Give them an incentive to do good
Paul Rolly has similar feelings to mine about this legislative session -- seems to be a power grab for the legislative branch in this state. He also points out what I've been saying -- there's no incentive for our legislature to work for the public good:
"For one thing, it doesn't matter if Mansell's bills and activities in the Senate create a public outcry. There is no consequence. Mansell will be re-elected for as long as he wants. He is a Republican in a district that will always elect Republicans and he has developed powerful connections in the Sandy Republican Club, which rules politics in the southeast sector of Salt Lake County, and in Sandy City Hall.
Mansell, it is said, will not run for re-election this year. But it is also said that he, like Caesar, already has his hand-picked successor, and, with his blessing, that person will win.
A cursory look at the Legislature this year and the issues that it has put on the agenda indicates that lawmakers can arrogantly do whatever they want, as long as they are Republicans and move in the right (or far right) Republican circles."
Mansell's bill, SB170 would have been bad for both those on the left and the right. I've made no secret of my strong beliefs in progressive politics, but if there was a Democrat or Green that was trying to push through bills that are this bad for Utah, I'd likely vote for a Republican to either help to get them out, or else let them know that they could not count on being elected year after year if they didn't shape up. I wish we could count on our Republican counterparts to do the same thing.
"For one thing, it doesn't matter if Mansell's bills and activities in the Senate create a public outcry. There is no consequence. Mansell will be re-elected for as long as he wants. He is a Republican in a district that will always elect Republicans and he has developed powerful connections in the Sandy Republican Club, which rules politics in the southeast sector of Salt Lake County, and in Sandy City Hall.
Mansell, it is said, will not run for re-election this year. But it is also said that he, like Caesar, already has his hand-picked successor, and, with his blessing, that person will win.
A cursory look at the Legislature this year and the issues that it has put on the agenda indicates that lawmakers can arrogantly do whatever they want, as long as they are Republicans and move in the right (or far right) Republican circles."
Mansell's bill, SB170 would have been bad for both those on the left and the right. I've made no secret of my strong beliefs in progressive politics, but if there was a Democrat or Green that was trying to push through bills that are this bad for Utah, I'd likely vote for a Republican to either help to get them out, or else let them know that they could not count on being elected year after year if they didn't shape up. I wish we could count on our Republican counterparts to do the same thing.