GOP ready to tackle state referendum law
Demos vow to fight any attempt to restrict citizen input
By Leigh Dethman and Bob Bernick Jr.
Get ready for GOP legislative leaders to take on the state's referendum law — and a big fight with Democrats who vow to protect the current system.
In November 2007, Utahns soundly rejected the GOP Legislature's private school voucher law in a voter referendum, 61-39 percent. It was a real rejection of conservative GOP lawmakers' stand (no Democrat voted for vouchers). Some GOP House and Senate incumbents who voted for vouchers (especially in Salt Lake County) are facing this year constituents who voted 2-to-1 against vouchers.
As GOP lawmakers may look to making the referendum law more restrictive, the first plank of the state Democratic Party's platform, titled "Good Government," calls for "the people (to have) recourse through constitutionally established means of the courts, initiatives and referendums, and through freedom of expression."
And Democratic leaders have complained that Republicans, in control of governorship for 25 years, in control of the Legislature for 30 years, have become arrogant in power.
Monday, Senate Majority Leader Curt Bramble, R-Provo, told the Deseret News editorial board that government doesn't work best when elected representatives are constantly, and frivolously, overruled by the citizens they are elected to make decisions for. In other words, the pure democracy of initiatives and referendums doesn't work well compared to the republican form of government of elected representatives.
More...
Senator Bramble's quote, "that govenment doesn't work best when elected representatives are constantly, and frivolously, overruled by the citizens they are elected to make decisions for." is one of the most arrogant statements ever made by a Utah elected official.
From Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
Frivolous:
1 a: of little weight or importance b: having no sound basis (as in fact or law) frivolous lawsuit>
2 a: lacking in seriousness b: marked by unbecoming levity
Is Senator Bramble stating that 62.1 percent of Utah residents who voted against vouchers did so frivolously? That we had no sound basis to do so? That our opinion was of little weight or importance and was lacking in seriousness?
I think most citizens might agree with Utah Democratic Party Executive Director Todd Taylor's quote from the same, above article, "The referendum process is so hard that Utah Democratic Party leaders were stunned voucher opponents were able to secure enough signatures in time to make the ballot.
"What they performed is nothing less than a miracle...The referendum process is far too difficult in the state of Utah. It's the arrogance of power — they think it should all reside in the Legislature."
To those who agree with Senator Bramble I will once again post Article VI, Section 1 of the Utah State Constitution [Power vested in the Senate, House, and People.]
(1) The Legislative power of the State shall be vested in:
(a) a Senate and House of Representatives which shall be designated the Legislature of the State of Utah; and
(b) the people of the State of Utah as provided in Subsection (2).
(2) (a) (i) The legal voters of the State of Utah, in the numbers, under the conditions, in the manner, and within the time provided by statute, may:
(A) initiate any desired legislation and cause it to be submitted to the people for adoption upon a majority vote of those voting on the legislation, as provided by statute; or
(B) require any law passed by the Legislature, except those laws passed by a two-thirds vote of the members elected to each house of the Legislature, to be submitted to the voters of the State, as provided by statute, before the law may take effect.
(ii) Notwithstanding Subsection (2)(a)(i)(A), legislation initiated to allow, limit, or prohibit the taking of wildlife or the season for or method of taking wildlife shall be adopted upon approval of two-thirds of those voting.
(b) The legal voters of any county, city, or town, in the numbers, under the conditions, in the manner, and within the time provided by statute, may:
(i) initiate any desired legislation and cause it to be submitted to the people of the county, city, or town for adoption upon a majority vote of those voting on the legislation, as provided by statute; or
(ii) require any law or ordinance passed by the law making body of the county, city, or town to be submitted to the voters thereof, as provided by statute, before the law or ordinance may take effect.
Utahns deserve representation that is not jealous of the people's right to be equal with our representatives and representation that will listen to our voice, and not disrespect our rights.
In November 2007, Utahns soundly rejected the GOP Legislature's private school voucher law in a voter referendum, 61-39 percent. It was a real rejection of conservative GOP lawmakers' stand (no Democrat voted for vouchers). Some GOP House and Senate incumbents who voted for vouchers (especially in Salt Lake County) are facing this year constituents who voted 2-to-1 against vouchers.
As GOP lawmakers may look to making the referendum law more restrictive, the first plank of the state Democratic Party's platform, titled "Good Government," calls for "the people (to have) recourse through constitutionally established means of the courts, initiatives and referendums, and through freedom of expression."
And Democratic leaders have complained that Republicans, in control of governorship for 25 years, in control of the Legislature for 30 years, have become arrogant in power.
Monday, Senate Majority Leader Curt Bramble, R-Provo, told the Deseret News editorial board that government doesn't work best when elected representatives are constantly, and frivolously, overruled by the citizens they are elected to make decisions for. In other words, the pure democracy of initiatives and referendums doesn't work well compared to the republican form of government of elected representatives.
More...
Senator Bramble's quote, "that govenment doesn't work best when elected representatives are constantly, and frivolously, overruled by the citizens they are elected to make decisions for." is one of the most arrogant statements ever made by a Utah elected official.
From Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
Frivolous:
1 a: of little weight or importance b: having no sound basis (as in fact or law) frivolous lawsuit>
2 a: lacking in seriousness b: marked by unbecoming levity
Is Senator Bramble stating that 62.1 percent of Utah residents who voted against vouchers did so frivolously? That we had no sound basis to do so? That our opinion was of little weight or importance and was lacking in seriousness?
I think most citizens might agree with Utah Democratic Party Executive Director Todd Taylor's quote from the same, above article, "The referendum process is so hard that Utah Democratic Party leaders were stunned voucher opponents were able to secure enough signatures in time to make the ballot.
"What they performed is nothing less than a miracle...The referendum process is far too difficult in the state of Utah. It's the arrogance of power — they think it should all reside in the Legislature."
To those who agree with Senator Bramble I will once again post Article VI, Section 1 of the Utah State Constitution [Power vested in the Senate, House, and People.]
(1) The Legislative power of the State shall be vested in:
(a) a Senate and House of Representatives which shall be designated the Legislature of the State of Utah; and
(b) the people of the State of Utah as provided in Subsection (2).
(2) (a) (i) The legal voters of the State of Utah, in the numbers, under the conditions, in the manner, and within the time provided by statute, may:
(A) initiate any desired legislation and cause it to be submitted to the people for adoption upon a majority vote of those voting on the legislation, as provided by statute; or
(B) require any law passed by the Legislature, except those laws passed by a two-thirds vote of the members elected to each house of the Legislature, to be submitted to the voters of the State, as provided by statute, before the law may take effect.
(ii) Notwithstanding Subsection (2)(a)(i)(A), legislation initiated to allow, limit, or prohibit the taking of wildlife or the season for or method of taking wildlife shall be adopted upon approval of two-thirds of those voting.
(b) The legal voters of any county, city, or town, in the numbers, under the conditions, in the manner, and within the time provided by statute, may:
(i) initiate any desired legislation and cause it to be submitted to the people of the county, city, or town for adoption upon a majority vote of those voting on the legislation, as provided by statute; or
(ii) require any law or ordinance passed by the law making body of the county, city, or town to be submitted to the voters thereof, as provided by statute, before the law or ordinance may take effect.
Utahns deserve representation that is not jealous of the people's right to be equal with our representatives and representation that will listen to our voice, and not disrespect our rights.
14 comments:
Utah GOP leaders are arrogant and jealous of their power and they do not respect Utah resident's constitutional right to be equal
I think that's the longest run-on sentence I have ever read.
Let me rephrase:
I think that's the longest run-on sentence I have ever read in my whole life, and if I were your English teacher I would be totally freaked out that you wrote a sentence like that because it would be a reflection on your teacher's ability to teach the basic tenents of English and he/she would probably feel really really bad about the prospects of not doing his/her job really well and that wouldn't be good for your teacher's sense of well-being and such, so you should think about possibly redoing the header of this post so that your teacher can feel better about his/her self esteem and be happy.
Interesting that the Senate Site says that they don't have this in mind:
http://senatesite.com/blog/2008/08/counter-announcement.html
Unless the DesNews misquoted Bramble I'm going to take him at his word. His attitude and actions speak exactly to the mindset he gave voice to when he spouted off to the paper.
Republ"i can" ignore my constituents!
I hope that every single voter sees this DN article.
Anon:
Good thing I didn't have you as an English teacher!
I hear you!
The title (header) stands as is.
I doubt my English teacher reads this blog, but if he does, and if he feels disapointed, he can call me anytime.
Thanks for your comment.
Good for you, Rob! You know how to prove that you're going to take a stand, even if it is wrong.
Well done.
Rob wrong? Not on this one. Has anybody read about Bramble's Pizza Party?
All the Republicans categorically deny the D News' allegations, and the SLTrib seems to believe them. Urquhart has even publicly called for the release of the editorial board meeting recording so everyone can see for themselves.
Doesn't sound like they have anything to hide.
I would hope that the Amicus would be good enough to publish a correction if it turns out the D News is fibbing. We have plenty of slant artists in print and on TV. I don't need it in my inbox.
J-Man, I read that Bramble pizza thing. Here's the link where I originally read it: http://bobaagard.blogspot.com/2008/08/brambles-case-of-mondays.html
What a sad, miserable, angry existence that pathetic little man must have. My apologies to his family who must be in a constant state of embarrassment, not to mention fear for what he may say or do next.
Of course the Repub leadership wants to tighten the referendum laws. Over the past five years they have slowly chipped away at citizen petitions.
Last year, the voucher referendum took them by surprise. It only makes sense the senate repubs want to make it tougher for citizens to have a voice.
English Teacher:
Your words didn't make any sense to me....I don't know why.
Anon,
Why am I not surprised. You should take a break, relax, and then come back to politics in a few weeks. Then, you should....ah hell, never mind, you still won't get it.
I'm waiting for Bob Bernick to back this up. Will likely be a long wait.
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