News Releases
Utah leads nation streamlining occupational licensing reform
Utahâs innovative approach to occupational licensing reform is receiving national attention. In a new joint op-ed published by âNational Review,â Governor Spencer Cox and Utah Department of Commerce Executive Director Margaret Busse explain why Utah is reforming occupational licensing.
Busse also recently spoke on this topic on âInside Sources with Boyd Matheson.â You can listen to the interview here. (Read More)
Moore, Spanberger reintroduce bipartisan bill to prevent wasteful government spending, reduce improper payments
U.S. Representatives Blake Moore (R-UT) and Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) reintroduced bipartisan legislation for the 118th Congress to prevent the waste, fraud, and abuse of federal funds.
The rate of improper payments â or payments made by the government that should not have been disbursed or were disbursed in the incorrect amount â has consistently been an issue across the federal government. These improper payments have also been a significant concern related to COVID-19 pandemic relief programs. For Fiscal Year 2021 (FY2021), the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported that federal agencies had distributed an estimated $281 billion in improper payments â an increase of about $75 billion from FY2020. The Preventing Improper Payments Act would create safeguards to reduce improper payments for new federal spending programs. (Read More)
Inflation cools and home prices continue downward trajectory
The Salt Lake Chamberâs Roadmap to Prosperity Coalition, in partnership with the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, has updated the Economic Dashboard for January to help business leaders see where Utahâs economy stands. This tool provides data on the stateâs economic outlook and actionable context for decision-makers.
âUtah and the national economy continue to experience mixed signals with relative high inflation and strong job growth,â said Derek Miller, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber. âWe are seeing shifts with lower housing prices and financial services activity due in part to Federal Reserve monetary policy. But despite larger headwinds, Utah remains in a position of strength with a majority of industries adding jobs and expanding products and services.â (Read More)
Great Salt Lake Strike Team policy assessment
Research universities and state agencies team up to offer solutions for Great Salt Lake. Analysis includes a data repository, research, and policy options that will help return the lake to healthy levels
Declining water levels of Great Salt Lake threaten economic activity, local public health, and ecosystems. In response to this emergent statewide challenge, Utahâs research universities formed the Great Salt Lake Strike Team, a collaboration of experts in public policy, hydrology, water management, climatology, and dust. Today they released a Great Salt Lake Policy Assessment that affirms the situation is urgent, but also identifies a variety of policy levers that can return the lake to healthy levels. (Read More)
Sutherland announces 2023 annual gala honoring Rep. Lowry Snow and Ian Rowe
Sutherland Institute is pleased to announce the 2023 Sutherland Annual Gala on Thursday, March 23, at 7 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.
The event will include the presentation of a newly renamed recognition: the George A. Sutherland Award, which will be presented to former member of the Utah House of Representatives Lowry Snow and to American Enterprise Institute Senior Fellow Ian Rowe. (Read More)
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