We are still early in the presidential nominating process, but U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders is gaining momentum in the Democratic Party. Of course, President Trump will be the Republican nominee. If those are the choices for Utah voters, there will be many voters looking for an alternative because both represent the extremes of their respective parties.

Today, the state of Utah and, indeed, the nation as a whole witnessed a rare act of unparalleled political courage. Senator Mitt Romney’s decision to vote to convict the president on the charge of abuse of power was a powerful reminder that moral courage is sorely lacking in today's political environment, but that there are individuals who still hold to a sense of the importance of their duty to the country. 

The legislature has done what it should have done long before—scrap legislation that was not only unpopular but also bad for the citizens of the state. Legislators could have avoided this disaster some time ago had they listened to the voters. But their tone-deafness is as great as their arrogance.

Last Tuesday evening, the backers of Utah's 2019 Tax Referendum announced that they had gathered 152,000 signatures. Of course, those signatures need to be verified by county clerks, and even if the referendum makes it onto the ballot, the ultimate outcome won't be decided until November. Regardless, some very good things have already come from the referendum organizers' efforts.

In a couple of weeks, the Utah State Legislature will be in session again. Legislators are gearing up to end the constitutional earmark for public education. Currently, the state constitution requires that income tax revenue be spent on public education. At one time, that meant income tax revenue had to be spent on K-12. But in 1996, a constitutional amendment was passed that included higher education in that apportionment. Of course, that meant the legislature could spend less of the income tax money on K-12 and not have to spend other money outside the income tax on higher ed. That money could go for other things the legislature wanted to spend money on.

2020—A new year and even a new decade for us. Many people make new year's resolutions. At the United Utah Party, we want to set some goals for this new year.

But we want you to help us. Come to the Moving UUP Summit on Saturday, January 18, for a grassroots session on the future goals of the UUP. Go here to register. The party leadership will present what has happened in 2019 and what we want to happen in 2020. But we also will be giving those in attendance an opportunity to help us get there by sharing what they think about goals the party should set for this coming year.

Call me sentimental, but one of my favorite Christmas films is It's A Wonderful Life. For those who have lived under a rock during the past 70 years (or hate Christmas movies), the story is about a man, George Bailey, who itches to get out of his small town and make a big contribution to the world. Instead, he keeps getting pulled back to work in his family's building and loan association and remains in his small town. When, later in life, he discovers how much good he has done in his small town, then it dawns on him that the seemingly small things he has done over many years have added up to a big contribution to the world.

In my life I have traveled to several foreign countries and met people from a wide range of places around the globe. The vast majority are gracious and kind. They care about other people and are willing to share when they see someone in need.

A recent survey announced on Utah Policy.com found that 48 percent of Utahns disapprove of the job of the state legislature, while only 41 percent approve. That is a significant drop in the past year. Legislators are in trouble.

The other day, I called my state legislator as a constituent. I was particularly concerned about the special session on tax reform and wanted to hear what his thoughts were. Before he was elected, I knew him to be a devoted family man and political moderate with whom I shared many values and viewpoints, and so I felt comfortable calling him.