Utah Gov. Spencer Cox’s 2022 State of State message: ‘Utah is the final nice hope of The us’

Estimated learn time: 14-Quarter-hour

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Gov. Spencer Cox started his 2d State of the State deal with on Thursday night with a number of calls to motion to Utahns.

He referred to as on Utahns — Republicans and Democrats alike — not to “surrender at the thought of The us,” regardless of these days’s unsightly nationwide discord.

He additionally recommended his fellow conservatives to prioritize election get entry to, regardless of the “unsubstantiated claims and flat-out lies” infiltrating the nationwide debate round election safety.

And as for COVID-19, the illness that continues to gas file case numbers and crush Utah’s hospitals, he referred to as on Utahns to “be robust.”

“To Utahns from each side of the political spectrum, there was and can without a doubt proceed to be disagreements on how very best to reply to this ongoing pandemic,” Cox stated in his speech at the Area ground to lawmakers.

“However might all of us in finding not unusual flooring this night in this one factor. Our kids want us to be robust. They want us to indicate to a hopeful long run.”

As COVID-19 continues to ravage Utah and “the remainder of the sector,” Cox stated there are “few silver linings.” However he pointed to a couple of.

“I’m inspired that Utah recently has the sixth-lowest hospitalization price within the country — and that our price is not up to part the nationwide reasonable,” Cox stated.

These days, Utah is one of the most sensible states within the country with the very best case charges during the last week. As of Thursday, Utah ranked 3rd within the country in the back of Rhode Island and Wisconsin as states with essentially the most circumstances in line with 100,000 citizens within the final seven days.

However the governor once more expressed hope that an finish to the pandemic is also drawing closer.

“Professionals additionally imagine that Summit County has already began declining and guarantee me that the remainder of the state will quickly observe,” he stated. “We’ve super clinical and public well being staff within the state who deserve our deep appreciate, enhance and thank you. That was once true in early 2020 when the pandemic first started. It’s much more true these days.”

Why Cox says Utah is ‘the final nice hope of The us’

Whilst the governor started his speech with COVID-19, the largest problem the country and the sector is dealing with these days, he ended it with every other name to motion to handle a extra conceptual however nonetheless bold danger dealing with the country.

“Please do not surrender at the thought of The us,” he recommended.

It is a message the governor had for each Republicans and Democrats.

“To my Republican pals, who really feel like the sector is transferring too briefly and the opposite aspect is making an attempt to modify our very way of living,” Cox stated, “I trust George W. Bush who stated, ‘too frequently we pass judgement on different teams by way of their worst examples, whilst judging ourselves by way of our very best intentions.’ Please do not surrender at the thought of The us.

“And to my Democratic pals, who fear that our nation is damaged past restore as a result of we’re failing to handle every different,'” Cox stated, “I trust Invoice Clinton, ‘There’s not anything mistaken with The us that can not be cured by way of what is correct with The us.’ Please do not surrender at the thought of The us.”

Cox recommended Utah’s leaders not to be “distracted for a 2d by way of cynics who fail to realize the Utah Method.” As an alternative, Cox recommended them to “cheerfully and resolutely move about doing the folk’s paintings, the true paintings and the laborious paintings of governance. Competently, and frequently quietly, lifting Utahns up and making improvements to lives.”

In these days’s nationwide political panorama, Cox stated he not believes “all politics is native.” Reasonably, “these days all politics is nationwide. And that’s unhealthy. Very unhealthy.”

The governor stated it is simple to observe cable information and “merely undertake all in their speaking issues and insurance policies.” However he warned that is a “extraordinarily harmful” means. “And it no doubt is not management.”

“However that is not us. That isn’t Utah,” Cox stated. “A minimum of it isn’t Utah at its very best.”

Cox stated Utahns and American citizens are in “determined seek for management.”

“In previous generations as American citizens, we dreamed giant. Now, I am afraid that our eyes are constantly within the gutter,” Cox stated. “However no longer in Utah. Now not but anyway. In Utah, we nonetheless glance up.”

Cox stated Utahns have a decision. “We will be able to both turn into like each different state within the union or we will proceed to be that quirky state out West that also believes in operating in combination.”

“I firmly imagine in my center that if The us is the final nice hope of the sector, then Utah is the final nice hope of The us,” Cox stated.

Elections

Cox addressed contemporary efforts that experience puzzled Utah’s election safety with out proof and regardless of its longstanding monitor file with a hit vote casting by way of mail.

“Sadly, some in our nation have discovered that unsubstantiated claims and flat-out lies are a good way to destabilize our constitutional republic and make it tougher for his or her combatants to take part and vote,” he stated. “Balloting safety will have to by no means be about making it tougher for felony citizens to vote.”

Ultimate month, a GOP-controlled committee of lawmakers voted to approve a legislative audit of the state’s election gadget, very similar to one who was once already carried out in 2019. That was once preceded by way of a separate effort to position an impartial, “forensic” audit on Utah’s poll — led by way of a Republican Utah lawmaker who resigned in October amid backlash for spearheading a committee listening to fraught with incorrect information on Utah’s Capitol Hill to name for an Arizona-style election audit, despite the fact that former President Donald Trump handily gained Utah in 2020.

Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson has referred to as the ones “seeds of doubt” in Utah’s election integrity “harmful.”

Cox, in his speech, stated when he was once lieutenant governor he “championed expenses each unmarried consultation to improve and strengthen election integrity. This yr we will be able to proceed that pattern with every other invoice from our excellent Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson.”

“Utah has been and can proceed to be a fashion of election integrity,” he stated.

The governor recommended lawmakers to “please watch out for false alternatives.”

“As a conservative, I imagine that we will have to all the time paintings to make constitutional rights extra out there, no longer much less,” Cox stated. “I’m very proud that voter participation has greater since I was lieutenant governor and now governor. We will be able to have protected and protected elections with out making it tougher to workout our constitutional proper to vote.”

Cox stated he is heard some argue that the “charter will one day, if no longer now, grasp by way of a thread and want rescuing.” However he warned a few of those self same other people to appear inward.

“I fear that what a couple of of them fail to spot is that, they — similar to the ones for whom they’ve such a lot disdain and contempt — are day-to-day hacking away at the ones cords, recklessly believing that they’re going to know precisely when to prevent reducing and get started saving,” Cox stated. “This night, I am asking each one among us to do our phase to begin tying the ones ‘mystic chords of reminiscence’ again in combination once more.”

Schooling

Cox stated final yr Utah made “historical investments” in schooling to the song of $510 million. However “this yr we will do extra,” he stated.

“That is why I’m proposing greater than $970 million in schooling investment with a concern center of attention on at-risk and deprived scholars. A kid’s ZIP code will have to by no means resolve their long run or their alternatives,” he stated.

The governor additionally pointed to his price range advice to do away with all faculty charges for elementary coursework, which he stated will save oldsters $55 million every yr.

“However cash on my own isn’t sufficient. The knowledge is obvious — for a ways too many youngsters an incapacity to learn at grade stage by way of 3rd grade approach a lifetime of combat and drawbacks. And for this reason I’m asking you to sign up for me in supporting Sen. Ann Millner’s invoice to verify each kid has the studying basis vital for long run good fortune,” Cox stated.

Water

Cox additionally addressed the drought that continues to grip Utah and the West, crediting Utahns for stepping up “in a large means, retaining billions of gallons of water to assist us via this disaster.”

He in particular inspired lawmakers to enhance expenses being subsidized by way of Rep. Robert Spendlove, R-Sandy, and Rep. Ray Ward, R-Bountiful, to prioritize water garage “and dramatically strengthen water conservation in our state.”

Cox additionally in particular named Area Speaker Brad Wilson, R-Kaysville, for championing “saving the Nice Salt Lake.”

We will be able to’t ‘let our state turn into California’

Along with water problems, Cox stated different problems will prohibit Utah’s talent to develop, together with air high quality, transportation, housing affordability and infrastructure wishes.

“Our purpose will have to by no means be to develop for expansion’s sake,” Cox stated. “We will have to prioritize a high quality of lifestyles that every one Utahns can experience.”

Cox referred in particular to those who have moved to Utah from out of state, of which there are lots of, particularly over the last yr.

“Welcome to our gorgeous state. … We’ve such a lot to be told from you,” Cox stated. “But when I might make one small request: Please do not try to alternate us into a spot you simply left.”

Cox in particular recommended lawmakers to enhance law aimed toward stripping “executive rules that needlessly build up Utah’s housing costs.”

“We will be able to build up provide with out reducing high quality of lifestyles,” Cox stated. “This one may not be simple. However we can’t let our state turn into California.”

Tax cuts

Cox stated one of the most “largest demanding situations” Utahns are dealing with these days is “the booming tax of inflation, which only in the near past hit charges no longer observed since 1982.” He stated Utah will have to be a “bulwark towards the unhealthy selections in Washington, D.C., which are harming our other people.”

He credited Utah leaders’ “important selections” right through the pandemic and Utahns’ “resilience” as the explanations for Utah’s robust monetary status “with the most important wet day fund, lowest unemployment and biggest price range surplus in our state’s historical past.”

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As a state, and as a legislature, we’ve got merely no longer made the investments in housing which are wanted.

–Brian King, Area minority chief

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Cox pointed to the $100 million tax lower bundle the Utah Legislature handed for Utah seniors, army veterans and households, and once more plugged his proposal to make use of the $160 million lawmakers have already put aside this yr for tax reduction within the type of a grocery tax credit score.

“With this yr’s surplus, I believe we will all agree that it is time we gave a few of that hard earned a refund to Utahns.”

Republican leaders’ response

The Area speaker and Senate president applauded Cox’s speech Thursday evening.

“As a result of we paintings from the similar conservative basis, the governor’s time table aligns with most of the rules we specified by our Utah Method Ahead plan at the first day of the consultation,” Wilson stated in a ready remark. “We sit up for operating productively with the chief department all the way through the consultation and past.”

Wilson tweeted appreciation for the governor’s center of attention at the state’s water demanding situations, “together with the viability of the Nice Salt Lake.”

Wilson additionally applauded Cox’s center of attention on balancing high quality of lifestyles with expansion, reducing taxes, schooling, and “keeping up the Utah Method.”

Adams stated he loved Cox’s speech and he agreed “Utah is the hope of The us.”

“Our state has the chance to steer the country,” Adams stated in a ready remark. “Within the Senate, we’re devoted to making improvements to our state these days by way of making a greater the following day. We can shape and execute plans by way of making an investment in schooling, sustainable power, water and transportation infrastructure.

“Whilst we will have other reviews on learn how to allocate some budget and supply tax reduction to Utahns,” Adams added, “I sit up for taking part and dealing with Gov. Cox and Lt. Gov. Henderson against Utah’s collective imaginative and prescient.”

What Utah Democrats needed to say

Area and Senate Democrats launched a ready remark Thursday night based on the governor’s speech, checklist off priorities and approaches they believe Utah’s leaders will have to tackle problems starting from COVID-19 to reducing taxes.

“We wish to create extra choices for housing this is reasonably priced. We wish to higher give protection to our valuable water provides. We wish to put money into sustainable infrastructure and make our communities extra resilient to herbal screw ups. And we wish to assist our households, our pals, and each neighborhood all the way through our nice state get via this present wave of the pandemic,” stated Senate Minority Chief Karen Mayne, D-West Valley Town.

Mayne stated “all Utahns” will have to have get entry to to “high quality, reasonably priced well being care,” however that is dropping by the wayside amid the omicron surge.

“However at this time, our hospitals are once more overrun with unwell, most commonly unvaccinated sufferers. And well being care staff are beaten and drained,” Mayne stated. “Our communities were hit laborious by way of the present COVID-19 omicron variant. After just about two years now, we’re all unwell of this pandemic. However, as lawmakers, we can’t merely legislate this virus away.”

Area Minority Chief Brian King, D-Salt Lake Town, stated Utah’s insurance policies “will have to replicate the steerage of clinical and public well being mavens.”

“We all know vaccines WORK to stay other people from getting extraordinarily unwell. We all know that mask, trying out protocols, and social distancing measures WORK to prevent the virus from spreading,” King wrote. “And we all know that vaccine necessities WORK so companies can keep open and stay their staff and their shoppers secure. And so they WORK in order that our children can move to college safely. As Democrats, we will be able to no longer go into reverse from pushing data-driven insurance policies that can stay all Utahns protected and secure.”

Mayne stated “there is not any denying” the pandemic has modified Utah’s financial system.

“Having a excellent activity now approach having alternatives, autonomy, flexibility. It approach a livable salary. Paid circle of relatives go away. Holiday and unwell go away. Employee protections. Reasonably priced choices for kid care. And the strategy to paintings anywhere and on every occasion you wish to have,” she stated.

That are supposed to be mirrored in Utah’s insurance policies transferring ahead, Mayne stated.

“As a legislature, we might be smart to get up and understand other people are not transferring to Utah for low taxes or GDP expansion,” she stated. “Task seekers and companies are attracted to our state to experience our public lands and wonderful landscapes. Others come to lift a circle of relatives in a protected and wholesome position. Our best asset is our high quality of lifestyles.”

However King stated Utah’s “continual scarcity of reasonably priced housing” is what is fighting “many Utahns from reaching their desires.”

“As a state, and as a legislature, we’ve got merely no longer made the investments in housing which are wanted,” King stated, backing the $228 million Cox incorporated in his really useful price range as a “step in the precise course.”

Mayne stated lawmakers will have to additionally prioritize “making an investment in youngsters,” calling Utah’s colleges and academics “seriously underfunded” even earlier than the pandemic.

That is why lawmakers will have to no longer lower source of revenue taxes, King argued, as an alternative calling for extra “centered” tax cuts in addition to a complete repeal of the state’s gross sales tax on meals.

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However might all of us in finding not unusual flooring this night in this one factor. Our kids want us to be robust. They want us to indicate to a hopeful long run.

–Utah Gov. Spencer Cox

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“What we will have to NOT do that consultation,” King stated, “is remove thousands and thousands of greenbacks from school rooms, academics, and our gadget of public schooling. Each and every source of revenue tax greenback we lower away, we’re reducing our funding in our kids and long run generations. As an alternative of sweeping cuts, let’s enhance centered tax proposals for our seniors; for our households; for the ones with mounted earning; and importantly, let’s do away with the state’s regressive gross sales tax on meals.”

King additionally stated Utah must assist in making “our establishments and communities be extra inclusive for all Utahns, without reference to their gender, ethnic or racial background, and tradition.”

“Structural racism and inequity hurts all folks. Whilst there are some who can not even confront the phrases ‘fairness,’ or ‘inclusion,’ or recognize the injustices of our country’s historical past, we will have to proceed to paintings against a long run of equivalent alternative for everybody,” King stated.

Mayne additionally stated funding in “sustainable infrastructure, development resilient communities, and keeping up our restricted provide of water will have to be a most sensible precedence this consultation.” She stated all Utahns — “city and rural — will have to be set as much as thrive.”

“Championing the wellbeing of our communities calls for a creative spirit and a want to reply to urgent demanding situations like drought, expansion, and construction with dedication to a sustainable long run,” Mayne stated.

Democrats this consultation, King stated, “will attempt to empower other people over particular pursuits.”

“Sadly, too frequently company particular pursuits throw thousands and thousands of greenbacks at this legislature hoping to steer what insurance policies get handed,” King stated. “Giant moneyed pursuits wish to stay unhealthy insurance policies alive and prevent development and excellent adjustments from taking place. This wishes to finish.”

In the end, Mayne referred to as on lawmakers to “give protection to our democracy, no longer undermine it with lies and incorrect information,” pointing to rhetoric round Utah’s election gadget.

“Utahns need their elections gadget to be truthful, protected, and out there, no longer politicized or needlessly and falsely maligned,” Mayne stated. “We urge the governor, and our legislative colleagues, to take a stand towards the extremist voices of a perimeter minority, and paintings with us — sign up for us the place maximum Utahns are — and let’s get issues carried out for the folk of Utah.”

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