SALT LAKE CITY -- Only about an hour before Utah's refurbished Capitol was dedicated Friday, Sen. Sheldon Killpack was marveling at the transformation.
Not only is the Capitol newly earthquake-resistant, but it also exhibits a luster and freshness unknown since it was first completed.
Killpack, busy moving into his new Capitol office as assistant majority whip, was impressed by the attention to detail in the Senate chamber and throughout the building generally.
"The restoration is truly phenomenal," he said. "They have done a terrific job with great attention to detail, bringing back the original colors and designs that existed when the Capitol was first built. Being back here, you feel like you're part of history."
He noted that experts had preserved the past by refinishing the original Senate floor desks while upgrading the chamber to handle today's technology.
All of which will set a new tone for the coming legislative session, Jan. 21.
Health care continues to be a hot topic in the nation, and State Senator Sheldon Killpack is right in the middle of it here in Utah.
"We've been working on it over the summer and there have been some complex issues we've dealt with to this point," said Killpack. "It will take time to work through this."
Killpack gave an example of how the medical insurance companies have created higher deductibles with the idea it would drive health care costs down. "But if I end up going in for a $4,000 surgery, I've just hit my deductible," Killpack said. "So I decide I should get everything I can done. The usage just goes up. Up to now the individual is somewhat shielded from the true cost."
Health care should be more competitive to bring costs down, said Killpack. "The patient needs to be more involved, with more basic plans offered. We want to put the consumer at the helm."
Transportation is another issue Killpack plans to tackle this session. "I want to see I-15 reconstruction move forward," said Killpack. "There is a critical piece in Farmington that needs to be worked on now."
Another problem facing Utah is mortgage fraud. "We are trying to make it a felony offense with a three-year minimum sentence," Killpack said. "Utah is ranked in the top 10 nationwide for mortgage fraud. Half of the cases in-volved are worth $1 million. We need to take a more ag-gressive stance."
Although vouchers caused a great deal of debate last session, Killpack doesn't believe they will this year. "I don't see the issue coming back in the near future."
He said he voted for vouchers based on principle even though it would have been bad for his business, which provides construction and facilities management for charter schools.
"Had vouchers passed, charter schools would have likely felt it first," Killpack said. "I'm not an anti-public school guy. The Davis School District does a phenomenal job. For me, the voucher thing was a matter of parental choice." But he is OK with the public vote and its outcome.
"I think for the most part the way you defeat a referendum is just to pose questions."
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