In light of the legislature’s discussion over whether to reform Utah taxes, the United Utah Party will be hosting a summit on tax reform on Saturday, September 28, at 10:30 am at the Day-Riverside Branch located at 1575 W. 1000 N., Salt Lake City, 84116.
The Tax Summit is an opportunity for citizens to learn more about the debate over tax reform. Various perspectives on tax reform will be presented on how or even whether Utah’s tax structure should be revamped.
Presenters at the summit will include John Valentine, Chair, Utah State Tax Commission John Dougall, Utah State Auditor and Joel Briscoe, Utah State Representative. Jim Bennett, former United Utah Party Congressional candidate, will be the moderator for the event.
“We invite all interested citizens to come to this summit and find out more about the pros and cons of tax reform proposals,” Richard Davis, chair of the United Utah Party, explained. “This is one of the missions of the United Utah Party to bring together people of differing views to find common ground. Come and learn more about what this issue is and what the proposals are, and ask questions of experts on tax reform.”
The United Utah Party is a new political party in Utah dedicated to providing practical, rather than ideological, solutions to current problems. It is intent on reforming government to increase citizen participation and influence in the political system.
About the Presenters
Jim Bennett, a son of the late Senator Bob Bennett, was active in Republican Party politics for many years. In 2017, Bennett ran for Congress in Utah’s 3rd Congressional District as a candidate of the newly formed United Utah Party. Bennett won 10 percent of the vote, the highest vote total of any non-major party Congressional candidate in Utah history.
John Valentine was appointed by Governor Gary R. Herbert to serve as chair of the Utah State Tax Commission in 2014. Prior to his appointment, he served in the Utah Legislature from 1988 to 2014, first in the House of Representatives from 1988 to 1998 and then in the Senate from 1998 to 2014. He was also awarded the Tax Practitioner of the Year by the Utah State Bar in 2008.
Joel Briscoe has been serving as a representative in the Utah State House since 2010, representing District 25 in Salt Lake County. He serves on several legislative committees, including the House Revenue and Taxation Committee, the Education Appropriations Committee, and the Tax Restructuring and Equalization Task Force.
