Utah legislation — for better or worse

Webb: Every year, liberal Democrats and some news media folks have a hissy fit because our conservative Republican Legislature is, gulp, conservative and Republican. GOP lawmakers take heavy fire for being too far right, for focusing on guns and "moral issues," and for wasting time with silly stuff like the United Nations and other "message" legislation.

Much of the criticism is simply political opportunism from people who ought to know better. No one, including me, likes everything that happens up there. At any given time, a silly bill is introduced, a weird speech is given, a far-out topic is debated.

But that's the nature of a legislature — in Utah or anywhere in the country. I've observed the lawmaking process in a number of states, and it's no different elsewhere.

A legislature isn't a staid, monolithic entity that speaks with one voice. Ever tried to make an important decision by committee? Try a committee of 104 outspoken individuals, men and women with different backgrounds, ideologies and priorities, big egos, big agendas, each feeling a mandate, each having won election through hard work.

A legislature is controlled chaos, a food fight, and, like sausage-making, it can be pretty awful to watch. It's a miracle the lawmakers get as much done as they do, keeping the silly stuff to a minimum.

But remember, the way to judge a legislature is not by any given speech, committee debate or vote. The way to judge a legislature is by what is ultimately produced at the end of 45 days. And in my judgment the final product of Utah's Legislature pretty well reflects (with a few exceptions like guns in schools) the desires of most Utahns.

If it's true, as one Democratic senator whimpered, that conservative GOP actions caused some corporate wives to forbid their hen-pecked husbands from relocating their businesses in Utah, then in my opinion it's no great loss.

If they are offended because we prefer to foster a wholesome, family oriented environment, because we prefer to protect unborn babies, because we want to preserve traditional marriage and fight pornography, so be it. Let 'em go elsewhere.

Utah's moral climate will serve the state just fine, economically and otherwise. Plenty of terrific people and businesses exist out there who are very comfortable in this environment.