Legislative leaders defend China trip

Utah legislative leaders Tuesday defended a trip 14 of them will make this July to China.

During a meeting of the Executive Appropriations Committee, leaders of both political parties from the House and Senate voted to increase the number of lawmakers going to Liaoning Province in northern China from 12 legislators to 14.

In addition, Senate President John Valentine, R-Orem, who will not be going on this China trip, has written a blog entry on the Senate Web site extolling the virtues of the official Utah-to-China visit.

And in a day or two, leaders said, a Weber State University professor with ties to the province will also write a paper on the blog defending the trip and the economic and political ties it will bring.

The committee also required that legislators going on the trip — which will cost Utah taxpayers around $20,000 — to write a public report on what they did, who they met and possible positive accomplishments.

The public defense of the trip comes after the Salt Lake Tribune published a story questioning why Utah legislators should travel halfway around the world on a weeklong junket.

Both Democratic and GOP leaders individually defended the trip, saying it could well bring increased economic activity between Utah, the United States, and Asia's "economic giant."

Senate Minority Leader Mike Dmitrich, D-Price, a retired coal company executive who is going on the trip, said China's coal mines are the most dangerous in the world, with 5,000 Chinese coal miners being killed a year.

There are a number of Utah firms specializing in mine safety equipment and mining procedures, and the trip could lead to millions of dollars in trade that China clearly needs, he said.

Valentine said local news media reporters will be invited to go on the trip, their coverage approved by the Chinese government.

Reasons why the trip is a great opportunity for Utah can be found on the Senate blog site: www.senatesite.com/blog/index.html.

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