Reid calls polygamous communities a form of 'organized crime'

He added, "We are very disturbed that the Senate Judiciary Committee conducts a purported fact-finding hearing with an obviously choreographed list of witnesses that are one-sided, and that they refused to allow the FLDS to be heard."

Meanwhile, Mary Batchelor, executive director of Principle Voices, an advocacy organization for polygamous families, said, "We are frustrated with Senator Reid. We feel he is not well informed."

She added that he should distinguish better between groups where abuse has occurred, and those where it has not.

"Reid's bill and his anti-polygamy efforts are not focused on crimes but on a family arrangement," said an information packet that Batchelor was distributing in the hallway outside the packed hearing room.

Brett Tolman, U.S. attorney for Utah, testified that Reid's proposed task force is likely not needed, and coordination already occurs. "Utah has a proud history of a coordinated state and federal response."

About Reid's proposal, Tolman said, "I believe that there is already substantial communication and coordination among federal, state and local offices; indeed, just as much as there would be were a formal task force in place."

Tolman said Reid's proposed task force "may be too blunt an instrument to accomplish an effective investigation, and subtler and more covert methods may be more profitably employed."

Under questioning by Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, Tolman said some formal task forces were formed a few years ago, but they did not work well and could not penetrate the FLDS. He said lower-key efforts have led to more inside information, and communication among law enforcement is better now than it was with task forces.

Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard testified that efforts by him and Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff have been closely coordinated and worked to build trust among polygamous groups and provide a safety net for victims. He said that led to the conviction of FLDS leader Warren Jeffs for rape as an accomplice.

He said their efforts have provided legal assistance, housing, counseling, education and other support to 1,200 victims in the polygamous enclaves of Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Ariz. "Child abuse reports have also increased dramatically in the region as a result of our outreach," he said.

Goddard, however, favored greater cooperation with federal agencies and said that had sometimes been slow in coming.

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott praised the idea of greater federal involvement, which he said should help minimize "the possibility that persons will simply move their operations to another location" when one state begins prosecution. He said the FLDS move to Texas came as pressure had increased in Utah and Arizona.