Utah Governor Gary R. Herbert has authorized the lowering of the Flag of the United States of America and the Flag of the State of Utah on Tuesday, May 15, 2012, in recognition and honor of "Peace Officers Memorial Day."

"Our Peace Officers put themselves in harm's way every day in order to protect and serve their fellow citizens," said Governor Herbert, I am grateful for their service, courage, and tireless dedication in protecting our citizens and communities. The benefits of our civil society - the ability to exercise the God-given rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness - are protected through the selfless service of our peace officers."

The flags will be flown at half-staff on all state facilities from sunrise to sunset on Tuesday, May 15th, only.

"Bishop Burton has a long and distinguished history of leadership and service, both here in Utah and around the world," said Governor Herbert.  "He has consistently demonstrated a willingness to use his wisdom and vast experience for the betterment of individuals and communities.  His service on the Board of Directors will be a great benefit to UTA and to our whole state."

Burton was recently released from his calling as the Presiding Bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a position he held for 16 years.  He previously served as a counselor in the Presiding Bishopric and a budget officer in the LDS Church.  He was also formerly employed by Kennecott Utah Copper and the Utah Tax Commission.

The UTA Board of Directors is comprised of 15 individuals.  The Governor makes one appointment to the Board.  The Governor's appointment serves for a term of four years and does not require confirmation from the Utah State Senate.

U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), a member and former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today praised Robert J. Shelby’s experience to serve as a judge on the United States District Court for the District of Utah.  The Judiciary Committee unanimously approved Shelby’s nomination, which now moves on for consideration by the Senate. 

Hatch introduced Shelby at today’s committee markup, and said that Shelby’s “breadth of experience equips [him] well to be an effective judge.” Hatch added that he believes Shelby “will be a judge committed to fairness and the rule of law. “

To view Hatch’s introduction of Shelby at today’s nomination hearing, click HERE. Hatch’s full remarks are below:

Mr. Chairman, I appreciate your including on the agenda today Robert Shelby’s nomination to the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah.  Our state is growing fast and our federal judges work hard.  Filling this final vacancy is important and I appreciate you helping to move it forward.

Whenever we have had a judicial vacancy in Utah, no matter who occupies the White House, I look for a candidate to recommend who is widely respected in the legal community and who can be widely supported by the Senate.  Bob Shelby certainly meets that test.

Bob received his undergraduate degree from the University of Utah and has been an active member of the bar at the county, state, and national levels since graduating from the University of Virginia Law School in 1998.  After clerking for the late U.S. District Judge J. Thomas Greene in Utah, Bob spent the last dozen years in private practice.  He has tried approximately 35 cases to verdict in both state and federal court, and in 2011 managed the defense of a major national class action case.

Bob has also served on the Utah Supreme Court’s Advisory Committee on Rules of Civil Procedure and its Ethics and Discipline Committee.  His courtroom experience includes both civil and criminal case, before both state and federal courts, and in both trial and appellate courts.  This breadth of experience equips Bob well to be an effective judge.

This will not be Bob’s first period of public service.  He served in the Utah Army National Guard from 1988 to 1996, serving on active duty as a combat engineer during Operation Desert Storm and receiving several military awards.  I want to thank him for being willing to serve once again and believe he will be a judge committed to fairness and the rule of law.

Mr. Chairman, I strongly support Bob Shelby’s nomination and commend him to my Committee colleagues.  I hope this Committee and the full Senate will approve his nomination as soon as possible.

"The secret of our success is that there is no secret," said Governor Herbert. "In Utah, it's really pretty simple: We follow the basics and we adhere to correct business principles in a free market environment. Utah keeps taxes low, limits nonsensical business regulation, offers a well-educated workforce, avoids excessive debt, promotes innovation and is efficient in state government. You have to go back to the year 2000 to find the same number of state employees we have now."

Governor Gary R. Herbert took action on the last of the 477 bills from the 2012 General Session of the Utah Legislature. He signed SB 134, State Water Development Commission Amendments, sponsored by Senator Margaret Dayton, and vetoed HB 414, School Bonding for Seismic Purposes, sponsored by Representative Gage Froerer.

After meaningful review and deliberation, Governor Gary R. Herbert vetoed House Bill 363, Health Education Amendments. To explain his decision, the Governor provides the following statement:

"As Governor, as a parent, and as a grandparent of children in Utah's public schools, I consider it important that the topic of human sexuality instruction be approached with utmost care and sensitivity. This topic is best taught in the home, and our public schools should not and cannot replace instruction by parents. It is imperative that public school instruction never supplant, but rather support and supplement, lessons learned in the home.

Speaking at the Utah State Capitol, U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Congressman Rob Bishop (R-UT) applauded legislation recently passed by the Utah State Legislature to transfer all federally-owned lands within Utah over to the state. Such action would improve the future of Utah’s public education funding through the appropriate management of public lands. Hatch and Bishop pledged to echo that call in Washington, and announced they will be working alongside stakeholders in Utah to develop a legislative proposal in Washington to increase state’s rights. 

“Utahns have always managed the lands within our borders far more efficiently and to better meet our needs than any bureaucrat in Washington ever could,” Hatch said. “The question of who should own the public land is not a new one here in our state, but I believe we are in a climate where, if we do it right, the lands in Utah can finally be under the control of our state. I was a leader in the Sagebrush Rebellion that started during my first term in the Senate, and I expect to see that transfer of land happen during my last term in the Senate.”

“It is time for a shift in the paradigm about use and control of our public lands. Utah has proven to be a far more effective steward of our lands and resources than the federal government and there is no good reason why ownership and control cannot be returned back to state and people where it rightfully belongs,” Bishop said. “Accomplishing this will be no small feat and will require efforts on many fronts.  Federal initiatives must be done in concert with state and local efforts and I look forward to working with our communities, local officials and legislators to ensure that Utah has the opportunity to grow, prosper and educate our children just like every other non-public lands state. I applaud the work done during this legislative session to gain greater control of federal lands within Utah’s borders and look forward to helping make these efforts a success.”

Hatch and Bishop were joined at the event by State Rep. Ken Ivory (who introduced the “Utah Transfer of Public Lands Act”) and additional State legislators, former Congressman Jim Hansen, and members of Utah’s education, business, agricultural, and public lands access community. Bishop is the Chairman of the House Natural Resource Committee’s Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands, and Hatch has long fought to give Utahns more control over federal lands, starting with the original Sagebrush Rebellion.

Lieutenant Governor Greg Bell announced the launch of the "Find My Caucus Location" tool on vote.utah.gov. The caucus location tool displays the date, time, and location of each participating political party's neighborhood caucus meeting by voting precinct.

"I am thrilled with the launch of this new feature.  We are excited to be able to provide detailed information on caucus meetings to the citizens of our state," said Lieutenant Governor Greg Bell.  "Utah voters deserve the best possible information regarding elections and candidates.  My office is working hard to utilize the latest technology to encourage civic participation by Utah's citizens."

To find out when and where their caucus meeting will be held, Utah voters may visit vote.utah.gov, click on the "Find My Caucus Location" tab, and enter their voter registration information. Registration details, including political party affiliation, voting precinct, and caucus information will be displayed.  Non-registered individuals may also use the tool to look up precinct and caucus information by address.  Eligible Utahns may also register to vote or update their registration information at vote.utah.gov.

Driven by Governor Gary R. Herbert's recently announced clean air initiative, Utah Clean Air Partnership, or U-CAIR, the State of Utah is replacing 73 of its fleet vehicles with fuel-efficient hybrids this year.

"As the State's Chief Executive Officer, I commit that the State of Utah will do its part as a U-CAIR partner to improve Utah's air quality, for our health and for our economic vitality," said Governor Herbert "It is essential that we as state employees re-examine our day-to-day choices and consider how we can make small changes that make a big difference."