Washington, D.C. – The Club for Growth Foundation released its 2024 Utah state economic scorecard, providing Utahns with an analysis of how every legislator approaches pro-growth economic policy in Salt Lake City.
The Scorecard analyzes policies and votes to assign an Economic Growth Score from 0 to 100, with 100 representing the highest support for pro-growth policies. In 2024, the Foundation reviewed over 1,900 floor votes, scoring 18 Utah House and 15 Utah Senate votes.
“Through its state-level scorecards, the Club for Growth Foundation provides citizens in Utah, and across the country, with first-hand information on how legislators approach the policies that impact their everyday lives,” said Club for Growth Foundation President David McIntosh. “While Utah maintained its top ranking for economic outlook, resting on past achievements is not enough. Lawmakers must continue to prioritize bold, forward-thinking legislation that benefit all Utahns, rather than relying on shortsighted measures that risk undermining the state’s long-term success.”
Click here to read the full 2024 Utah state economic scorecard from the Club for Growth Foundation.
Key Highlights from the 2024 Utah Scorecard:
Utah Senate:
- Average Republican Score: 42%
- Average Democrat Score: 3%
- Highest Rated Republican(s): Sen. Heidi Balderree (SD-22): 66%
- Highest Rated Democrat(s): Sen. Luz Escamilla (SD-10), Sen. Karen Kwan (SD-12), Sen. Stephanie Pitcher (SD-14), and Sen. Jen Plumb (SD-9): 5%
- Lowest Rated Republican(s): Sen. Jerry Stevenson (SD-6): 22%
- Lowest Rated Democrat(s): Sen. Nate Blouin (SD-13) and Sen. Kathleen Riebe (SD-15): 0%
Utah House:
- Average Republican Score: 61%
- Average Democrat Score: 7%
- Highest Rated Republican(s): Rep. Ken Ivory (HD-39): 93%
- Highest Rated Democrat(s): Rep. Ashlee Matthews (HD-37): 16%
- Lowest Rated Republican(s): Rep. Robert Spendlove (HD-42): 28%
- Lowest Rated Democrat(s): Rep. Joel Briscoe (HD-24) and Rep. Carol Moss (HD-34): 0%
Notable Pro-Growth Legislation:
HB 409 – EMPOWERING STATE JURISDICTION THROUGH FEDERALISM
- Promotes the system of federalism by asserting the 10th amendment on land management for the state of Utah to stand on its jurisdiction over natural resources, agriculture, energy, and education policy
- Requires the federal government to assert its jurisdiction through specific enumeration in the Constitution
- Federal land in Utah is presumed under proprietorial interest unless the federal government can prove otherwise
HB 429 – SIGNIFICANT GOVERNMENT WORKER REFORMS
- Brings a merit-based approach to the hiring process of state government employees
- Reduces the bureaucracy of the state government workers by making all government workers hired after January 1, 2025 “at-will” employees
SB 69 – ADDITIONAL INCOME TAX REDUCTIONS
- Reduces the individual income and corporate income tax rates from 4.65% to 4.55%
- Saves Utahns an estimate of $167 million in taxes
Notable Anti-Growth Legislation:
HB 78 – PERMANENT HOLLYWOOD SUBSIDY PROGRAM
- Expands a cronyism scheme program by repealing the sunset date of taxpayers money being subsidized for Utah film projects
- Removes the $12 million subsidy cap and leaves expenditures uncapped
HB 270 – SUBSTANTIAL MULTI COUNTY PROPERTY TAX INCREASE
- Increases the multi-county property tax by 60%. Additional increases will occur in 2025, and again by a 133% rate in 2026 from its existing rate
- Estimate property tax increase would be at least $25 million over two and a half years to exclusively benefit central planners at the Multicounty Appraisal Trust.
HB 193 – EXTENDS OBAMACARE HOSPITAL TAX
- Extends the sunset date for the Medicaid hospital tax ($173 million) for another 10 years
- This tax is levied against UT hospitals to cover the Medicaid costs of able-bodied adults
Note: This Scorecard is based on selected votes and does not reflect a legislator’s entire voting record. The Club for Growth Foundation does not endorse or oppose any legislator for public office.