According to the Deseret News (Nov. 25) Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. "blamed 'partisan political considerations' for (defeating Judge Robert K. Hilder's nomination to the Utah Court of Appeals), noting that the newly elected Senate majority leadership waited until after the vote to finalize committee assignments." In other words, the governor implied that choice committee assignments may have been traded for "no" votes against Hilder.

As the ones who made those committee selections, we affirm unequivocally that there were no quid pro quo for votes against Hilder.

We never mixed the two subjects. The assignments were completed before the Hilder debate, to be given out after committee meetings that day. Coveted committee positions were given to senators who voted "yes" on Hilder's nomination, for example Sen. Lyle Hillyard, who was named Appropriations chariman. Indeed, Sen. Greg Bell, of Senate leadership, led the debate in favor of the judge and voted for him.

The judge's nomination was defeated after two exhaustive committee hearings and a spirited debate on the Senate floor. Each senator must account to his or her constituents and to the State for their vote. Robust public discussion of this and other legislative votes is the American way. However, we state most sincerely there was no vote-trading for committee assignments or anything else.

Michael Waddoups,

president-elect,

Utah State Senate

Sheldon Killpack,

majority leader-elect

Scott K. Jenkins,

majority whip-elect

Greg Bell,

assistant majority whip-elect