"he are dedicated to the public interest, to fairness Pulitzer mission statement EDITOR: DONALD W. MFYFRS THURSDAY, to flv oii'S Gnaw W. Meyers There's one less excuse for balking ion lobbyist reform Now that state legislators are getting a nice pay raise, isn't, it time that they now put meaningful limits on what lobbyists can give them? The Legislative Compensation Commission approved a pay raise for legislators, bringing their pay up to $120 a day, starting in 2001. For the annual session, that adds up to $5,400. Add to that interim session days and the annual road trip where lawmakers study important subjects such as which lobbyist puts out the best spread or the effects of AW riding on politicians' rumps. Leaders will get a $2,500 bonus, instead of the $1,000 bonus they used to get. This doesn't count the $76 housing allowance lawmakers get, whether they stay at a hotel or commute during sessions and interim meeting days. So, let's tighten up the lobbyist rules, making it difficult for them to give expensive gifts to lawmakers in an attempt to buy influence on Capitol Hill, as well as reporting who they gave anything, even if it's an ice cream cone from the Roundhouse cafeteria behind the capitol. 45-da- y EXISTING LAWS allow lobbyists to give lawmakers up to $50 in gifts a day, without having to report who got what. The exception is the "intangible" gift, such as Utah Jazz tickets and expensive dinners, which have become the coin of the realm at the Legislature. has Rep. Jordan Tanner, tried for years to tighten these rules, citing polls that show most Utahns believe lawmakers would legislate their grandmothers into white slavery 'if a lobbyist gave them enough trin- The rapprochement between President Clinton and Chinese President Jiang Zemin last week was remarkable even by the volatile standards of U.S. relations with the People's Republic of China. Only last spring, relations had plunged to the lowest point in years after a congressional report charged that Chinese spies had stolen American nuclear secrets and the U.S. accidentally bombed the Chinese embassy in Belgrade. Then, going from one extreme to the other, Clinton and Jiang swiftly buried the hatchet during a reunion in New Zealand that was all smiles, handshakes and enthusiasm for restoring normal relations. That's a welcome development it's always better to be on speaking and negotiating terms with another country (especially one as big as China) than to be estranged. What's troubling, however, is the swooning nature of U.S. diplomacy with China's rulers, heirs to one of the century's bloodiest dictatorships. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 1 ANOTHER VIEW j A had trouble keeping that straight in their heads. All too often the Clinton administration is but the latest they have been unduly eager to sacrifice principles and grant concessions to woo the Chinese leaders as "strategic partners." Let us be clear: A policy of "engagement" with China is both necessary and unavoidable. China is too big and important to isolate, and ultimately, commercially, engaging with China serves to culturally, diplomatically foster freedom and human rights for its people and undermine Communist totalitarianism. However, Beijing's record of espi- - t ih Taiwan even slapping sanctions Chinese companies that, for example, export sensitive arms technology. c j In short, the United States should conduct itself less like a fawning syit-o- r and more like a party to a business relationship, protecting its principle and its legitimate interests. Uncle Sam always locks better on his feet" than on his knees. , This editorial recently appeared in the Ocl Chicago Tribune. 00 Atiitt" ,( Buses won't solve traffic jam problem r less solicitous of China's sensitivities and more frank in condemning its human rights abuses or its threats, the movement should be ample evidence that the U.S. needs to move cautiously. Engagement, yes. But not engagement at any price. I GO OH "ML oh onage and its recent crackdown on A NEW study conducted by the think tank Rand and sponsored by the U.S. Air Force wisely argues for a policy of modified engagement that would seek to promote behavior by the Chinese that is compatible with Western norms in trade, military conduct, arms control and peace efforts such as with North Korea. In the interim, America should be J Oddddsi Lct us be clear: A policy of "engagement" with China is both necessary and unavoidable. China is too big and important to isolate, and ultimately, commercially, culturally, engaging with China serves to foster freedom and diplomatically human rights for its people and undermine Communist totalitarianism. ties shouldn't be a lovefest or a marriage. It's a business relationship. Occasional confrontations are inevitable, given tensions between the world's strongest democracy and its largest Communist state. But for more than two decades, American diplomats seem to have U.S.-CHIN- SEPTEMBER 23, mii via 'We need to get more people to take the bus," I've heard people say, when the subject of traffic comes up. Would that really help, though? I don't see too many people actually riding the bus in Springville or Provo. Utah's roads are jammed, but what's really going on? First of all, time delay means the time that is lost as drivers all get on the road at once, causing slow, . bumper-to-bump- kets. Each time, though, the legislation is jnired down by legislative leaders who ' claim there is no problem, and that it . is the evil media that perpetuates the gift myth. lobbyist ' If that's so, explain why it is so hard in a predominately LDS state to increase the cigarette tax. I'm sure it has nothing to do with the tobacco industry's lobbyists. IN 1996, Senate IVesident R. Une Beattie tried to loosen the lobbyist rules. When asked about that, he indignantly pointed out how many jimes he's had to take phone calls from constituents and deal with issues on his own time, without compensation. Well, Lane, if that is such a hardship, there's a simple solution: Step ;lown and let someone who can afford ' t& deal with the public without having . AG THE DAILY HERALD 4 MY TWO CENTS Donald i OPINIONS and accuracy, to innovation and growth, and to the restless pursuit of excellence." - to get gifts from influence peddlers do the job. With the money that will come in starting 2001, isn't it time lawmakers bought their own dinners and basketball tickets, and not consider lobbyist gifts a perquisite of their positions and compensation for the work they do for constituents? If they would do that, it would show the taxpayers, who will pay for these higher salaries, who the Legislature really works for. ' Opinions Page Editor Donald W. Meyers column appears Tuesdays and Thursdays. He can be reached at 344 2544, or via at traffic. This is commonly known as rush hour. Rush hour is caused by everybody going to or coming from work at once. It has been suggested, for example, that employers need to alternate employee schedules one hour ahead or behind in order to reduce automobile densities on the road. Secondly, automobile numbers are now exceeding the capacities our roads were originally designed for. When roads are crowded with cars, it is said to be the "volume" that is too large. But, why can't transit systems just take the place of automobiles, then? Because flexibility with time is lost: People don't want their schedules to be restricted for the one-hou- r bus or light rail trip. The question for the future, then, should be how much more traffic can our roads handle before reconstruction is necessary? Byron Evans, Springville Evolution isn't scientific Comments on Donald Raul's "My Turn" column Sept. 10 regarding Darwin's theory of evolution: Contrary to his question "By now, a hundred years later, we should have pretty much settled the issue, don't you think?" it is quite unsettled and more evidence accumulates year by year to counter the "evidence" for evolution and show that it is simply the "religion" of the atheists and humanists and not "scientific." His statement that creationist's "attacks on Darwin's theory can even sound plausible, if you don't listen too closely" denies the fact that many careful scientists are in the attacks on Darwin's theory. His objections to supposed defects in the design of the human body do not consider the fact that most such "defects" can be attributed to man's disobedience to the laws of health. Those who follow the laws of health have proven to have backs that function well over a century. What machine can match that? If we credit the Bible, early man had backs that held out for almost a millennium. man-mad- e God was not a "bumbler." Man often is. The theory of evolution is an excellent example of that. Francis E. Lawlor Provo reported anywhere in the media of a concealed carry permit holder causing or compounding the tragedy? . Consider that the Columbine killers roamed the school for hours and the Texas killer had time to stott talk with his victims, reload, and shoot again. Has anyone ever thought j ; J Gun bans won't stop killing The gun killing insanity continues in Texas. Now, this year, it has happened in both a school and a church. In response, our governor, our State Board of Education, the State PTA, and others demand that concealed carry permit holders be prohibited from bringing their guns into churches and schools. But, has anybody noticed there were no armed permit holders at Columbine. There were no permit holders in the Texas Baptist church, none in the LDS genealogical library, none at KSL. Has it occurred to anyone that armed permit holders are not the problem? In all the shootings, in all the insanity, has there ever been even one incident that an armed permit holder might-'- well have changed the outcome of some of these terrible incidents? ' I am not a concealed carry permit holder. And, I am less concerned 'j J( about "gun rights" than I am that policy makers are not dealing with theJ real issues of public safety. Pass all' the gun prohibitions you like. But, does anybody really believe that any of the proposed bans would have i& any way prevented the Columbine1 Fort Worth, or Salt Lake tragedies?;'!f so, please explain it to me. Jim Fefnn Ore'm THE DAILY HERALD LETTERS POUCY The Daily Herald welcomes your letters to the editor. Please remember to include your full name, address and phone number where you can be reached. Only your name and the city in which you live will be published. All other information will be kept confidential. Anonymous letters will be discarded. Letters that are typed, double spaced and contain 250 or fewer words are more likely to be published. Your letter will be better read if it concerns one central theme or idea. All letters will be edited for length, accuracy and clarity. Letters may also be faxed or e- - P mailed. The fax number is The address is: ldeanherjQ aldextra.com. If you have questions, call Opinions Page Editor Donald W. & or Editor Mike Meyers at Patrick at w The Herald encourages community discussion of issues in a responsible manner. Please send your letters to: Editor, The Daily Herald 373-54$- P.O. Box 717 1555 N. Freedom Blvd. Provo, UT. 84603 344-254- 4 344-254- 1. dmeyerheraldextrxi.com By Garry Trudeau Doonesbury y' rssSF S'VS Hi I uks'pisOWT R66T' WWK& 7r roam J BUT IN A THE FACT IS 6GORGC BUSH CMUZP ONcepntsicepovsRSAy- - 0fwmtoTHume j AU6tANCS I TO A FRA- ryi&Nua&i ' - I J A&INnvmCNmTBSTHAT NCUJU&aeA73NGiSANP7H f SSARINS OFHUMANrXBsH! Mallard Fillmore By Bruce Tinsly PI (fV7Xi&N7Tnt lUAS HAlt THATAii- - PARTOf If I IN ml 1060 V K. ft (1 it. . HAS fuF j AJ2X?-fUd- T ... V WW feck 3 tB T I ' y- .