Reader comments
Same-state sponsors are best for bills
7 comments | Read story
Get today's headlines via email
Afternoon edition
Deseret News Family Deals
In Opinion
Across Site
- Frank Pignanelli & LaVarr Webb: The...
- Readers' forum: A changing Constitution
- Michael Gerson: Egypt's craziness is...
- George F. Will: Is it bribery or just...
- Mackenzie Eaglen: Obama's proposed...
- My view: The climate is right to tear...
- Readers' forum: Incorporate Millcreek
- Charles Krauthammer: The Gospel...
- Readers' forum: Teachers came first
- In our opinion: Editorial: Protecting...
In Opinion
Across Site
- In our opinion: Editorial: Protecting...
- Frank Pignanelli & LaVarr Webb: The...
- Charles Krauthammer: The Gospel...
- Evangelicals and Mormons: Can we talk?
- Readers' forum: A changing Constitution
- My view: The climate is right to tear...
- George F. Will: Is it bribery or just...
- Mackenzie Eaglen: Obama's proposed...
- Readers' forum: Teachers came first
- Readers' forum: Rights of conscience
In Opinion
Across Site
- Evangelicals and Mormons: Can we talk?
53 - Letters: Bush's failed policies
52 - Letters: A changing Constitution
32 - Letters: Teachers not overpaid
30 - Letters: Home equity loans
28 - Letters: Rights of conscience
25 - Editorial: Rights of conscience
24 - GOP no longer leads on defense
24 - Letter: Taxing our children
21 - Letter: Require drug tests
19







Had the road been in an appropriate location in the first place, no lawsuit would've been raised. Had lawmakers been willing to compromise with those "evil environmentalists" the lawsuit would not have dragged on so long and Utah taxpayers would've saved a ton of money. One of the first things Huntsman did when elected governor was to compromise and get construction on the highway going again.
It's sad that some people hate the environment and its support groups so much that they refuse to ever have a civil discussion with them. Fortunately, Huntsman was willing to do the intelligent thing, compromise, stop the lawsuit, and save taxpayers loads of money.
That aside, another restriction in Washington DC may not be the proper answer. Washington DC, Congress, is already one of the most restricted (read: dominated by 'good old boy' rules) environments you can come up.
Right now, rules with great arguments like this, make it almost impossible for anyone but committee chairs to run legislation. Anything of meaning to Americans like tax reform, immigration reform, etc functionally require a committee chair to do it, or nothing. Seniority was an argument like this one and it is ruining America.
Let our legislators go free! Remove all of these good old boy rules and laws and let the chips fly where they may. If some knucklehead out of New York runs the bill, fine. Then allow open debate with all votes recorded. Allow for the very rules that all 50 states use, much more freedom friendly then the crud and control that Congress has in place.
Congress is owned and controlled by about 20 Congresmmen, who are in-turn owned by special interest.
Not another control law Jim, PLEASE!
Some people can't think further than the end of their nose. And Jim Hansen is the ULTIMATE in good old boy! Nice guy but holy cow...more to life than seniority.
And you people buy it! Amazing!
America's Redrock Wilderness Act was introduced by Wayne Owens, D, UT., not Maurice Hinchey. Hinchey carried the bill after Owens left the house - NOT because environmentalists "shopped" Congress, but because of the close friendship shared by Maurice and Wayne stemming from matters of Middle East peace.
Your memory fails on the battles over wilderness in the mid-nineties as well - your bill proposed 1.8 million acres of BLM wilderness, not 4.2. Babbitt found 5.8 million acres, not 5.7, and that effort was a direct result of you challenging him to do so. Instead of admitting your bill was not based on broad public support, good science and actual on the ground conditions, you accuse Babbitt's inventory of being "poorly done." That's just not true, Jim.
Finally, Utah's public lands are owned equally by all Americans that's why Utah Wilderness is a national Issue, and will continue to be.