otherwise we wouldn't be doing what we're committed to do and that's represent the people
But there would be an argument that would say okay. Well if it's Vox Populi
You're representing the people your constituents getting in touch with you they complain about something
And then you respond and build a law so aren't you fulfilling your obligation there. I am but quite often
They'll go to the sheriff or the commissioner and say oh, this is this is something we got to fix and sometimes
It's not something that can be fixed just in the county level it has to be fixed to the state level
And then that's when we get involved so what happens
Just the sausage come out, right
Boy, and all the times I've had people come to me and say that Lee Perry's got this all wrong
And I'm just teasing and Lee and I have a lot of things we discuss and we occasionally have
We occasionally look at things differently right and have different perspectives, but really on Lee's part and really with all of our representative
Weber County I can't tell you how really wonderful they are
Because they're open they allow us to come visit with us to let us sit down with us
And they get pulled in a thousand different directions up here particularly this time of year and so
What I've tried to do in my area is try to keep in touch with them all year long, right?
I don't try to wait until you know the legislators come and I need to talk to him and so
Occasionally Mae Lee may have accused me of being just a little bit annoying or obnoxious
Because he gets emails from me all year
Every week sometimes several a week because I want him to know what's going on
We were counting what's important to us
And how can he make really informed and educated?
Decisions here if he doesn't know that one of the recurring themes that has come up is this a good point
One of the recurring things that comes up that I've heard a lot from
Counties in the decade that I've been working closely with counties and these programs is you know the legislature?
you know they they will put passed a new law and give us a requirement and
And they look good because they cut their budget and then we have to pick up the slack in our County revenues
And we have unfunded mandates never happens
Just like it happens from the federal government and that and that's the trick and that's we're listening to the county officials
and
Hopefully they see these bills coming and that's why we tell the public as well as especially the county officials watch the bills
There's a lot of them come up. I mean I've seen bills even right now as a state representative
I'm like wow this is a bill that somebody's running
I they start to get numbered and I don't get to see them and tell they're numbered until they're out there, so
It can be a little bit of a shock for me to all this in a way that wait a minute
And that's where I reach out to
Ricky hatch and and Marla young our
Recorders up their inbox that are in Weber County about things that have to with election law I reached out to the sheriff and say
Sheriff how's this gonna affect your Jail he and sheriff Thompson is by far one of the best sheriffs
I've ever seen the state for communicating with legislators like he said he sends his emails noxious thing I mentioned
It's good, and I'm I'm grateful
I work in law enforcement
Full-time and so I see a lot of the things and I know a lot of the things that he's sending to me
But I can tell you knowing my counterparts aren't in law enforcement and the information he's providing to all those legislative leadership and leaders is
Critical for them to understand and know so that when they hit this session if somebody throws a bill out, they're not caught off guard
So I love the communication we have because it helps not get these unfunded mandates funding and obviously is a big deal
And we're trying to be a fiscally responsible state
I just can't I just
Imagine that the pressure on the legislature from from groups that want their own bidding and their own piece of legislation some of it
Protectionists, I want to keep other people out of my trade and something. I just imagine it's a huge amount of pressure
How do you sort through it?
That's difficult
That's where I reached out to constituents in that's where having expertise in the field comes in
It's having people I can reach out to and talk to because on my own
It's just like you said you can't be a jet you can't know it all and if I don't have good
Sources to reach out to and that includes lobbyists sometimes they bring information to me that it's beneficial even though sometimes
They're representing a need and they want to go for that specific need hearing from their side
and then hearing from the opposite side is always beneficial to kind of way out and the thing I always put the back of my
Mind what is best for the taxpayers and all the citizens of Utah so?
That leads me to an interesting point and all of you can
Pass judgment on this or putting your two cents worth
When you say lobbyists the general the general reaction of people is that oh my gosh what horrible despicable
scum-sucking
people they are
but but you bring up a good point is that that in certain areas they bring a level of expertise and connection to
Things that might be a problem
Are they value are they a valuable resource other than for campaign and contributions I?
Think so I mean I think they I think they bring
information and
whether it's them themselves or they bring us the people that have the information we need I think they do bring a value to the
Table, and I think they're a conduit for a group
You know you've got a whole group of folks who you know Lee can sit down with all of us
And so you have that representative and yeah?
That lobbyist that can sit down and convey you know your your interest and your concerns
one-on-one with them
and
There's some value in that well the the importance that I find in the lobbyist and I think the Sheriff would probably agree here is
Is we still have?
Things that we're doing every day in administering our respective offices back in our counties
Yes, you know the county work still goes on and that that needs to be taken care of we can't be down here
every moment of that 45 days and
Addressing and taking advantage of you know these folks are so busy
That you only get them in real quick snippets of time and having that lobbyist here to convey that message and have them
be here to
walk these halls and be
Ready to convey that message
So you guys are thinking in terms of like represent ative or the sheriffs Association and Utah sociation and counties tell?
From a state legislator standpoint, I know you were interrupted getting here
and and so I know how valuable your time is how can this process improve with constituents and
And and they're trying to access and how the counties work with you. How what would make your life better as a legislator representing them
Well if people would would look at the things before they come
That's the honest truth is we realize there's lots of bills out there
Find out what your expertise in areas and watch the legislative website and and mark in there and say hey
I want to track anything that deals with this particular area
and then reach out to us and let us know and
Know that your county officials are watching out for this so if you see it, and you say hey
Maybe representative Perry won't respond back to me. I try to
Represent them and respond back as best. I possible, but I also have you know not everybody you may have my phone number
But I guarantee it sheriff Thompson does
So they have my ability to reach me and they're good conduits
So if you see it reach out to the sheriff reach out to the commissioners reach out to those those leaders and say hey
We got to get this message to represent in Perry that this is a big deal to us in Weber County Box Elder County
Davis County wherever we are in the state of Utah, that's a great cause make an example of that
So we've got we've got an organization Weber County that is absolutely critical to and we think goes goes it was
As far as I'm concerned my 30 years of existence and law enforcement
There's no other organization that does more for the demographic that we deal with
Our past offenders and getting them back on track and addressing that recidivism
It's called cottages of hope
Not to most people and I was a little skeptical years ago when I first heard it kind of sounds generic like other places
This group does more for our community, and we could do a whole segment on it
but but they
What they do is they they have all the community resources under one roof a lot of these folks even if you've got resources
You can't get them there
We we have we get them through one door and we deal with everything from financing budgeting
We get them into in some really good paint not just minimum wage some good jobs, and we get them
You know we work on on their on their tax returns that many haven't done for years their credit scores
We get them in transportation housing and then we plug them in we have good relationship with adult probation parole
Weber Human Services Midtown clinic people helping people and we bring it all under one roof
I mean, it's just unbelievable what they do for folks in
Ogden is a unique community
And they do more for that community than you can possibly imagine and and we brought we got this from the Bay Area
Which is an area that you know something's gonna work? You're gonna find out. It's gonna work. They're not it's phenomenally successful
So I brought all my legislators together
most all of them and
Leaves very familiar with it brought them all together last week set him down brought them all up to speed and said here's the problem
They've they've primarily existed off of funding that has passed through federal funding state grants, but for some reason
And we don't know why it's starting. It's starting to dry up well
Who's the guy?
That's gonna figure that out, or who's the people the folks are gonna
Help us figure out where the problem is to keep this funded because it is so critical to the community Lee and other state
representatives
They're the ones that can dig into it and help us provide that ongoing funding to keep it
Effective and and and so that's just a good example of how I could work with my local officials bring them together set them down
Bring in those folks have them run up the give them a a
A good up-to-speed here's what's going on this what we're doing this
We're saving the the community in the state millions by getting people back on track and productive and contributing
How can the legislature and not necessarily an individual representative but as a system?
Help you be better informed to get things pre-planned a little bit better
I you know Bill's surface all the time and they just appear out of nowhere. They don't really seem an interim committee
Is there is that like the biggest problem the constituents and counties have is not knowing what guys are thinking so?
It boils in my mind it boils down to a simple thing is communication and having the relationship
and
I think generally speaking you know speaking from a body perspective
It's there, but folks get so busy, and you're and you're running a million miles an hour and sometimes you might
They might not think to bring somebody in or whatever
But but just keeping an open dialogue in the having trust with one another and being being very
candid on
On issues gentlemen this has been a great conversation. Hope it's helped you at home
Thank you for joining us for this part will continue by taking a personal look at what it takes to actually navigate the legislature
From a legislators perspective when we come back get your track shoes up
Let's be honest you don't know much about Beaver County well. Let me tell you about it
It's the birthplace of outwalk Butch Cassidy and adventurer Philo T, Farnsworth
Some of the best seen in Utah is at equal point you've got camping Canyon breeze golf course crusher in the touchers beaver territorial courthouse
snowmobiling renewable energy pioneer Car Show squeaky cheese goes down six-four best water in the country by ATV trails old frisco killed for Suri's flooding
fishing
Place to live beaver county mountains. Have fun. I could tell you more. What are you gonna see it for yourself?
Welcome back to the county seat. We've gotten ourselves up to speed and had a really good conversation
I would like to add that if you would like to see the long form
version of the conversation we just had on the show you can go to our
Website you can go to our youtube channel or our Facebook page and watch the entire
Conversation we had with the sheriff the Commissioner and the legislature
Right now we want to let you see the personal side of what it takes to make the legislature move
So we decided to put a secret camera in behind one of the state legislators on a typical day
Early in the session before it gets too crazy. Just to see well. How busy and what it is they do
I'm Kevin Stratton. I represent House District 48
That's northeast pro-bowl northeast Orem and the East half of Glendon. Oh good to see you always
Yeah, only 40-watt forty three and a half days level now yeah
I'm on the road at six. We have some coalition's and caucuses
generally by seven o'clock
And then we move into committee meetings
as we begin the session we begin to set the tone for the 45 days our legislative session at 45 days the
shortest in the nation yet
we have the best manage state then so we're running very very fast as we go through that process we need to make sure we
Establish a good foundation rhythm to build upon we work on our budget. That's the first priority
We started the day in in some caucus some
Coalition meetings great different stakeholders and issues related to the family
issues related to
social concerns within our state there's a great foundation to build upon and the things are taking place there and then
we have our appropriations main team the first thing that we do as a
Legislature so our first order is to balance the budget so we have beginning of this session
fairly intense
appropriations, hearings right now
For example it's our gold by the end of January to have our base budget completed. We really scrutinize
How we're spending the money now?
To make sure that we're affecting the fishing and all that we're doing take care of what I say every penny now
We're going to the House floor
to take care of some
Daily business will potentially hear a few bills
we're moving bills out of drafting into sighting into committees and then passing some of our legislation over the Senate as well I
Had several meetings with
individuals
Ivan I'm working on others with some of the agency heads that I share a
natural resource environment and the agricultural committee we don't want to punish I
Certainly the the very thing where we value and desire we can do that sometimes with the policies so Thank You mr. Chair
This afternoon there's more committee meetings appropriations meetings and Standing Committee meetings
So we just need to be prepared to answer those questions and give an accounting yes recognized especially in the house
We are the voice of the people
Government is not over people but government is by the people and
In order to for us to govern all three plus million of us in the state you thought we need to have a good understanding
Good transparent communication on once what's taking place the directions are being pursued it's such a smorgasbord of
just fascinating issues certainly, but behind those issues are people and
People's lives and so it's really the relationships and interacting with
wonderful great the great people of the state of Utah
And those that are seeking to promote the good the things that are there we have
Everything that we need we can recognize
certainly
What we've been given the stewardship spur for us
and we build a wonderful foundation for the future those that are here and the rising generation I
Don't know about you, but right now. I'm feeling like I need to put on running shoes. Just to keep up anyway
We will be back with our closing thoughts here on the county seat in just a minute. There's a little place
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The Layton Hills Mall offers more than just shopping bring the whole family and enjoy Seaquest
interactive aquarium to feed the fish and exotic birds hold live reptiles and even swim with the stingrays or
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Welcome back to the county seat let's recap our show so far for this week first off. We learned the relationship between the counties and
The legislature and how the mechanics of that all works in our tutorial then we looked at some of the examples in our
conversation of
How it has done well and where we've missed the boat in certain examples of the importance of counties working together with state
legislators
Then we took a personal look at how much work
Actually takes place in a very short window of time up here by following a state legislator around for half a day
And I point out that was only half a day
So what do we take away from all this? There's one element in the process?
That's still not being dealt with and that is you and me as citizens we
Rely on people to make best decisions in our interest when legislation is being passed
But we do have access to the legislative process
And it's just like the political process of electing people we complain about the problems in our electoral process
in our legislative process
But we ourselves
Do not get engaged until it's just a matter of a slogan a phrase or a concept
What's really important for us to be more engaged in the beginning levels of this to actually go on to the legislative site like?
representative Perry said and as citizens take the time to try and understand the impact laws have before they're passed and
Make our contributions and our thoughts these guys are all at the legislature lay legislators
They are not professional policymakers. They are they are law enforcement officers and attorneys and salesmen and
Housewives in some cases. They're just the entire spectrum of population that do their duty to try and pass laws and
Represent you your input is very important
That's my two cents worth is we need to get more engaged you can go to the Senate site
You can go to the legislative site at the Utah gov and you can start the process of learning more
Thank you for being with us as always on the county seat remember that you can share us on social media
You can interact with us on social media during the week
and you can follow the a county seat on Facebook will try and give you updates of things that are happening during the week as
news breaks
Thanks. We'll see you next week on the county seat
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