IMPACT MATTERS

United Way of Salt Lake’s 2008 Legislative Priorities

Together with non-profit, community and business leaders, UWSL has identified several public policy priorities in four key areas, which we believe can dramatically improve the lives of all in our state.

1. Improving Financial Stability

Our middle class is being stretched thin, and more families are living paycheck to paycheck. We recommend expanding financial literacy education in schools to help children and young adults understand how to manage their money and save for the future. To encourage more families to build assets and savings we support increased funding for Earned Income Tax Credit outreach and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, Individual Development Accounts, and affordable housing.

2. Opening Doors to Educational Achievement

Educational achievement is essential to creating stronger, more prosperous families and communities. Education—whether it be a high-school diploma, a secondary degree, or job training—translates into higher-paying jobs and a more complete set of life skills. We support the Governor’s strong recommendations to improve education through increased funding for comprehensive guidance counselors, extended instruction in math and science, English language learners and minority achievement, and GED support. We also encourage improving early childhood learning opportunities for low-income children in Head Start.

3. Building Cohesive Communities

Utah has long been a welcoming place for newcomers. But the continued strength and vitality of our state depends on our ability to create a cohesive community that enables all to succeed and prosper. We are supportive of those policies that ensure everyone in our community has access to essential services, basic needs, and educational opportunity. While we recognize the need to address issues related to immigration, we believe that the federal government must take the lead in passing comprehensive immigration reform. We also support Governor Huntsman’s recommendation for building greater capacity and collaboration in the public and private sectors to address the needs of refugees placed in our state.

4. Establishing a Framework for Health System Reform

Utah’s health system faces significant and urgent challenges. Record numbers of Utahns are without health coverage and the cost of health insurance premiums for those individuals, families and businesses that do have health coverage is skyrocketing. Successful reform of our health care system will take several years to implement and must address the challenges of cost, access and quality together. United Way supports efforts by legislative leaders and the Governor to establish a conservative, market-driven framework for reform that will enhance individual responsibility and consumer choice while improving overall quality and access.

For complete details regarding these priorities, or to subscribe to our weekly policy newsletter, please visit our website.