Comments about ‘Social media thwarted Utah lawmakers' plans’

Now if they will only continue to pursue this and have the bill go away AND vote out these legislators. The public does have the right to know. We are paying for the text messages and phone bills. My goodness. Did they really think they could get away with it?

"Did they really think they could get away with it?"

Sadly, yes, because their experience with an apathetic, straight-ticket-voting public gives them a reason to be smug and devious.

Dear fellow Utahns, these guys are in the process of stealing your government and making it impossible for you to ever get it back.

For Pete's sake, stop voting for someone because they're an "R" and stop voting against someone because they're a "D."

That way lies ruin.

--This bill is more than about text messages and emails. Data which is used to come up with a fiscal cost to a bill will also be kept private. Legislators do get involved in which data gets used, though it's not their business. E.g, the school voucher bill. A legislator wanted 100% of eligible students going to private schools as the figure to determine savings if the bill passed. Until a bill is implemented there is no real knowledge about the actual costs. He was favorable to the bill so he had 100% as the figure used.

--Absolutely when legislative leaders don't want something passed they will also get involved in 'playing' the data game. We will never know what data was used if the bill fails. Only if it passes. There is NO reason to include this in a bill. Our legislature is becoming like the Politburo of the USSR. Their facts, their truth and we don't have a right to know.

Let's remember this and surprise them again come next election.

--Data used to arrive at fiscal costs associated with a bill will also be off limits. Legislators get involved in determining the benefit or costs of bills they want or don't want. Though it's not their business. E.g., The benefit of the school voucher law found a legislator playing the numbers. He wanted 100% as the figure used. If 100% of eligible students go to private schools how much will it save the state? So, this massive 'benefit' cost was assigned to the bill. We will not be allowed to know the data used if a bill fails.

If legislators don't want something to pass you've just got to know these legislative leaders will also play the 'numbers' game, working the data to reduce the benefit of the bill or exaggerate the costs of implementation. --- There is no reason this should be added to this piece of legislation --- That is way to much power!

Our legislature is wanting to control information and data for their liking. Does a constitutional republic resemble the Politburo? That must be what they mean by that.

My complaint is when they have passed a bill that prohibits school districts from using tax dollars to lobby the legislature and yet they pass a bill that allows them to use tax dollars to pay for their cell phones/text messages and we don't ultimately get to see what they are discussing. The legislature could have complete text discussions away from the public view and decide issues without ONE note of public discussion. And.....we get to pay for it, one way or the other.

They tried to pass a bill that would limit access to their records.

They *did* pass a bill that made it harder to get inititatives on the ballot.

They passed an inane, insane, and unconstitutional bill that would grant amnesty to illegal immigrants.

This will go down as one of the worst legislative sessions in Utah history. The men on the Hill, Dems and Republicans, are crooks.

If you are afraid of transparancy...

you have something to hide.

Sadly, currently, the world is experiencing one monumental disaster after another.
One suspects Utah Legislators will hope we citizens continue to be distracted. Should "Utah's Elite" take this disturbing route, the worst is yet to come........