Utah's Legislature might kill ballot initiatives to fund schools and expand Medicaid
Utah technically has 104 legislators — 29 senators and 75 House members. But those elected officials are looking over their shoulders at ballot initiatives that may convert the state’s 1.5 million registered voters into the real lawmakers controlling this year’s agenda.
As the 2018 Legislature convenes Monday, leaders acknowledge they want to undercut two ballot initiatives: one that seeks to raise taxes for education by $715 million annually, and one to expand Medicaid fully for the poor.
They hope steps that would not go as far as the initiatives would will satisfy voters.
“I hope they see it and say, ‘Some good things are happening here,’” and that will dissuade them from passing the initiatives, said House Speaker Greg Hughes, R-Draper.
Read more: https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2018/01/19/ballot-measures-to-hike-taxes-for-schools-and-expand-medicaid-may-play-big-role-in-steering-legislatures-agenda/