Legislative leaders want to change start of session for Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Both Republican and Democratic legislative leaders announced support today for a constitutional amendment that would delay the start of the Utah Legislature until after Martin Luther King Day.

The proposed amendment, which must be approved by two-thirds of both the House and the Senate as well as by voters in the 2008 general election, would also give lawmakers all federal holidays off during the 45-day session.

That means in addition to starting on the Tuesday after Martin Luther King Day, the Legislature would also take off Presidents Day in mid-February as well as any other federal holidays that may be set

in the future.

"The community has asked us for this and it is probably past time

that we honored their request," Senate President John Valentine, R- Orem, said. Valentine described both King and and the presidents honored on Presidents Day as "freedom fighters" who deserve to be

celebrated.

House Speaker Greg Curtis said lawmakers "need to be respectful

and tolerant of all members of society." Both Curtis and Valentine said the decision to take off Presidents Day as well does not detract from Martin Luther King Day.

Jeanetta Williams, president of the Salt Lake branch of the NAACP, agreed. Williams said the NAACP suggested including Presidents

Day in the resolution.

Including Presidents Day in the resolution, Williams said, will

help encourage voters to back the measure. She and Edward Lewis Jr., president of the Tri-State Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, thanked legislative leaders for their support.