October 27, 2020(UtahPolicy.com) - During every gubernatorial election year, Utah Foundation surveys Utah voters to understand their priorities and releases a series of reports as the Utah Priorities Project. The summer 2020 priority list for Utahns overall can be found in the first report of the 2020 series. This report, Red, Gray and Blue: The Issues that Unite and Divide Utah Voters, looks at how priorities are different across party and ideological lines. The report highlights both similarities and … Continued
October 25, 2020(UtahPolicy.com) - In a new episode of Utah Thrives, Utah Foundation discusses the seven constitutional amendment propositions on the November 3, 2020, ballot. We give particular attention to Amendment G, which would allow income tax revenues to be used for purposes beyond education. Listen to the podcast.
October 26, 2020(UtahPolicy.com) - Utah is fortunate to be served by a number of capable think tanks and policy institutes. Periodically, UtahPolicy.com poses a question to leaders from these organizations regarding important and timely policy issues. For this week’s question we noted the large group of Utah leaders that promoted and signed the Utah Climate & Clean Air Compact, which encourages all citizens and organizations to follow “The Utah Roadmap: Positive Solutions on Climate and Air Quality.” The roadmap … Continued
October 23, 2020(KSL.com) - Health care cost and accessibility were determined to be the No. 1 most important issue for Utah voters in an August 2020 report from the Utah Foundation. During Thursday’s debate, Trump defended his health care record while Biden laid out a plan to “expand” the Affordable Care Act and rebuffed claims that his ideas are a stepping-stone on the road to a single-payer system. “What I’m going to do is pass Obamacare with a public … Continued
October 22, 2020(Utah Business) - An analysis by the Utah Foundation suggests that Medicaid costs do not increase linearly with enrollment. Historically, the most expensive Medicaid recipients have been those with disabilities or other conditions that prevent them from working, says Shawn Teigen, research director at the Utah Foundation. Disabled individuals represent less than 15 percent of the population enrolled in Utah’s Medicaid program, yet they account for nearly half the program’s spending. And because disability was already a condition … Continued
October 21, 2020(Deseret News) - The Utah Foundation’s recent report, “On The Ballot,” analyzed all seven proposed constitutional amendments before Utah voters. The independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit research organization says the fiscal impact of Amendment G is “unclear.” “The definition of programs that “support children and … support individuals with a disability” is not well-defined and is subject to interpretation. The Lieutenant Governor’s Office estimates that up to $600 million is currently spent on such categories. Still, the vagueness of the … Continued
October 21, 2020(Rod Arquette Show) - Utah Foundation President Peter Reichard joins Rod to discuss the details of Amendment G, which makes changes to how income taxes are distributed for education in Utah.
October 20, 2020(Salt Lake Tribune) - There are a number of constitutional amendments on the ballot confronting Utah voters this November. The Utah Foundation provided summaries and brief analyses of each in its recent report On the Ballot: Constitutional Amendments Nov. 3, 2020. But by far the most controversial item is Amendment G, which expands the potential uses of income tax revenue. Currently, Utah’s income taxes are dedicated to public and higher education alone. The amendment would broaden the named uses. … Continued
October 19, 2020(Fox 13) - Utah voters will soon decide on an issue that could impact school children for years to come. If approved, Constitutional Amendment G will expand the way the state spends income tax revenue. Currently, income tax revenue must be used to fund public or higher education. Amendment G would allow income tax funds to be spent for “supporting children and supporting people with a disability.” “The main thing behind this is legislature wanted more flexibility. They … Continued
October 17, 2020(Salt Lake Tribune) - Voters can find additional information about ballot measures at the Utah Foundation’s On the Ballot initiative or in Utah’s voting guide.
October 16, 2020(UtahPolicy.com) - How have Utah’s homeless service providers dealt with the pandemic? Where are the efforts to address service gaps going? How should we approach those who remain on the streets from a policy standpoint? Utah Foundation’s next Breakfast Briefing discussion will feature a panel of experts on the topic…
October 15, 2020(Fox News) - The State of Utah is set to vote on seven proposed Constitutional ballot amendments in November, on issues including how education is funded and modernizing language around gender. Here is a breakdown of each one by the Utah Foundation, a non-profit organization, as part of its “On the Ballot” analysis project. Four of the following seven amendments were the result of resolutions supported unanimously on the state house and senate floors, the Foundation’s webpage reads. “One was … Continued
October 16, 2020(Standard-Examiner) - Aside from the voter pamphlet, the Utah Foundation, a nonprofit research group, has prepared a synopsis of the proposed amendments, available at utahfoundation.org/uploads/rr779.pdf. Here’s a look at the other proposed constitutional amendments…
October 14, 2020(KUTV 2) - Utah Foundation, an independent, nonpartisan and nonprofit search organization, compiled a comprehensive background and analysis of each amendment. The report also explains what would happen if Utahns vote for or against the amendments. The following information was provided by the Utah Foundation, that does not support or oppose any of the constitutional amendments in the report. Read it here.
October 12, 2020(Deseret News) - Voters can choose to march to the drum of political tribalism, or to build on a foundation of truth. At the old Hotel Utah, 75 years ago this fall, a group of business and civic leaders gathered to form a new organization. They came from various professional and political backgrounds. But they were united by a vision to create an organization that would serve as an independent voice to help Utah address its problems. … Continued
October 11, 2020(Fox 13) - Utah Foundation is breaking down poll numbers that show the issues of most concern to Utah voters heading into November’s election. A series of Utah Priorities Project briefs found Utah voters are most concerned about healthcare, government spending, education, the economy and the COVID-19 pandemic. “We have two main survey questions that really shed some light on the issues and how people feel about this,” said Shawn Teigen, research director of Utah Foundation.
October 07, 2020(KUER) - Earlier this summer, nearly 25% of people in a survey by the Utah Foundation listed COVID-19 and public health as their top concern. However, just how important it was varied based on a number of demographics like age, gender and political ideology. According to the nonprofit research organization, more than 90% of liberals said the state reopened its economy too quickly, while about 40% of moderate conservatives felt the same. As for age, people 75 … Continued
October 06, 2020(Salt Lake Tribune) - A newly released survey by the nonprofit Utah Foundation shows that back in early July, the state’s residents were split along political lines about mask wearing and how Utah was then handling the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, 56% of Utahns thought the state had reopened the economy too quickly after the pandemic started, while 44% thought the reopening was too cautious. More than 9 out of 10 liberals said the reopening was too fast, while … Continued
October 06, 2020(UtahPolicy.com) - Utah Foundation has released the fifth in a series of Utah Priorities Project briefs looking at Utah voters’ top concerns. Public health / COVID-19 pandemic ranked fifth in the summer survey, and drove the major concerns around the top four priorities. Public health / COVID-19 pandemic was the top issue for more than 25% of respondents – the single most likely top issue. It was a top-five issue across almost all demographic groups.
October 06, 2020(Cache Valley Daily) - A statement from Voices for Utah Children released Tuesday argued that the state’s K-12 public education system has ranked last in the nation in per-pupil investment since 1988. The group attributes that funding shortfall to the fact that “Utah’s overall level of taxation is now at its lowest level in 50 years relative to Utahns’ incomes, following multiple rounds of tax cutting.” Weinstein added that a recent survey by the Utah Foundation revealed that 75 … Continued
October 06, 2020(KSL.com) - Fiscal Policy Analyst Matthew Weinstein said survey data from the Utah Foundation show that 74% of Utahns oppose cutting taxes further and are ready and willing to pay higher taxes to help solve the state’s current challenges in areas like education, air quality and transportation. Weinstein said the finding was consistent with a Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics poll conducted prior to the economic slowdown and school closures necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and as … Continued
October 06, 2020(Deseret News) - While Utahns largely remain divided over what, if any, measures need to be taken to stem the spread, a Utah Foundation survey released Tuesday found that public health as it relates to COVID-19 is among the top five issues for voters now across all demographics except for those who have lived in the state for between 21 and 40 years, and people with less than a bachelor’s degree. The foundation also found that the pandemic … Continued
October 01, 2020(UtahPolicy.com) - In this episode of Utah Thrives, produced by Utah Foundation, we hear Spencer Cox and Chris Peterson talk about Utahns’ top priorities: * Health care (costs and accessibility) * State taxes and government spending * K-12 education * Jobs and the economy * Public health / COVID-19 pandemic
September 30, 2020(KSL.com) - A study by the Utah Foundation showed that health care is the most important issue for Utah voters this election cycle. So what did the candidates have to say on the matter?
September 25, 2020(UtahPolicy.com) - The Utah Foundation has release the fourth in a series of Utah Priorities Project briefs looking at Utah voters’ top concerns. Jobs and the economy ranked fourth in July, rising from 12th at the beginning of March. The increase in concern is largely driven by the national economic crisis. When drilling down into specific aspects of the economy, more than half of Utah voters prioritized earning enough to support their families. Around a quarter of … Continued
