Lawmakers not going far

Utah's 104 part-time legislators will take their traditional tour this summer of one part of the state.

This year will be different, however, coming as it does in many of the lawmakers' own back yards: Salt Lake and Davis counties.

And unlike previous visits to other parts of the state, legislative leaders have decided not to hold public hearings in either of the Wasatch Front counties when they make their visits in two weeks.

One state official who asked that his name not be used said that GOP leaders were concerned that — especially with the Salt Lake City mayor's race heating up this summer — a public hearing in Democratic-leaning Salt Lake City could turn into a bash-the-GOP-controlled-Legislature meeting.

Legislators began taking the month of August off 15 years ago from interim study committees to spend a few days visiting different parts of the state's large geographical area. So far, they have never officially visited Salt Lake and Davis counties, which together comprise about 45 percent of the state's population.

Lawmakers, most of whom come from the Wasatch Front, have said the far-flung visits allow them to hold two or more public hearings so that they can learn about problems and opportunities in those rural areas of the state. Legislative leaders discussed whether to hold similar hearings in Salt Lake and Davis counties, said Ric Cantrell, chief deputy of the state Senate.

"The question came up, who would come (to public hearings) and where would they be held?" he said.

Go to Panguitch and there is a defined community, enthusiasm for the visit and a good turnout, said Cantrell. In the high-population counties, such as Salt Lake and Davis, pick one or two cities and others will be left out.

And in any case, Salt Lake and Davis county residents can more easily come to Capitol Hill and voice their concerns during dozens of interim-day public hearings, as well as hundreds of public hearings held during the annual 45-day general session.

"There will be no public hearing in either county. We thought there would not be much of a (citizen) turnout," said Rep. Julie Fisher, R-Fruit Heights, who is helping plan the Davis County portion of the Aug. 15-16 visit days.

House Minority Leader Ralph Becker, D-Salt Lake, who is running for Salt Lake City mayor this year, said he has pushed for a visit to Salt Lake County for years. "I was surprised to learn that there would be no public hearings," he said. "I don't know why that decision was made."