Shame on rude, petty Utah lawmakers

I could go on and list all of the names Stephenson called the media in general and legislative reporters specifically. We are "killer bees" feeding off of good, upright, decent, self-sacrificing, moral, hardworking legislators. The media only write about the gifts that legislators take to "sell newspapers." A TV station followed legislators to a Florida conference several years ago "and hid in the trees" to take pictures of legislators golfing with lobbyists — a perfectly proper outing — just to practice irresponsible and self-serving yellow journalism.

And on. And on. And on for nine minutes.

Stephenson went on to say that it is proper and right for legislators to take Jazz tickets or $100 meals from lobbyists to get some down time and forget their woes about having to be away from their families during the 45-day general session.

To listen to Stephenson rant one would think it is the duty of part-time legislators to take lobbyists' gifts. Oh, those legislative shirkers who aren't taking their fair share of lobbyists gifts — making the gift-takers go to even more Jazz games and eat more expensive meals — should be ashamed of themselves for not doing their part.

Actually, it is Stephenson and the others of his ilk who should be ashamed.

I really don't know what has happened to the Senate in recent years.

I remember the 1980s when I first started covering the Legislature and the Senate was the body to be respected, where long debates were held on important topics, where statesmen like the late Sen. Warren Pugh led the Legislature and often-reactionary House to wise public policy.

Those days are gone

There were a few wackos in the Senate in those days, like today. But the temperate, smart and farsighted power-brokers in the Senate isolated them.

Now some of the most intemperate senators seem to be setting the Senate agenda.

Frankly, I don't care if legislators use their hobbyhorses to bash the media. I've seen small-minded people come and go in the 75-member House and 29-member Senate. And this too shall pass.

It is the rudeness with which some of these high-minded "public servants" treat the very people they are supposed to be representing that has become boorish.

Committee chairmen and chairwomen are supposed to act like referees, maintaining the proper decorum and calling on citizens fairly to give comment — and not telling people to shut up or go away.

Last year, a House committee chairman bashed the media for about five minutes, even calling out to the audience to challenge any reporter to come forward and explain their conduct, a completely improper use of his gavel.

Did anyone reprimand him? No.

The Legislature and the 104 part-time lawmakers by and large serve Utah well.