From Deseret News archives:
Put off Legislature until after King holiday
"I know, honey. But the Legislature's in session and we get really busy this time of year. I've got to go to work."
Driving to work, the conversation played over and over in my head. She's right, you know. This should be a holiday for all legislators and newspaper writers, too.
But legislatures in Utah and eight other states were in session on Monday.
Here's why Utah does it:
Utah Constitution Article VI, Section 2 (Time of general sessions.)
Annual general sessions of the Legislature shall be held at the seat of government and shall begin on the third Monday in January.
I'm not a big fan of constitutional amendments, but seemingly this one is a no-brainer. Postpone the start of the session and give the holiday its due. Starting later would give the Legislature the benefit of more accurate revenue figures, which would aid budget making. Talk about bang for the buck. Yes, it would require voter approval, but what would be the down side?
After all, it's only been six years since the Utah Legislature the last state in the nation to do so changed the name of the January holiday from Human Rights Day to Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Although the Legislation passed, the debate was contentious, with some people making racist comments.
The bill to change the name of the holiday was co-sponsoredy by Rep. Duane Bordeaux, D-Salt Lake, who will retire from the Utah Legislature this year after a decade of service, and former Sen. Pete Suazo, D-Salt Lake, who died in 2001 in an ATV accident.
Bordeaux, in an interview with Associated Press prior to the start of the Utah Legislature, said his goal and his challenge is "to get involved and carry Dr. King's legacy forward."
Comments
- Police probe synagogue vandalism 12:15 p.m.
- Williams' back 'worse,' Price out 12:07 p.m.
- Guilty plea in pharmacy scheme 12:04 p.m.
- Will state consider gay rights law? 12:03 p.m.
- Prep football: Felt's Facts Week 11:03 a.m.
- Weiss new Tour of Utah director 10:54 a.m.
- Moguls skier Jeremy Bloom retires 10:51 a.m.
- O'Connor's husband dies 10:36 a.m.
- Russia launches program for tigers 10:35 a.m.
- Veterans Day in Afghanistan 10:34 a.m.
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
- Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
- Utah Jazz have a problem at point
- 'Love story' of crash victim ends
- Utah group finds homes for orphans
- Wyoming writer amazed by BYU
- Hair-pulling raises more questions
- 12 Utes return to Texas
- Y. tight ends talented tandem
- Cougars' defensive hoops clinic
- House passes health care bill
268 - TCU showdown has big implications
188 - Lobo suspended
185 - Senators want food tax restored
157 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
155 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
131 - SLC council OKs gay rights policies
126 - TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
119 - No 'backlash' for pioneers, gays analogy
108 - S.L. vote pending on gay protections
106
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