Scott K. Jenkins

Scott K. Jenkins
Senator Scott Jenkins
Member of the Utah Senate from the 20th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 15, 2001
Preceded by	Joseph L. Hull
Personal details
Born	Ogden, Utah
Political party	Republican Party
Spouse(s)	Becky
Residence	Plain City, Utah
Occupation	Businessman, Owner of Great Western Supply
Religion	The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Website	Legislative Website

Scott Jenkins is an American politician and businessman from Utah. A Republican, he is a member of the Utah State Senate, representing the state's 20th senate district covering parts of Weber and Davis counties. He is retiring from his position as Senator and will not be running for reelection in 2016. Jenkins has an associates degree from Weber State University.

Personal life and education

Jenkins has lived in Utah all his life.^[1] In fact, he was raised about 100 feet from where he lives now.^[1] Jenkins went to Weber High School and earned his A.S. from Weber State College.^[2] He is married to his wife, Rebecca and they have five children: Jennifer, Erick, Jolene, Irene, Austin.^[3]

Background

• Did Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Confirmation Committee as chair of the Plain City Planning Commission
• Plain City Council
• Plain City Mayor
• Weber Area Council of Governments
• Bona Vista Water District (Chair and Board of Directors)
• Weber County Boundary Commission (Chair)

Political career

Scott Jenkins was elected to be a Senator in 2000.^[4] He served as the Majority Leader from 2009-2012.^[4] Before his time in the Senate, Jenkins was Mayor of Plain City, Utah, and a Member of the Plain City Council, Utah, 1979-1987.^[4] He will not be seeking reelection in 2016.

Jenkins has been a member of the following committees:^[5]

• Business, Economic Development, and Labor Appropraitions Subcommittee
• Infrastructure and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee
• Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee (Chair)
• Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee
• Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee (Chair)
• Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Confirmation Committee
• State Water Development Commission

In 2016, Jenkins served on the following committees:^[5]

• Executive Offices and Criminal Justice Appropriations Subcommittee
• Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environmental Quality Appropriations Subcommittee
• Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee (Chair)

Election results

Senator Jenkins last ran for office in 2012, he ran unopposed.^[6]

^[6]

Legislation

2016 sponsored legislation

^[7]

Senator Jenkins was also the Floor Sponsor for the following bills:

• H.B. 20 Lead Acid Battery Disposal Sunset Reauthorization
• H.B. 69 Qualified Political Party Amendments
• H.B. 138 Consumer Electronic Device Recycling Report Amendments
• H.B. 191 Interlock Restricted Driver Amendments
• H.B. 250 Air Quality Amendments
• H.B. 269 Recycling of Copper Wire
• H.B. 429 Specie Legal Tender Amendments
• HCR 11 Concurrent Resolution Encouraging the Repayment of Funds Used to Keep National Parks, Monuments, and Recreation Areas Open

Political positions

Education

"Public and Higher Education needs to remain our number one budget priority. We have made great strides in education funding over the past four years and we need to continue to do so. I believe our teachers are heroes and they deserve to make a decent living.

Our responsibility does not stop there, however. We also need to explore new methods of providing our young students with an excellent education. Money, alone, will not get the job done."

Taxes

"Citizens of Utah have been taxed too often and much too liberally. Too many programs crowd the budget and many people have come to feel entitled to their piece of the pie. Government was never meant to provide so much to so many. I sincerely believe we need to return to our historic belief in personal responsibility. That said, there are some things only government can do for as society. In those areas we need to be efficient, compassionate, and effective."

Immigration

"I am pleased that Utah is looking at this problem in a very serious yet careful way. We passed fairly sweeping legislation to deal with the issue but delayed the implementation date by one year. We are using this time to scrutinize the myriad aspects of the problem and make sure the new law is the right way to go. I was asked to chair the task force currently engaged in this legislative equivalent of measuring twice, cutting once."

Appropriate government

"I have always believed that government only does a few things very well. My close proximity over the past years hasn't changed my opinion very much. My job as state senator is to keep government out of your lives just as much as it is to appropriately apply and manage government solutions."

Integrity

"The legislative process is at best a complicated affair. A legislator without integrity is on a hopelessly downward spiral. I have personally found that by far the majority of decisions made in the legislative process are made for the right reasons and in accordance with that individual's true feelings. Occasionally ‘politics’ enters into the process, but not as often as many want to believe. Personal integrity is an absolute must in a legislator. I'm not perfect, but I do strive to represent you with integrity. If you ever percieve [sic] otherwise, you need to let me know."

Other

In February 2012, Jenkins made headlines in Utah for voting to deny tax breaks for military veterans, arguing the military already enjoys too many perks.^[8]

References