Reader comments
GOP had 9-1 edge in bills passed
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An Issue Dialogue | 5:07 a.m. March 31, 2008
The problem is not that Utah is a one-party state, it is the loss of balance.
Balance on both sides. Democrats in the State are far too left for any sort of
moderate to consider. And half the time their platform is "We are not
Republican"
Early in the Salt Lake mayoral campaign, I saw one of his rallies. When I asked one of his volunteers what his platform was, the only thing she could say was "He is Democrat."
Ummm, okay, that tells me nothing.
It is time to start looking at the issues instead of the party...on both sides. And where are the moderates?
Guaranteed....guaranteed, someone in this post will complain that Utah Republicans follow their party blindly and someone else will talk about the "D" and the "R" words. (as in "Maybe it is time we vote for a D instead of an R" as if that solves anything relating to issues-based problems or adds anything of substance to an issues-based argument. If you want new blood, vote out the incumbent, and do it based on the person, not the party).
This is getting old. Let's look at the bills instead of the parties.
Early in the Salt Lake mayoral campaign, I saw one of his rallies. When I asked one of his volunteers what his platform was, the only thing she could say was "He is Democrat."
Ummm, okay, that tells me nothing.
It is time to start looking at the issues instead of the party...on both sides. And where are the moderates?
Guaranteed....guaranteed, someone in this post will complain that Utah Republicans follow their party blindly and someone else will talk about the "D" and the "R" words. (as in "Maybe it is time we vote for a D instead of an R" as if that solves anything relating to issues-based problems or adds anything of substance to an issues-based argument. If you want new blood, vote out the incumbent, and do it based on the person, not the party).
This is getting old. Let's look at the bills instead of the parties.
Who's to Blame? | 5:19 a.m. March 31, 2008
I'm willing to bet big bucks that Deseret News readers voted (R) 9 to 1!
Are you proud of yourselves?
Comments continue below
Bob G | 6:43 a.m. March 31, 2008
This kind of government is not good where nothing is debated. Government needs a
continual oversight and constant change. It's time for Utah to give up its
one sided government passing bills favoring one group of lobbyist. The people
have no voice or representation and the lobbyist have the ears and pockets of
all of Utah's representatives. No wonder Utah is such a backward state with
no oposition government. Once an official is elected to office their party
affiliation and campaign fund accounts abolished. These campign fund accounts
are used as hiding places for bribes and fraud from self interest lobbyists. As
long as these accounts remain the property of the office holders they are used
as an payment account for service rendered in supporting legislation and laws
benefiting special interest groups. Voters need to overhaul our government and
leave no incumbents in office, including judges holding position of trust.
Government laws should not be so easily approved without proper argument and
discussion on its merits. This is very unsettling to hear as a citizen and
voter. No wonder the illegals have gotten to our government leaders so easily,
no one to argue the devastion the illegals have caused.
Anonymous | 8:12 a.m. March 31, 2008
The Pew Center on States Government Performance Project for 2008 rated Utah as
the best State for how the State Government manages information, people, money,
and infrastructure. This is a report out of Washington D.C.. If it ain't
broke, don't 'fix' it.
An Issue Dialogue | 8:42 a.m. March 31, 2008
RE: Who's to Blame?
Thanks for proving my point.
Thanks for proving my point.
term limits | 8:41 a.m. March 31, 2008
A few years ago, when the voters got angry enough, the legislature passed a term
limits law, but grandfathered themselves in. Then, just before the grandfather
clause was about to expire, they quietly repealed the law, thinking the ruckus
about term limits was over and nobody would notice.
If you want to fix the government, then establish term limits to get rid of the power-hungry professional politicians.
If you want to fix the government, then establish term limits to get rid of the power-hungry professional politicians.
Uh huh | 8:44 a.m. March 31, 2008
Anonymous at 8:12, part of how those stats were arrived at is that there are no
ethics or conflict of interest laws to be broken in Utah, and the fox guards the
hen house so nothing is ever challenged or investigated.
Legislative Monitor | 8:56 a.m. March 31, 2008
This story is interesting, but does little to inform the public about the damage
done this year by the legislature (I sat in most of the meetings monitoring on
behalf of a local city). Even as a Republican, I was shocked byt he lack of
"quality" bills. For example:
Dan Eastman and SB 46: Took a way a cities right to determine where their garbage goes, and as a result, how much your garbage rate will be. Expect higher rates in the next 12 months. Thanks!
Carleen Walker and SB 71: So Carleen pushes for the school split to benefit the East side, then pushes SB 71 which basically kills off the west side. Then she lets last minute amendments in to her bill which hurt west side schools even more and says "Oh I wasn't aware" (The record shows she was there when it happened to HER bill).
Representative Doug Aagard thinks that cities should allow anyone with a contractors license to become a building inspector - without background checks, drug screens, or protections to protect ctiizens from high rates for inspections.
So, the situation is not just that we passed so many bills, but what have they done?
Dan Eastman and SB 46: Took a way a cities right to determine where their garbage goes, and as a result, how much your garbage rate will be. Expect higher rates in the next 12 months. Thanks!
Carleen Walker and SB 71: So Carleen pushes for the school split to benefit the East side, then pushes SB 71 which basically kills off the west side. Then she lets last minute amendments in to her bill which hurt west side schools even more and says "Oh I wasn't aware" (The record shows she was there when it happened to HER bill).
Representative Doug Aagard thinks that cities should allow anyone with a contractors license to become a building inspector - without background checks, drug screens, or protections to protect ctiizens from high rates for inspections.
So, the situation is not just that we passed so many bills, but what have they done?
FYI | 9:13 a.m. March 31, 2008
Duckworth is a D not an R.
DBG | 9:27 a.m. March 31, 2008
Annonymous @ 8:12-
No, the Pew study only stated that the goverment ran efficiently, that is how they managed money. Not how services were provided or how the legislature did business. Are you aware that the Utah Constitution prohibits the State from accumulating debt? Hence the reason for all the information they need to stay within budget.
@An Issue Dialogue-
"The problem is not that Utah is a one-party State, it is a balance."
Do you realize that the last part of your statement contradicts the first part? Of course it is because of a one-party State. You cannot balance in a one-party entity, no matter what that entity is.
But you are correct though that it is a balance problem and being a one-party State is the problem.
No, the Pew study only stated that the goverment ran efficiently, that is how they managed money. Not how services were provided or how the legislature did business. Are you aware that the Utah Constitution prohibits the State from accumulating debt? Hence the reason for all the information they need to stay within budget.
@An Issue Dialogue-
"The problem is not that Utah is a one-party State, it is a balance."
Do you realize that the last part of your statement contradicts the first part? Of course it is because of a one-party State. You cannot balance in a one-party entity, no matter what that entity is.
But you are correct though that it is a balance problem and being a one-party State is the problem.
DR Don | 11:39 a.m. March 31, 2008
The results of this analysis would be the same no matter which party was in the
majority; the majority party will ensure that they control which bills are
passed (favoring bills offered by party members).
Tumbleweed | 12:34 p.m. March 31, 2008
Is there a problem with our Legislature? Our state, unlike most, runs in the
black (not a racial comment incidentally), are for the most part, the values
that Utahns cherish - freedom of religion, right to bear arms and other
individual liberties preserved, family values, great place to live and work,
many places you can even get by w/o locking your doors, cars etc., economy
strong and growing compared to most places, friendly people for the most part -
except for those who bash conservatives on this and Trib blogs - and our
Legislature has helped to keep it that way. We are blessed.
uh huh | 12:58 p.m. March 31, 2008
So, tumbleweed, are you telling us that conflict of interest and profiteering
are conservative Utah values?
Instereo | 2:07 p.m. March 31, 2008
I thinkn what Tumbleweed is saying is: Freedom of religion, if you are Mormon:
Right to Bear Arms, so you can take them to a University or a Church: Individual
Liberities, unless you are gay: Family Values, unless you have a child out of
wedlock: Stong Economy, if you are already rich: Friendly, unless you are a
member of the teachers union, or a liberal, or think vouchers were wrong. I do
agree that it's a great place to live and work but I believe it's that
way in spite of the legislature instead of because of the legislature. We could
be a better place to live and work and we could open it up for more people to
participate. To say we are blessed is to say "All is Well in Zion." I
don't think all is well.
As for our legislature, it's so lopsided because it's not about doing what's right, it's about power. As for everyone being one party and for they continually being voted in by Utahans, it's about soundbytes vs. critical thinking about the issues and serious self analysis.
As for our legislature, it's so lopsided because it's not about doing what's right, it's about power. As for everyone being one party and for they continually being voted in by Utahans, it's about soundbytes vs. critical thinking about the issues and serious self analysis.
Problem | 2:05 p.m. March 31, 2008
The Gop
Voters' wishes | 2:24 p.m. March 31, 2008
So long as the Democrats (and third parties) fail to put forth platforms and
candidates that can win, we will be RIGHTLY be a GOP majority State. And while
the GOP is far from perfect, it has clearly done a better job of aligning (or at
least marketing) itself with the views of the majority of Utah voters than have
other parties.
In Massachusetts, it is the Democrat party that holds a super majority. In fact, last time I checked, their legislature is more democrat than ours is GOP. I don't ever see the media complaining about that.
And let us remember, the Utah GOP is hardly monolithic. In fact, about half the elected members of the GOP are "moderate" (read "liberal") enough they could just as easily be democrats.
The Democrat party really needs to drop some of the more liberal planks in their platform--hostility to RKBA, special rights for gays, etc--get over their frequent mormon bashing, and they could be quite competitive.
Until then, no surprise that the GOP (with all its factions) continues to dominate.
In Massachusetts, it is the Democrat party that holds a super majority. In fact, last time I checked, their legislature is more democrat than ours is GOP. I don't ever see the media complaining about that.
And let us remember, the Utah GOP is hardly monolithic. In fact, about half the elected members of the GOP are "moderate" (read "liberal") enough they could just as easily be democrats.
The Democrat party really needs to drop some of the more liberal planks in their platform--hostility to RKBA, special rights for gays, etc--get over their frequent mormon bashing, and they could be quite competitive.
Until then, no surprise that the GOP (with all its factions) continues to dominate.
Tumbleweed | 2:43 p.m. March 31, 2008
I think what Instereo is saying is: If you�re unhappy
because you�re poor, gay, have unnatural fear of guns, hate
Mormons, are frustrated because the populace doesn�t
embrace the UEA�s version of socialism, and have had a
child out of wedlock - it�s the
Legislature�s fault.
GeeBee | 3:52 p.m. March 31, 2008
To all those that took me to task for not choosing to participate in
caucuses...the headline says it all.
AC | 7:10 p.m. March 31, 2008
"In major league baseball, a batting average of .300 or above can make a
player an All-Star. Legislative Republicans more than doubled that."
In fruit stands, grapes that are two inches around are very good, while watermelons that are twice that size are a little underwhelming.
The comparisons, in both cases, make absolutely no sense.
In fruit stands, grapes that are two inches around are very good, while watermelons that are twice that size are a little underwhelming.
The comparisons, in both cases, make absolutely no sense.
Anonymous | 9:57 p.m. March 31, 2008
*Insert meaningless comments here that boil down to "those darn
Dems/Republicans! Stay off my lawn!*
The state is majority conservative. Deal with it, try to make informed arguments when you want someone to see your way.
Peersonally, I'm no longer confortable in the atmosphere here, one that I personally consider oppressive, so I'm leaving. Everyone has that right.
Stay and fight, or stop complaining and leave.
Either way, PLEASE respect other peoples ideals and ideas.
The state is majority conservative. Deal with it, try to make informed arguments when you want someone to see your way.
Peersonally, I'm no longer confortable in the atmosphere here, one that I personally consider oppressive, so I'm leaving. Everyone has that right.
Stay and fight, or stop complaining and leave.
Either way, PLEASE respect other peoples ideals and ideas.
QOTU | 9:52 p.m. March 31, 2008
I'm not sure I get it. Why is it a good thing to pass so many bills? It
seems to me that fewer bills that are well thought out and thouroughly debated
are better than many bills quickly passed just to make yourself look busy. Is
having a high "batting average" for getting your bills passed really a
sign of "effectiveness"?
Really? | 10:11 p.m. March 31, 2008
Democrats and Mormon bashing. Have you heard democrats being up Reid's
religion? Has Mitt's religion ever been brought up by republicans?
Anonymous | 11:27 p.m. March 31, 2008
Here's the truth. We need more Democrats.
Chuck | 7:48 a.m. April 1, 2008
Sen. Mark Madsen IS NOT FROM LEHI!!! HE'S FROM EAGLE MOUNTAIN, HOME OF MANY
DUBIOUS ELECTED OFFICIALS, WHERE HE USED TO BE A CITY COUNCILMAN. Quit saying
he is from Lehi. We don't want him!
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I had one bill that had both the insurance industry and the trial lawyer association in favor of it," said Kiser, an insurance agency by profession. "How often does that happen?"
I hope he does not break his arm patting him self on the back , and I HOPE he is not re-elected for comment like this.