Utah
Gov. Cox weighs in on FBI’s search of Trump estate, Utah’s water situation in online Q&A
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox speaks from his residence throughout a web based question-and-answer occasion held Tuesday night. (Utah State Governor’s Workplace)
Estimated learn time: 5-6 minutes
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Gov. Spencer Cox each was and wasn’t in any rush to supply his opinion when he was requested concerning the FBI’s execution of a search warrant at former President Donald Trump’s Florida residence Monday.
“We actually haven’t got a lot info,” including that he is “all the time cautious” to weigh in on a scenario when he would not have sufficient info, throughout a web based question-and-answer city corridor assembly with Utahns on Tuesday night.
The query concerning the raid was the final one the governor answered, leading to a 6-minute response.
FBI brokers swarmed Trump’s Mar-a-Lago property after a choose signed off on a search warrant. The U.S. Justice Division hasn’t revealed a lot concerning the search; nevertheless, Trump’s household has indicated that brokers have been searching for official presidential information taken from the White Home, in line with Reuters.
It occurred as Congress continues to research the occasions on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, which is tied to Trump’s election loss in November 2020.
Cox defined that he may see each side of the argument at the moment taking part in out. On one hand, the federal authorities has by no means taken motion in a means like what performed out on Monday; however, he stated the previous president shouldn’t be thought of above the regulation — if he did violate legal guidelines.
“Any time one thing that occurs with a former president of the USA and we’ve one other social gathering in workplace, there’s mechanically going to be a reflexive motion to consider that it’s political,” he stated. “I believe, I hope that the Division of Justice and FBI actually perceive that and understood that after they undertook this.
“We don’t consider in punishing our political enemies or utilizing the levers of justice — or police powers of our state — to punish in any means our political adversaries,” he added. “I do not consider that Republicans ought to try this to Democrats. I do not consider Democrats ought to try this to Republicans. … It worries me.”
So whereas he figures Democrats will rejoice the raid as proof that Trump is responsible of crimes and Republicans will bemoan the raid as a attainable political tactic, he says he’ll simply look ahead to the information to come back to gentle earlier than forming an opinion on the matter.
Election safety
The governor had loads of ideas when it got here to different political matters, reminiscent of current assaults on Utah election safety. Merely put, he believes Utah’s elections are secure and safe.
He identified that the Utah Legislature appears to cross a brand new regulation yearly that improves the integrity of Utah elections, particularly with most residents voting by mail. This 12 months, they authorized a plan so as to add cameras exterior of dropboxes to make sure the bins aren’t tampered with.
“We’ve got audits yearly, in each one in all our election techniques, to ensure they’re functioning the proper means,” he stated. “We do it proper earlier than an election, we do it proper after an election. We do these pattern audits to ensure issues are working.”
Coping with the drought
Drought and water consumption, nevertheless, gave the impression to be the subject of the day. Utah’s reservoirs are at about 51% capability statewide, in line with the Utah Division of Water Sources.
Cox stated he favors extra environment friendly makes use of of water, reminiscent of water-wise lawns and “extra accountable” farming practices, by utilizing new applied sciences that use much less water.
He additionally believes Utah’s new regulation that may quickly take away the state’s “use it or lose it” coverage will even assist enable water to move into the Nice Salt Lake, which is at its lowest ranges ever recorded. Critics of the plan argue that the brand new regulation nonetheless would not completely defend the Nice Salt Lake, although.
Extra tasks, together with ones to enhance streamflow to the Nice Salt Lake, are on the docket, in line with the governor.
Why Utah fuel costs stay above the nationwide common
Cox led off Tuesday night’s occasion by answering a query about why Utah’s fuel costs are nonetheless nicely above the nationwide common.
Fuel at the moment prices about $4.71 per gallon in Utah, in line with AAA information as of Tuesday night. That is about 68 cents per gallon above the nationwide common; nevertheless, Utah’s common can also be almost a dime under the place it was final week and about 50 cents under the place it was a month in the past.
The governor reminded his on-line viewers that the excessive fuel costs general are a mix of issues, together with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He additionally blasted the Biden administration for what he calls a scarcity of oil and fuel growth within the U.S., one thing he has criticized earlier than.
There are different elements as to why Utah is often above the nationwide common. As an example, there is not sufficient oil and fuel manufacturing in Utah to supply for the state’s wants and there is not sufficient refining capability both, Cox stated. The state then depends on imported fuel, which drives up the associated fee.
“Traditionally, as the remainder of the nation comes down, we come down slower; however because the reservoirs construct up, then we even out with the remainder of the nation,” he stated. “We’re headed in that course however (we) cannot get there quickly sufficient.”
What concerning the academics?
One factor the governor stated he’s keen to do is to pay academics extra as a result of, nicely, the state might need to. Many college districts are anxious about employees shortages as the brand new college 12 months begins.
What does he suppose is the quickest resolution? Enhance the pay of academics, which is an space the place the state has traditionally lagged behind others. This can be a tactic the state is already utilizing to assist entice and retain Utah Freeway Patrol troopers throughout a scarcity.
“It is the proper factor to do and that is precisely what we should always do,” Cox stated. “I consider the identical must be carried out for academics.”