Take 2: Coronavirus, abortion walkout, budget matters and porn labeling



UTV’s Heidi Hatch hosts Utah’s State Auditor, John Dougall and Maura Carabello with the Exoro Group to talk the state of Utah from both side of politics.

Like most things these days the discussion started with how Utah is handling Covid-19, commonly known as part of the virus family it is part of, the coronavirus. State leaders announced  a soft closure Friday as the state practices social distancing to stop the spread of the disease. Many local events and gatherings have been cancelled including Republican caucus meetings. Democrats and Republicans announced they will nix the in-person portion of party conventions scheduled for April 25.

Women lawmakers in the Utah Senate walked out of the debate over mandatory ultrasounds. All six women in those elected positions, from both parties, walked out in protest and refused to vote on a bill mandating a woman be shown an ultrasound before she has an abortion, but the bill passed despite their absence. Republican Sen. Deidre Henderson said it wasn’t planned but was a spontaneous decision about the “invasive nature of the bill.” Henderson said she opposes abortion but the bill goes too far.

Other topics include:

  • Budget
  • Insulin price caps
  • Tax cuts
  • Inland port
  • Pornography labeling