For the past 17 years, I’ve had the privilege of speaking and meeting with many Utah families across my district and across the state who have shared their stories, struggles and hopes. These conversations have reminded me that, while Utah is often celebrated for its economic success and quality of life, we are missing the full story. Beneath the headlines, many families are barely getting by — facing food insecurity, unaffordable housing, underfunded schools, exorbitant health care costs and other struggles.
As the leader of the Utah Senate Democrats, I believe it is time to go back to basics. Our focus must be on ensuring that every Utah family has the opportunity to live with dignity and have the opportunity to thrive. This session, we are being guided by the constitutional ideals of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. More than abstract concepts, we are using these principles as the lens through which we view every piece of legislation and budget decision. Our caucus is composed of six members from different backgrounds who are each bringing their expertise to propose legislation and provide feedback on all the areas that impact Utah families.
Life
Every Utahn deserves access to a high quality of life. That means access to affordable health care and mental health resources. It also means that every child and family has access to nutritious meals. Currently 1 in 6 Utah children is facing hunger. A hungry child cannot learn, and a parent struggling to put food on the table cannot focus on building a better future. We must also prioritize public health through clean air, clean water and sustainable environmental practices. As stewards of this beautiful state, we have a responsibility to ensure that future generations inherit a cleaner, healthier Utah.
Liberty
Liberty means protecting constitutional rights and freedoms, privacy and autonomy while working to create a fairer and more equitable Utah. This includes ensuring that our laws are tools for justice, not barriers to opportunity. In Utah, we value our independence and the right to make decisions that reflect the unique needs of our state. We oppose heavy-handed federal policies that disregard the voices of Utahns. This session, we will advocate for stronger protections to ensure that the privacy and autonomy of our citizens are not compromised by federal overreach.
Pursuit of happiness
The pursuit of happiness starts with economic equity. While Utah has experienced impressive economic growth, the benefits have not been felt equally. Calls for additional income tax cuts must be balanced against the urgent need to fund essential services. There are currently over 4,000 Utahns waiting for disability services, with an average wait time of 5.4 years. This is unacceptable. We need to invest in early childhood education, affordable child care and support for our most vulnerable populations. Our caucus is also focused on affordable housing and compassionate support for those experiencing homelessness; on fighting against harmful legislation that targets students, educators and schools; and on investing in child care accessibility and affordability.
Too many Utah families are struggling with the basics. When we celebrate being the No. 1 economy in the nation, we must also confront the reality that this accolade means little to the single parent working two jobs, or the child who goes to bed hungry. The Senate Democrats are committed to being a voice for those who are often overlooked. We are recommitting to the fundamentals, to the work that ensures every Utah family has the opportunity to live, thrive and be happy.
These issues should not be partisan. I hope that as a legislative body, we can focus on shared goals rather than partisan divides and that we can craft policies that benefit all Utahns.
I hope that voters and readers are not disheartened by the facts or issues I have brought up. I am very optimistic about the work that can be done and about the bright future of our state. When we consider the sometimes harsh realities that many Utah families are facing, we can pull strength and hope from how far we have come as a state and as a nation. This has been a decisive year in our political arena, and my hope is that we will not go back on the progress we have made. Instead, we must move forward together, recommitting ourselves to the ideals that make Utah a place of opportunity for all.