Updates from Organizations - Government agencies - Advertise Various Artists

Salt Lake City, UT (June 22, 2018) — In a major court case dealing with privacy and cell phone surveillance, the U.S. Supreme Court today overturned the government's collection of these records without a warrant, holding that "the fact that the information is held by a third party does not by itself overcome the user’s claim to Fourth Amendment protection."

The following statement was subsequently issued by Connor Boyack, president of Libertas Institute:

"Today's announcement is a victory for digital privacy and those of us concerned about the government having easy access to sensitive information about our location, thoughts, and activities.

"Four years ago, on our recommendation the Legislature enacted robust protections of our data on our digital devices, ensuring that a warrant is needed to access this information. But the bill did not address data held by a third party, so today's court ruling is welcome and significant.

"If the government wants to access sensitive information about us, the very least they should have to do is persuade a judge that it's necessary. While we applaud the U.S. Supreme Court's narrow ruling in the Carpenter case, we look forward to greater protections of our privacy in the near future."

Libertas Institute is working with legislators to develop a model law on the issue of digital privacy and the ability of government to obtain information about a person held by a "third party" — for example, a cell phone company or internet service provider. It is anticipated that the legislation will be introduced in the next legislative session.

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About Libertas Institute

Libertas Institute is a free market think tank in Utah that employs strategy and persuasive communication to inform the public and educate elected officials, helping generate the political will to reduce taxes, repeal unnecessary laws, and eliminate regulatory burdens that put obstacles in the path of hard-working Utahns. We collaborate with a diverse group of organizations and allies to create a freer Utah, effecting change through legal research, public advocacy and advertising, lawsuits against the government, events, publications, and more.

Contact:

Nichelle Aiden, Director of Communications
801.897.6983
nichelle@libertasutah.org

When Retirement Is Just Around The Corner,

These 3 Steps Can Help You Prepare

 If looking ahead to retirement makes you a little nervous, you’re not alone.

Nearly half of Americans (46 percent) who haven’t reached retirement predict that they won’t be financially comfortable once they get there, according to a Gallup survey.

For some, those potentially uncomfortable retirement years are decades away. But for the Baby Boom generation, retirement either already arrived or will in the next decade or so, prompting many Boomers to wonder whether they are prepared for their looming date with destiny.

And that raises a question: Just what does it take to be prepared?

“Many Baby Boomers measure their preparedness in terms of assets,” says Ryan Eaglin, founder and chief advisor of America’s Annuity (www.americasannuity.com).

“They’re trying to hit a certain number or account balance. Asset accumulation is an important part of retirement planning, but it’s not the only component. There are a few other steps you need to take to make sure you’re ready to leave work behind and enjoy a stable and comfortable retirement.”

Eaglin suggests three planning steps that can help Baby Boomers – or anyone else – be better prepared for retirement:

• Prepare not just one, but two budgets. Most Americans don’t use a budget, even though it’s a handy tool – especially in retirement. “It helps you see where you’re spending your money, how much money you can afford to spend and what adjustment you should make,” Eaglin says. He recommends creating two budgets. One would be for your remaining years before retirement so you can look for ways to cut spending and save more. The other would be for after you retire. “Think of ways to live the retirement you’ve dreamed of while also staying within you income,” Eaglin says. “It may be difficult but just the act of preparing a budget can help you get a better understanding of your financial situation.”
• Project your income. While your budget will help you understand how you are spending your money, you also need to have a good grip on what your potential retirement income will be. For most people, that’s a combination of Social Security, personal savings and possibly employer pensions. Social Security has an income estimator tool on its website, and an employer should be able to provide a pension-benefit projection. “Your financial professional should be able to help you project how much you should be able to take from your savings each year,” Eaglin says. Once you compare your projected income to your spending budget, he says, you’ll know whether you need to save more or rethink retirement spending. You also might want to look for ways to increase your guaranteed income, such as through an annuity, he says.
• Plan for long-term care. As much as people don’t want to hear this, the average 65-year-old has a 70 percent chance of needing long-term care in retirement, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “That means it’s very possible you or your spouse may need care either in your home or in a facility at some point,” Eaglin says. “That care can be expensive. Unfortunately, it’s usually not covered by Medicare, and it’s covered by Medicaid only after you’ve depleted much of your assets.”

“If all this tells you that you’re behind on where you want to be with preparation and your savings, the good news is it’s never too late to get started,” Eaglin says. “You may have to adjust your plans, but with focus and discipline, you can still put yourself in a position to have a comfortable and enjoyable retirement.”

About Ryan Eaglin

Ryan Eaglin is the founder and chief advisor at America’s Annuity (www.americasannuity.com). He has 14 years’ experience in the retirement and lifestyle planning field. A life insurance, annuity and estate-planning professional, he has earned his name at the top of the list of the top 1 percent of advisors nationally. Eaglin has been a featured retirement planner on FOX, FOX Business, ABC, CBS, CNBC, NBC and AZCentral.

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 UNITED UTAH PARTY CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES CALL FOR LONG-TERM IMMIGRATION SOLUTION

Eliason, Garbett, and McCoard address the need to reunite families and restore asylum protections
 

The three United Utah Party candidates for Congress  -  Eric Eliason (District 1), Jan Garbett (District 2), and Melanie McCoard (District 3)  – have prepared a joint statement calling on President Trump and Congress to find a long-term solution that will endure past the expiration of the president’s executive order, which will expire in twenty days. 

The statement reads as follows:

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We are encouraged by President Trump’s executive order that ended the immoral policy of separating children from their parents seeking asylum along the southern border. But we also recognize that this is merely a temporary fix, as the order is due to expire in just twenty days. In addition, the order does nothing to reunite families that have been traumatized by the recent policy. That is unacceptable.

Congressional Democrats and Republicans have, for years, failed the American people by their inability to agree upon immigration legislation that secures the border, keeps families together, and protects the dignity of all people. Congress now has a responsibility to act swiftly to ensure that this shamefully cruel policy cannot be reinstated. Lawmakers of every party must come together and back legislation that will provide adequate resources for government officials to return these traumatized children to their parents without further delay. The bill must also include provisions that require border agents to keep families together when they are processed at the border. 

The other issue that the executive order failed to address is that of individuals seeking asylum in the United States. The Trump administration rules were changed to treat asylum seekers along the southern border as criminals which is inhumane and inconsistent with American values. Asylum seekers from other parts of the world are treated with dignity and respect, while those along the southern border are not. Congress should correct this injustice immediately. 

The United Utah Party is committed to finding common-ground solutions to the problems that face our nation. This crisis at the border requires solutions that transcend party politics and endure beyond the next election cycle. Utah’s congressional delegation has a responsibility to seek consensus and pass long-term immigration reform that reflects the values of the people of Utah and the common set of principles that unite all of us as a state and as a nation. 

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For more information, visit www.unitedutah.org.