Press Release: GOP Legislators Introduce Bill To Avoid Confrontation With GOP Central Committee

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 2, 2018
CONTACT: Katie Matheson | Alliance for a Better Utah

 

GOP LEGISLATORS INTRODUCE BILL TO AVOID CONFRONTATION WITH GOP CENTRAL COMMITTEE

 

Salt Lake City, UT – As has been well publicized, the Utah GOP Central Committee recently passed a bylaw change that puts the party in direct violation of Utah election law and, thus, in direct violation of its status as a Qualified Political Party. Rather than confronting party leadership or allowing the party to face the consequences of its actions, Rep. McKell has introduced H.B. 485, “Election Modifications.” The proposed bill prohibits the Lieutenant Governor from changing the status of a qualified political party to a registered political party before the general election. It also permits any candidate who has otherwise qualified to be on a ballot under state law to be placed on that ballot, even if their party continues to flout election law.

“Actions have consequences,” said Josh Kanter, Better Utah’s board chair. “The GOP Central Committee is in clear violation of the laws that the state’s head election official, the Lt. Governor, is charged with enforcing. The legislature, controlled by that same party, has failed to take either of the two options that would have solved the problem while simultaneously respecting the law: force the GOP to rescind this illegal bylaw, or give the Lt. Governor the tools he needs to enforce the law. Stepping in with a solution that suggests we pretend nothing happened is a tactic for children, not state leaders. Utahns’ trust in our legislature and the majority party will only continue to erode with legislative gamesmanship like this, thus decreasing overall trust in our state government while increasing constituent frustration.”

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Alliance for a Better Utah is a good government advocacy and watchdog organization based in Salt Lake City. The organization works to improve the lives of all Utahns by ensuring balance, transparency, and accountability in Utah politics, policy, and government. More information at www.betterutah.org.

 

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