From Deseret News archives:
State reptile? Kids pitch rattlesnake
St. George schoolchildren make case at Legislature
The children, from Diamond Valley Elementary School, came to Salt Lake City to make a presentation on the "western rattlesnake" for the House Government Operations Committee, which was considering a bill that would officially make the rattlesnake Utah's state reptile.
"(The children's) enthusiasm has made even me less apprehensive about snakes," said David Clark, R-Santa Clara, the bill's sponsor.
The students got up one by one, gave the legislators facts about rattlesnakes, and showed them posters and snake skin while a packed committee room looked on. When they were done providing their facts, all the children stood up and sang their school song, which fourth grade teacher Laura Graff said showed how much they cared about rattlesnakes.
The idea for a state reptile came from Diamond Elementary's school mascot, which is a diamondback rattlesnake. But after some research was done, it turned out that there are no diamondbacks in Utah, so the western rattlesnake was proposed.
Clark said that in order to make it up to Salt Lake City, the students had to get up as early as 1 a.m. The children were joined at the Capitol by their families, principal and Graff.
One of the perks of coming up to the Legislature for the children was getting to learn about the legislative process. They were introduced before the meeting began to their local senator, Republican Bill Hickman, who is to sponsor the bill in the Senate.
Noting that he hoped there were future councilmen, mayors and legislators in the group, Clark said that the students "have promised me that they will continue to stay involved in the democratic process."
The students got a firsthand look at how sticky that process can become when the bill was almost held up because of proposed amendments by Republican Reps. Stephen Clark and Craig Buttars.
Hailing from Provo, Stephen Clark, a Brigham Young University graduate, suggested that the bill be amended to change the state animal from an elk to a cougar. Cache County resident Buttars countered with a substitute amendment replacing the elk with a bull.
After the room roared with laughter, both agreed to withdraw their motions and the bill advanced out of the committee unanimously.
E-mail: pnagy@desnews.com
