GOP kills airing of minority reports

On a straight party line vote Thursday, GOP House members effectively killed the ability — admittedly rarely used — for Democrats to have a minority committee report read on the House floor or printed in the official journal.

Both Republicans and Democrats said that anyone, or any group, of House members could write a dissenting report to a standing committee's action on a bill. And that's true. But the reality is that when three Democrats had a minority report read in the first week of the session, criticizing HJR1 (a resolution on the controversial bank/credit union fight), majority Republicans quickly acted to kill first the report and then change internal rules so such an action won't happen again.

Rep. Dave Ure, R-Kamas, sponsored HR7, which at first said only the names of dissenting minority members would be included in the official report from a committee action. But even that was too much publicity for any naysayers. His resolution was changed to say minority report members names wouldn't be included.

Rep. Neil Hansen, D-Ogden, then tried to amend HR7 so that a minority report would be in the journal or, failing that, at least printed and attached to the official "blue-back" copy of the bill advanced against a minority's desire. Republicans also killed that idea.

Free speech by any legislator won't be harmed, Rep. Dave Cox, R-Lehi, reminded the House. When any bill is debated on the floor, those in the committee who voted against it can stand and state their reasons, even read a written statement again to a minority report if they wish.

While that's true, individual lawmakers' statements are not recorded verbatim in the journal nor connected in any official way with a bill as it proceeds.