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chasethomasslc.bsky.social
Chase Thomas
@chasethomasslc.bsky.social
120 followers 130 following 67 posts
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chasethomasslc.bsky.social
"Congress just took medical care and food away from children to give massive tax breaks to some of the richest people in the world." @rooseveltinstitute.org

rooseveltinstitute.org/blog/us-poli...
US Policies Already Fail Our Children. The GOP’s Budget Bill Will Make Things Worse. - Roosevelt Institute
It’s hard to imagine US public policy getting worse for children when we already fall so behind other countries. But the Republican reconciliation bill that passed on July 3 will truly make things wor...
rooseveltinstitute.org
July 11, 2025 at 5:47 PM
chasethomasslc.bsky.social
Another week. Another opportunity to sign up for @betterutah.bsky.social's The Beehive Briefing!

Daily news with sharp progressive takes, ways to take action in your community, and events sprinkled throughout the week. What more do you need? #utpol

Sign up here: act.betterutah.org/signup/beehi...
Sign up for The Beehive Briefing Newsletter
Use this form to sign up to receive near-daily updates on important news, action alerts, and upcoming events. Otherwise, if you are currently subscribed to the main Better Utah Institute mailing list,...
act.betterutah.org
July 7, 2025 at 6:04 PM
chasethomasslc.bsky.social
I’m now a single issue voter: speed up the lines at the post office.
July 2, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Reposted by Chase Thomas
nateforutah.bsky.social
"we have families in the audience so you shouldn't swear while we take away their healthcare" is the most disagree better bullshit i've ever heard.
acyn.bsky.social Acyn @acyn.bsky.social · Jul 2
Riley: Don’t tell me you give a shit about the middle class when all you are doing is shitting on the middle class
July 2, 2025 at 7:26 PM
chasethomasslc.bsky.social
"While federal law already prohibits federal Medicaid dollars from paying for abortions, the bill would affect the stream of federal money that covers other services, and thus helps keep clinics open."

www.nytimes.com/2025/07/02/u...
Planned Parenthood Must Choose Between Abortion or Millions in Federal Funding
www.nytimes.com
July 2, 2025 at 8:38 PM
chasethomasslc.bsky.social
Excited for Salt Lake City's plans for the Ballpark site! Now let's just see how well those plans are implemented...

buildingsaltlake.com/new-city-pla...
New city plans call for hundreds of housing units, a hotel and more at Smith’s Ballpark site - Building Salt Lake
Salt Lake City has unveiled its plans to overhaul Smith’s Ballpark and redevelop the site to include housing, a hotel and other local uses.
buildingsaltlake.com
July 2, 2025 at 3:35 PM
chasethomasslc.bsky.social
Here's today's edition of The Beehive Briefing, covering everything in #utpol from The Big Billionaires Bill and RECA expansion to drought conditions and Utah's America250 celebration: betterutah.actionkit.com/mailings/vie...
The Beehive Briefing — Wednesday, July 2
betterutah.actionkit.com
July 2, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Reposted by Chase Thomas
betterutah.bsky.social
The Senate just passed Trump’s Budget Bill, deceptively named the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and it’s now barreling toward a House vote likely on Thursday, July 3.

Join us to write letters, make calls, and raise our voices before it’s too late.
act.betterutah.org/event/dear-u...
July 1, 2025 at 10:44 PM
chasethomasslc.bsky.social
The Senate just passed Trump’s Budget Bill and it’s now barreling toward a House vote likely on Thursday, July 3.

Join @betterutah.bsky.social to write letters, make calls, and raise our voices before it’s too late. Bring your friends. Bring your fury.

RSVP Here: act.betterutah.org/event/dear-u...
July 1, 2025 at 10:20 PM
chasethomasslc.bsky.social
The US Senate just passed The One Big Billionaires Bill. I thought John Oliver on @lastweektonight.com did a good job explaining the drastic cuts that are coming to Medicaid and SNAP coverage due to new paperwork requirements.

youtu.be/vjFL-cBcjKc?...
Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
YouTube video by LastWeekTonight
youtu.be
July 1, 2025 at 6:39 PM
chasethomasslc.bsky.social
Sign up to receive The Beehive Briefing in your inbox (nearly) every weekday morning! Snarky news takes! Daily action! Weekly events! #utpol @betterutah.bsky.social

act.betterutah.org/signup/beehi...
Sign up for The Beehive Briefing Newsletter
Use this form to sign up to receive near-daily updates on important news, action alerts, and upcoming events. Otherwise, if you are currently subscribed to the main Better Utah Institute mailing list,...
act.betterutah.org
July 1, 2025 at 6:32 PM
chasethomasslc.bsky.social
Even as Utah lawmakers take steps to scale back Utah’s vote-by-mail system, national reporting finds that Utah saw higher percentages of mail voting in 2024 than in 2020: kutv.com/news/local/u...
Utah voters favored casting early mail ballots in last year's presidential election
Casting mailed ballots remained popular among voters in last year's presidential election, even as President Donald Trump has tried to undercut the process thro
kutv.com
July 1, 2025 at 6:19 PM
chasethomasslc.bsky.social
Disappointed by the Utah Transportation Commission's derailment of the S-Line extension. Hopefully it can get back on track soon!

www.cityweekly.net/utah/utah-tr...
Utah Transportation Commission derails plan to extend S-Line Streetcar into Sugar House shopping center.
Rail Fail
www.cityweekly.net
June 30, 2025 at 5:51 PM
chasethomasslc.bsky.social
"But the logic of Justice Alito’s majority opinion in the 6-to-3 decision seemed to sweep quite broadly, allowing parents with religious objections to demand that their children not be instructed about gay and transgender themes but also about many other topics."

www.nytimes.com/2025/06/27/u...
Justices Let Parents Opt Children Out of Classes With L.G.B.T.Q. Storybooks
www.nytimes.com
June 30, 2025 at 4:46 PM
chasethomasslc.bsky.social
Love to see that Mike Lee has (for now) backed down from his proposal to sell off public lands. Although he blamed it on Senate procedural rules, this is also an example of collective pressure working.

www.sltrib.com/news/politic...
Mike Lee pulls federal public land sale from ‘Big Beautiful Bill’
U.S. Sen. Mike Lee says he's pulled his controversial proposal to sell federal public lands to state and private buyers from congressional Republicans’ “Big Beautiful Bill.”
www.sltrib.com
June 30, 2025 at 4:44 PM
chasethomasslc.bsky.social
Another challenge that seeks to weaken campaign finance laws is heading to the Supreme Court

www.reuters.com/legal/litiga...
US Supreme Court to hear challenge to campaign spending curbs in JD Vance case
The U.S. Supreme Court agreed on Monday to hear a Republican-led challenge on free speech grounds to a provision of federal campaign finance law that limits spending by political parties in coordination with candidates running for office in a case involving Vice President JD Vance.
www.reuters.com
June 30, 2025 at 4:42 PM
chasethomasslc.bsky.social
Sign up to get The Beehive Briefing in your inbox (nearly) every weekday morning!

act.betterutah.org/signup/beehi...
June 27, 2025 at 3:50 PM
chasethomasslc.bsky.social
Launching The Beehive Briefing! Sign up for frequent updates distilling local news with commentary based in progressive values. As an added bonus, we include actions that you can take each day and weekly events based in communities around the state.

act.betterutah.org/signup/beehi...
Sign up for The Beehive Briefing Newsletter
Use this form to sign up to receive near-daily updates on important news, action alerts, and upcoming events. Otherwise, if you are currently subscribed to the main Better Utah Institute mailing list,...
act.betterutah.org
June 13, 2025 at 5:47 PM
chasethomasslc.bsky.social
Very interesting visualization from @nytimes.com on the impact that Chinese tariffs could have on everyday consumer goods and the fears of "empty shelves"

www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Your Home Without China
We analyzed import data to show where Americans may see product shortages, fewer choices and price increases.
www.nytimes.com
April 30, 2025 at 6:18 PM
chasethomasslc.bsky.social
"Contending with the uglier parts of US history is necessary for an honest & inclusive telling of the American story. Americans can feel pride in the nation’s accomplishments while acknowledging that some of the shameful actions in the past reverberate today."

www.washingtonpost.com/history/2025...
Trump says he’s erasing ‘shame.’ Critics say he’s hiding historic truths.
Changes in the name of preserving President Donald Trump’s version of American history, experts say, would minimize the accomplishments of people of color and women while downplaying the challenges th...
www.washingtonpost.com
April 11, 2025 at 7:52 PM
chasethomasslc.bsky.social
"Republicans gamble on a budget plan that helps the rich and cuts aid to the poor."

www.nytimes.com/2025/02/27/u...
GOP Gambles on Budget Plan That Helps the Rich and Cuts Aid to the Poor
The House Republican budget plan would pair tax cuts that primarily benefit the rich with cuts to programs that help the poor.
www.nytimes.com
February 27, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Reposted by Chase Thomas
benwinslow.bsky.social
INBOX: The Utah State Bar has a lot of problems with bills the legislature is running dealing with the judiciary. Their statement... #utpol
SALT LAKE CITY, February 19, 2025 – The Utah State Bar Commission understands that attorneys, regardless of political persuasion, care about the separation of powers in our government. Therefore, the Bar is holding firm on its opposition to legislation that jeopardizes judicial independence enshrined in the state constitution. Two recent bills are particularly troubling because they establish a system under which judges will be made to answer to the legislature based on any disagreement with a judge’s ruling. Specifically, House Bill 512 creates a new committee — a Joint Legislative Committee on Judicial Performance to shadow, and potentially override the work of the Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission (JPEC). This bill sponsored by Rep. Karianne Lisonbee is unnecessary given the excellent and transparent work that JPEC is already doing and given that JPEC was created by the Legislature and contains members nominated by leadership from the Legislature, the Governor, and the Chief Justice. The concern expressed by many licensees and our Government Relations Committee is this new entity comprised only of legislators—will inject politics into the current merit-based and nonpartisan judicial evaluation and retention process. As part of its evaluation, the Committee can request a judge’s disciplinary record from the Judicial Conduct Commission and may investigate “any issue raised by a member of the committee, the Legislature, or a member of the public.” (See H.B. 512, lines 1457-1459.) This broad mandate means that any issue, even a disagreement with a judge’s legal ruling, could trigger an evaluation, regardless of whether there is credible evidence of judicial misconduct or incompetence. In the evaluation process, the Committee would be required to issue a public news release naming the judge, describing the nature of the review, and soliciting comments from Utah legislators and the public. (See lines 1466-1474.) The Committee would then hold a meeting to di… The process is demeaning and of questionable constitutionality. Requiring a judge to answer to a legislative body goes against the core principle of our constitution – a judiciary that can make decisions based on the facts and law without fear of being pilloried in public or removed from the bench. HB 512 combined with House Bill 412 work to ensure that the proposed new legislative committee will be a partisan body. HB 412 removes the requirement that no more than half of the appointed members on JPEC and the Elected Official and Judicial Compensation Committee be from the same political party. This bill co-sponsored by Rep. Jefferson Burton and Sen. Calvin Musselman would permit members of governing boards and commissions to all be from the same party, removing the long-standing nature of non-partisanship on these boards. We appreciate the efforts of Sen. Brady Brammer, who modified SB 204. The Bar now has a neutral position. However, we remain concerned with SJR 009 sponsored by Sen. Brammer that dictates the timing to obtain an injunction in a trial court. This resolution is inconsistent with SB 204 by giving only 28 days to enjoin an unconstitutional injunction. We are working with Sen. Brammer to address these issues. Bills the Bar has opposed are listed below: SB 203 – Judicial Standing Amendments-First Substitute – Oppose SB 204 – Suspensive Appeal Amendments-First Substitute – The Bar takes no position on the substitute. SB 154 – Legislative Audit Amendments-Amended – Oppose SJR 004 – Joint Resolution Amending Court Rules on Attorney Confidentiality – Oppose HB 451 – Judicial Election Amendments – Oppose HB 412 – Boards and Commissions Revisions-Substitute – Oppose HB 512 – Judicial Retention Changes – Oppose SJR 009 – Joint Resolution Amending the Rules of Civil Procedure – Oppose We are grateful for the open dialogue and consideration of lawmakers with the Bar’s opposition to proposed legislation. We are committed to continuing to work collaboratively…
February 20, 2025 at 12:03 AM
chasethomasslc.bsky.social
“Everyone should care because the Constitution’s separation of powers protects us all. Constitutional separation of powers safeguards individual rights, limits private entities, promotes the rule of law and protects against the tyranny of unchecked power.”

www.deseret.com/opinion/2025...
Opinion: Why everyone should care about the Constitution’s separation of powers
Constitutional separation of powers safeguards individual rights, limits private entities, promotes the rule of law and protects against the tyranny of unchecked power.
www.deseret.com
February 20, 2025 at 12:59 AM
chasethomasslc.bsky.social
Our Constitution established government of, by, & for the people—not rule by unaccountable billionaires. When corporate dictators defy our Congress, courts, & the constitution, they’re not showing strength—they’re betraying the very freedom our founders fought to secure.
www.cnbc.com/2025/02/13/e...
Elon Musk calls for the U.S. government to delete entire agencies: 'Remove the roots of the weed'
"I think we do need to delete entire agencies, as opposed to leave part of them behind. ... It's kind of like leaving a weed," Musk said.
www.cnbc.com
February 13, 2025 at 5:13 PM
chasethomasslc.bsky.social
"There is no crisis of confidence in Utah elections that might justify broad changes to vote by mail in Utah." #utpol

www.deseret.com/opinion/2025...
Opinion: Election law amendments bill requires changes to reflect constitutional principle and evidence
HB300, Amendments to Election Law, risks undermining voter confidence in Utah elections and needs to be amended before it is signed into law.
www.deseret.com
February 13, 2025 at 4:34 PM