Restructuring and Equalization Task Force Completes First Phase
Task Force Extends Appreciation for Public Engagement and Input, Partners and Facilitators
SALT LAKE CITY – This summer, the Tax Restructuring and Equalization Task Force traveled across the state to eight different locations on a listening tour to hear directly from Utahns about the state’s tax code. Hundreds of individuals made significant efforts to attend, engage, comment and share their insights, ideas and perspectives with members of the task force.
"We have witnessed individuals working together to find solutions that will meet the unique needs of each city, county, person and organization," said Sen. Lyle Hillyard, co-chair of the Tax Restructuring and Equalization Task Force. "This is another prime example of the ‘Utah way.’ Everyone's participation is playing a critical role in this process. The concerns and ideas shared will help us explore solutions and ensure Utah remains the best-managed state in the nation."
An estimated 1,500 people attended the town halls and the task force received approximately
“This is an incredibly complex topic and one of the most challenging issues the state has undertaken,” said Rep. Francis Gibson, co-chair of the Tax Restructuring and Equalization Task Force. “But time and time again, Utahns have shown a willingness to face weighty issues head on. This is no exception. Together, we’ll create the best policy.”
Many individuals assisted with the town halls to make it a success, and their support is much appreciated. The co-chairs of the task force recognize and thank Pat Jones, Greg Bell and Greg Todd for moderating the town halls and fostering a respectful dialogue; law enforcement officers for helping ensure the town halls remained peaceful and courteous; the public for providing their input and keeping the conversation civil and constructive; the Utah League of Cities and Towns for helping coordinate local official engagement; chambers of commerce, city and county elected officials for helping coordinate the facilities to accommodate outstanding attendance of citizens; Penna Powers for their expertise in helping enhance the public involvement process; media for covering the town halls, airing PSA's and helping inform Utahns about the meetings; plus the many more who contributed.
The co-chairs have begun working with legislative staff to review the comments, ideas, feedback and suggestions as well as layout a blueprint for phase two, the study phase, of the task force. During the study phase, the task force will verify the challenge, review possible options and solutions and analyze opportunities to address the structural imbalance our state budget is facing. The public is welcome to attend or live stream the study meetings that will be held at the Capitol.
The first meeting of the study phase is tentatively scheduled for the third week in August. Additional details will be made available in the coming weeks.
The co-chairs encourage continued engagement in the process by attending meetings and submitting comments at StrongerFutures.utah.gov.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug. 1, 2019
Sen. Lee Introduces Resolution Affirming INF Treaty Withdrawal
WASHINGTON - Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced a resolution Thursday concurring with President Trump’s February 2, 2019 notice to withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty.
“For years now, Russia has repeatedly and routinely violated their commitments under the INF treaty,” Sen. Lee said. “For arms control to work, all parties must be committed, lawful participants. Russian non-compliance has prevailed without consequence for far too long and the United States should not remain unilaterally bound to a one-sided agreement.”
“Our withdrawal from the INF Treaty sends a clear message that we will not stand idly by while Russia works to openly violate treaties and international norms,” resolution cosponsor Sen. Enzi (R-WY) said. “I applaud the Administration’s actions and am committed to working with our NATO allies to appropriately respond to Russia’s behavior.”
“I support the withdrawal of the United States from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. Russia has designed, tested and deployed weapons in direction violation of the treaty,” resolution cosponsor Sen. Barrasso (R-WY) said. “Arms-control treaties are only effective when both parties abide by their terms in a transparent way. It is not in the United States’ interest to be the only country honoring this agreement.”
The Obama administration tried for years to raise the issue of INF non-compliance, but the Russians repeatedly refused to admit violating the treaty. After its own attempt to bring Russia back into compliance, the Trump administration announced on October 20, 2018 that the United States would withdraw from the INF treaty.
The INF Treaty’s withdrawal clause, found in Article XV of the agreement, requires six-month notice by the withdrawing party before withdrawal becomes official. This means the INF Treaty will end on August 2, 2019.
Even though the president has the Article II power to withdraw from the INF treaty on his own, Congress, per its role in treaty ratification, has an obligation to weigh in on the executive branch’s decision to withdraw the United States from a treaty.
An online version of this release can be found here.
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Dear Editor:
Please consider this commentary from Dr. Wim Laven on the very personal yet very political case in which he finds himself, one of a clear hate crime and one in which a family, utterly innocent, was traumatized by a racist attack. For PeaceVoice, thank you,
Tom Hastings
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An open letter to Venango County Court
by Wim Laven
1106 words
My friend and his family are people of color, innocent, American, and just a family. They were accosted on an excursion, and I offer my character and expert witness to the court in which charges have been filed against the assailant of this hate crime. This is my testimony:
Your Honors, I’m writing today about the most troubling criminal charges filed against 61-year-old Mark R. Rauenswinter. On the evening of Sunday July 28tha family of four adults and five children went to the Rockland Township bike trail. Rauenswinter proceeded to ruin that experience for my friend and his family. He shouted profane slurs to disparage them based upon their skin color. He openly mocked the way he believed they prayed and told them he would bury them all in the river. Finally, when his abhorrent behavior did not repel the family, the visibly intoxicated man drove his golf cart to retrieve a .357 Taurus Magnum revolver. He returned, pointed it in the direction of the family, and fired two shots over their heads. He confesses that his motivation was to scare the family into leaving.
Terrorism: the use or threat of violence against civilians in the pursuit of political, religious, ideological or social objectives.
I am just a concerned citizen, aghast at the horror my friend and his family experienced. They were out for a pleasant family outing but made to fear for their lives. I will not speculate on the origins of Rauenswinter’s hate; there is no justification for his prejudice, and there can be no mistaking the condemnation that is required of the court. I am also a doctor of conflict management with two decades of experience working with and researching ethnic conflict and hate on four continents. I offer my recommendations motivated by truth and healing, both sorely needed in this case.
You have the discretion to decide how much consideration, if any, will be given to “hate crime factors.” I urge you to take the two shots directed at my friend and his family, as well as the derogatory slurs directed at their peaceful family gathering, most seriously. Please let me tell you about the victims and the damages inflicted in Rauenswinter’s act of race-based-terrorism.
Dr. Jamil Al Wekhian and I have known each other since 2012. We were in the same Ph.D. program studying International Conflict Management. I first worked with him when we presented together on efforts for building peace in contexts of ethnic conflict and intractable conflict. I write today, in part, because I (we) do not merely have opinions on what such a derogatory act represents, but because of expertise and years of serious review and evidence-based analysis of bigoted rhetoric and the psychological harms of terrorism.
At that conference I presented on South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, a germinal project synthesizing truth, healing, and consequences for race-based violence. Pumla Gobobo-Madikizela’s (a psychologist) encounter with Eugene de Cock (“Prime Evil”) who commanded a death squad during apartheid, showcased another clear example of the tension between a need to heal and a need to punish. Reconciliation was not easy; seven years were added to the already long process before the commission could be completed. Keys in the process were truth and healing.
In the case before you today, Rauenswinter is absolutely unashamed and unapologetic in the video of the events I watched. He casually drinks his beer before driving off—he clearly does not care about drinking and driving, nor does he care about public access to public places by peaceable and wholesome families. His views and his behavior are absolutely outrageous; a clear message must be sent that this terrorism will not be tolerated in America.
The U.S. presents sacred values in things like life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We codify into law principles of equality—E pluribus unum—from many one. This should insulate us all from the kind of dehumanizing lawlessness reflected in the grotesque decision to ‘scare them off.’ You must live up to your oath of office and vigorously denounce the un-American insinuation that minorities or foreign-born Americans or people of other faiths do not belong.
I am in the middle of my move to Ohio. Jamil could not be more inviting in his hospitality with an absolute willingness to open his home or offer a hand with any assistance he can offer—because he and his family are truly good people. They may well have already forgiven the act of hateful ignorance; Jamil is the kind of person who will fight injustice but is diligent in removing all anger from his own heart. I don’t think anyone will suggest this old man should serve some lengthy jail sentence, this is a call for correction, not for vengeance or revenge.
I hope the court acknowledges the magnitude of the offense. I have only just written another piece about the extremist shooting event last weekend in Gilroy California, when a 19-year-old white-supremacist killed three people including a 6-year old child, a teen girl, and wounded 15 others. All violence is dangerous, but these events of terror and xenophobia have an increased trauma-driven psychological impact. The children will never forget the gunshots, it strips their innocence away, and it degrades the conditions of community. When I have completed my move to Ohio and have friends visit, the court's statement—on this case—will influence whether or not I will be willing to take guests to public places like the trails.
You are the guardians for our civil society. Do not accept a plea deal for “drunk and disorderly” while dismissing the other charges. That would be the legal equivalent of accepting that it was “just joking.” Take steps to help Mr. Rauenswinter get a handle on his clear substance use or abuse problem, as it is certainly a contributing factor. Take additional steps to restrict, at least temporarily, his access to firearms (hopefully they have already been surrendered). There is no place for arming a person who wants to use guns to endanger and terrify children in a civil society. Lastly, please direct him to one of the many resources which can address issues of hate and bias. The Kirwin Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity at Ohio State University has been working to keep Charlottesville from happening in Ohio, and there are many other area programs as well. I know from personal experience teaching Introduction to Peace Studies in a maximum security prison in Georgia, education can soften hard hearts. Please take restorative steps, deliver us truth and healing, these attacks hurt us all—we are counting on you.
Sincerely,
Dr. Wim Laven
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Wim Laven, Ph.D., syndicated by PeaceVoice, teaches courses in political science and conflict resolution.
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Summer vacation is winding down, and over the next few weeks 58 million students across the country will head back to school. Check out back to school resources from U.S. Department of Education and explore fun back to school facts from the U.S. Census Bureau.
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PRESS CLUB
RELEASE "THINKING ABOUT YOU" MUSIC VIDEO
NEW ALBUM WASTED ENERGY OUT AUGUST 16
PERFORMING AT READING AND LEEDS FESTIVALS IN UK
"Press Club install a rackety underlay to their sound that gives them a
uniqueness most bands would kill for." - Alternative Press
"...There's no answer to where they could end up." - Kerrang! Magazine
AUGUST 2, 2019 - Melbourne, Australia based punk band, Press Club, have released the official music video for their single "Thinking About You". Fans can check out the video here: http://bit.ly/2GIaG2w
"The idea for the 'Thinking About You' video clip came to me as we touched down from a 20 plus hour transit home from our first European tour in May this year," explains guitarist Greg Rietwyk. I pictured a surreal retelling of the story of a stalking stranger that is told within the song lyrics, with Nat being tormented by masked freaks. We enlisted the help of our good friend and filmmaker Gina Somfleth from Popcandi productions. We are all massive fans of Gina's keen eye for cinematography.
"It was shot on location at Nat's parents farm outside of Ballarat in North Western, Victoria," he continues. "We particularly enjoyed being able to feed our inner pyromaniacs in what was to become the climax of the film. We've thrown a few DIY festivals at the farm where it was shot so the location holds a special place in our collective hearts"
Vocalist Natalie Foster adds, "I was getting deep into stranger things around the time of this video. Standing by the fire, channeling Eleven."
The song is taken from Press Club's highly anticipated new album Wasted Energy, which will be released on August 16. The track has been met with critical praise and grabbed add's on some of Spotify's biggest rock charts - New Noise, Fierce Femmes and All-New Rock.
Marked out as a band to keep an eye out for very early on, their music was singled out for its honesty and integrity, and the band praised for their powerhouse live performances.
Wasted Energy is the follow up to the band's wildly successful debut, Late Teens. Press Club's sonic calling cards are all present on the new album; the fuzz-addled, kicked-in speaker bass of Iain MacRae, the thick guitar tones of Greg Rietwyk, the merciless drumming of Frank Lees, and the emotionally charged vocal deliverance of Natalie Foster. The new album is now available for pre-order here: https://pressclub.bandcamp.com/
The band will embark on their biggest UK headline tour to date, including performances at Reading & Leeds Festivals after an overwhelmingly successful tour earlier this year that included sold out shows in London, Zurich and Edinburgh as well as festivals like Manchester Punk Festival, Liverpool Sounds City, The Great Escape and Belgium's Groezrock. A full list of upcoming shows can be found below.
Wasted Energy track listing
1. Separate Houses
2. Dead or Dying
3. Thinking About You
4. Chosen Ones
5. Obsessing
6. Get Better
7. Behave
8. New Year's Eve
9. How Can It Not Be Love?
10. I'm In Hell
11. Same Mistakes
12. Twenty-Three
Press Club // Upcoming Tour Dates
Aug 3 - Woolly Mammoth Festival, Adelaide
Aug 22 - The Parish, Huddersfield UK
Aug 23 - Reading Festival, Reading UK
Aug 24 - Leeds Festival, Leeds UK
Aug 25 - Greenbelt Festival, Northamptonshire UK
Aug 27 - Redrum, Stafford UK
Aug 28 - Bodega, Nottingham UK
Aug 29 - Surf Cafe, Newcastle UK
Aug 30 - Broadcast, Glasgow UK
Aug 31 - Night People, Manchester UK
Sep 3 - Annie's, Worcester UK
Sep 4 - Bermuda Bob's Hi-Fi, Norwich UK
Sep 5 - New Cross Inn, London UK
Sep 6 - Prince Albert, Brighton UK
Sep 8 - Cinetol, Amsterdam NL
Sep 10 - Haldern Pop Bar, Haldern DE
Sep 11 - Sonic Ballroom, Cologne DE
Sep 12 - Alte Hackerei, Karlsruhe DE
Sep 13 - Dynamo, Zurich CH
Sep 14 - Strom, Munich DE
Sep 15 - Cross Club, Prague CZ
Sep 18 - Stengade - Copenhagen DK
Sep 19 & Friday Sep 20 - Reeperbahn, Hamburg DE
Sep 21 - Vera, Groningen NL
Stay updated on Press Club
Website: http://www.pressclubmusic.com
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2YuDK7A
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pressclubmusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pressclubmusic
