Open letter to Sen. Valentine, Niederhauser on support for constitutional notes

Salt Lake City–Good government group Alliance for a Better UTAH released an open letter today to Senator John Valentine, co-sponsor of a bill that would remove constitutional notes from pending legislation, and Senate President Wayne Niederhauser.

The letter asks Valentine and Niederhauser to continue their support for constitutional notes by striking a compromise with the bill’s House sponsor, Rep. Ken Ivory, to allow the constitutional notes to survive.

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Dear Senators Niederhauser and Valentine,

We read with approval this morning that you support the legislative review notes, often called constitutional notes, that accompany proposed legislation. We agree with Sen. Valentine’s comment in a Utah Policy article that removing the notes is like “putting [your] head in the sand.”  These notes are extremely important for helping your legislative colleagues make decisions about whether or not a bill should pass.

We understand that legislators may not always agree with the contents of the legislative review notes that their bills receive; however, robust, balanced discussion means allowing both the Constitution and the legislator’s own research to be part of the debate surrounding a bill. We firmly believe that constitutional notes expand the discussion, rather than shutting it down, and we vigorously oppose any legislation that would further eliminate the Constitution as a touchstone in public debate.

Thank you for supporting the constitutional notes. As the session wraps up over the next few days, we hope you’ll continue to support the important role the legislative review notes provide.

Sincerely,

Maryann Martindale
Executive Director, Alliance for a Better UTAH

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Contact:
Maryann Martindale
Executive Director, Alliance for a Better UTAH
801.557.1532 | maryann@betterutah.org

Isaac Holyoak
Communications Director, Alliance for a Better UTAH
801.664.9751 | isaac@betterutah.org

 

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