While lawmakers attempt to create statutes governing our society, the 2002 session proves the Utah State Legislature can’t effectively govern itself. Instead of extending the session to run for the six weeks required by Utah’s Constitution, legislators have two fewer weeks than normal to set the state’s budget and pass its laws.
The shortened session produces tight schedules and long days for legislators. All citizens, including students, suffer from the time crunch. Lawmakers have less time for debate, causing them to meet privately, vote hastily and deprive the public of sensible government. The higher education budget floats helplessly amidst the chaotic swirl of legislative action. Utahns deserve more from their elected officials.
It made sense that legislators adjourned during the Olympic Winter Games. They deserved to enjoy the Olympics as much as other Utahns. More importantly, convening the session during the Olympics would minimize public interest and debate. No one cares about House Speaker Marty Stephens when Apolo Anton Ohno and Sheryl Crow are in town.
Yet ending the session in the first week of March?as ordinarily happens?seems absurd after legislators recessed for 16 days. The whirlwind that usually blows through the capitol in the session’s closing week now feels like a typhoon. Given the state’s budget shortfall, lawmakers face a daunting task in these last hours.
Meanwhile, a larger question looms. Why didn’t legislators alter the calendar for this year’s session? The answer must escape even the sharpest of minds.
Consider the damage as lawmakers squeeze bills into the session’s few remaining days. Politicians strike backroom deals, leaving the public and often other legislators completely in the dark.
Last week, Republicans and Democrats jointly created a priority list for state construction projects. But after a closed-door GOP caucus meeting on Friday, the list changed. Rep. Gerry Adair, R-Roy moved a building project at Weber State University from 20th on the list to fifth. It comes as no surprise that Weber State’s campus resides within Adair’s district. Yet some Democrats, including Rep. Brent Goodfellow, D-West Valley, reacted with shock. The list-doctoring shenanigans occurred without public debate or bipartisan consensus.
Running a legislative session against the clock means cutting more backroom deals. Republican leaders?since they have the majority to ram through the bills they like?make legislation in their closed-door caucus meetings. Time doesn’t allow for adequate discussion of the issues with the session’s end approaching fast.
On Friday, Gov. Mike Leavitt met with Republican leaders in the House and Senate to strike a deal on state expenditures. These meetings, described by The Salt Lake Tribune as “marathon all-Republican negotiations,” produced the budget that legislators will vote on and almost certainly pass. This means that one political party, meeting in private, created the state’s budget.
Such clandestine maneuvering violates the spirit of an openly democratic society. Popularly elected legislators exist to represent their constituency. Cutting secret deals in the shadows of the state Capitol, far removed from the light of public scrutiny, scandalizes democracy.
Technically, the legislative process still occurs openly. The reading of votes and the recording of bills continues. But when Republican leaders simply present the state’s entire budget for inevitable coronation, democracy suffers a blow and citizens lose.
Cutting the legislative session from six weeks to four exacerbates these problems. Limiting debate time by one third leaves little room for discussion of the issues. This becomes more important in a budget deficit year. Republican leaders determined in private how to compensate for Utah’s $250 million fiscal deficit. Citizens and opposing Democrats won’t receive an opportunity to debate and present counter initiatives.
This year’s backroom deals certainly don’t set a groundbreaking precedent. Every legislative session comes with its share of intrigue and secret bargaining. But the time constraints of 2002 make this season worse than others. Given the limited funds available in this recession year, a wise allocation of funds becomes all the more critical. Hasty or even completely absent debate makes a joke of democracy, a circus of the Legislature and clowns of our representatives.
Before you laugh too hard at this spectacle, realize how the budget affects students. Last week the Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee voted to slash an additional $11.8 million from Utah’s colleges and universities. Such budget cutting leads to increased tuition.
With a budget deficit, all Utahns must sacrifice, including students. But when politicians make major decisions behind closed doors, they afford citizens little opportunity to affect the process.
Perhaps more disturbing than budget cuts are thoughts of entering an unstable job market. The budget affects job prospects as public spending reductions inevitably limit the amount of capital available in the economy. This means people spend less, making it harder for businesses to hire new employees.
Your chances of getting a job depend greatly on the state’s economic health. Creating budgets without public debate prevents students and other citizens from helping to decide their own future.
Utah’s Constitution says only that the annual session must commence on the third Monday in January and last 45 days. Considering the Legislature was not in session for 16 of those days, lawmakers could and should have taken the necessary steps to ensure six weeks of actual debate and legislation. Instead, Utahns must live with the consequences of poor planning in the shadow of our recent Olympic glory.
James welcomes feedback at [email protected] or send letters to the editor to: [email protected].