Show fA Tuesday January 22 2002 A4 The Herald Journal M(AllW( Regional view Republicans should rethink commission 1 From The Salt Lake Tribune: its quest to ensure complete control members of the Utah Repub-lican Party are forgoing an opportu- nity to provide lasting benefits to the state and promote representative government The Constitutional Revision Commission rejected a resolution by Rep Karen Morgan Heights to reform Utah's redistricting process Her plan would create an independent committee to handle redistricting which would stand a better chance of alleviating political maneuvering that can create nonsensical boundaries and dilute the voting power Of citizens in the name of pro- tecting majority party incumbents The committee would focus on vot- ere not politicians by basing its rcdistricling recommendations oh population communities of interest and contiguous areals regardless of who is in office and their party affili- - : ntion The commission gave short shrift to the resolution for practical rea-sons: the fervor surrounding dies down during the intervening years between census counts The commission can weather the storm then return to business as usual Discussing the committee idea is also not in the best interests of the Republicans at least theoretically An independent committee would take away the power of the dominant prty to manipulate elections by 1 drawing friendly voting district boundaries The end result might be that the Utah Legislature would not be so completely dominated by Republicans but could actually reflect the demographics of the state As a side benefit politicians with more diverse constituencies would have to fight to keep their seats To win that fight the politician would have to pay attention to the concerns of all constituents giving those who have repeatedly been disenfranchised a real voice: Politicians concerned with might also end high-j- y questionable practices like lunching daily with particular lobbyists or readily accepting gifts from interest groups ' In reality with its stranglehold on Utah the Republican Party has little to fear from an independent committee structure for redistricting It might even garner some good public relations by supporting a measure designed to protect voters from partisanship run amok If members of the Legislature are truly interested in representing the the independent commission Sblic be given serious consideration and presented to the public for a vote Public outrage about the redistricting process might wane but legislators are still expected to do what is right for the state as a whole T : state would benefit over the long teini from a sane impartial redistrict- ing process that emphasizes voters oyer partisan politics § Fox j (U somni covoO thousands — of dollars will have ing on the case Theoretically anythe would case thing unrelated to ground you down In the end the not then be admissible in court' question remains as to whether the Whole otherwise is deposiReality judgment will even be collectible Will the damage done to you that introduced trial tions be at and can ASHiNGTbN — Justice then made the are was the cause of your suit in the first of public part in America is becoming a joke for record: place have been so irreparable that the average person or small com- ' FUrther the discovery process is you lost even if you won? ' : so and laborious And what if you lose? What that it is not unreasonable to about that attorney who all but now the receive a billing from your attorney promised you that you couldn’t realm of for $10000 to $20000 And that is lose? Of course such statements the are rarely overt They tend to be A just for the first round of deposiwealthy tions be held a more subtle included in discussions to that may prior typical about the weaknesses in your civil case hearing in court on preliminary as they say in with begins HOUSE-UTAII Here is a list of addresses and US “The round cases rA'Second can —the prior attorney does--t F'aimmaf l James V Hansen Republican phone numbers for some of Cache more So trial even advance beforethe bf t(1rit : g9(ojailV 'Valley' representatives in govern- - ‘’Represents 1st Congressional Dis-- f even begins legal fees rudy The fact is that our civil justice $5000 to ‘ V Itrict which includes Cache County! ment: $10000 in ah upfront retainer for system is broken It does not work I office: 2466 Rayburn f 'Washington The an files cannot work in its present form then It attorney attorney IAKiAN-MAYOBuilding US House of Representathe complaint or an answer either which devours time and money in a tives Washington DC 20515 (202) Doug Thompson 1567 Lynnwood after which anothr a to ratio well complaint beyond the value of many 3 Utah officer 1017 Ffederal Ave! Logan 9 so is billed to you — or er $3000 cases' Building 324 25th St Ogden UT the retainer being held in reserve The solution can be foundln a 2 84401 (801) L or COUNCIL the attorney overhaul First small massive by Thomas Kerr 35 N 1400 East Then come the claims where individuals courts UAHOUSE-IDAHLogan 84321 where you and your depositions should themselves represent Mike Simpson Republican — Alan Allred 1535 E 1500 North associates are interrogated for the increase maximum amount of a " V Dis2nd 4 Congressional Represents Logan 84341 hours This is part of the Sec-case to or $50000 $100000 : trict which includes Franklin Coun200 37 S West Steve Thompson other part is discovery processThe be should limited to ood discovery 9 ty 1449 Longworth House Office Logan 84321 called “production of documents” individuals Third matters germane Karen Borg 1670 N 1600 East v Building Washington DC 29515 in which attorneys demand to see : and Corporations should be allowed Idaho office: 304 N 1 3 (202) Logan 84341 documents and records The prob- even encouraged to represent 8th Room 325 Boise ID 83702 South PI Tami Pyfer lem with discovery is that it is themselves 911 activity that most : (208)334-195- 3 84321 753r7529 : allowed to be The frown upon Fourth exorbijudges idea is let attorneys cast a wide net tant fees should be reduced by legal SENATE-UTAUTAH SENATE UA asking questions and Hooking at an issue that legislatures ' judges : the senator Utah at Tocall Sen Robert Bennett Republican your documents that may have no bear could actually codify Senate: (801) 5 — US Senate Washington DC To write your senator at the Sen- Utah office: 4 20510 (202) ate: The Honorable John Doe Utah 4225 Federal Building 125 S State Si Salt Lake City UT 84138 (801) State Senator Room 319 State Capitol Salt Lake City UT 84114 y 3 authorized to regulate the holding of to oppose HR 23561 Sen Orrin Hatch Republican ' elections and NOT to regulate elec: ? ' Senate District 24 (Box Elder US Senate Washington DC ' : tion Altman Sasha I Bill die of Article campaigns Utah office: Cache counties) — Peter C Knud-so- n 20510 (202) shall reads: of Logan Congress Rights 8402 Federal Building 125 S State Gty 1209 Michelle To the editor make no law respecting an estab-84302 UT Drive 84138 UT Lake Salt The rights and privileges granted (801) St Brigham Gty Gty lishment of religion or prohibiting This column and Home phone 0 us under the Constitution are under or exercise thereof the free ' other personal abridgx Senate District 25 (Cache Rich attack in the or rekimra freedom the of of sjpeech ing Hill-— W ) U&SENATE-1DA1ISummit counties) : theZtprodUCt Lyle Specifically their is a bill before ' ' the of the or right people press North 175 100 E 520 7 the house that will limit our rights to yard Larry Oraig Republican— free speech during election time Bill ' peaceably to assemble and to petiHart Senate Office Building Wash- Logan UT 84321 Home phone the for redress a Government of express oplntion 0 3 business Cam-- H R 2356 the tons that do not ington DC 20510 (202) 224- Our representatives 2752 Idaho office: 801 E Sherman ' paign Reform Act of 2001 is expect- - grievances align exactly with voted office by us to repwere ink) 'A:?-IDAHO ' 83201 ':7 ed to come to a vote soon Room 193 Pocatello ID your own If youefis-aorresent us To call your Idaho senator at the This bill will regulate political ' DtoaM iBSOond with a latter to (208)236-681- 7 - Our congressmen take ah bath to the editor or contact editor Charles citizens Michael Crapo Republican —111 Senate or your representative at the yet speech by ordinary McCollum about a possible guest comand ask House: call allow the major media to “report” ' uphold the Constitution Why -Russell Senate Office Building know we them Ext 320 we let don’t for the person by name mentary (Phone: expect political news with any bias they Washington DC 20510 (202) O cmccoilum See oath! now Call them their honor Honorhinewscom) to is unconstitutional! The choose This senator To write bill 801 Sherman E Idaho office: your information box at bottom of page for' ' freebur ask it our Because limits (Con5 able John Doe Idaho Senate State- juid congressman (1) Pocatello ID 83201 (208) Why? ' more details dom of speech and (2) Congress is house Boise ID 83720 v : gressman Hansen: redis-tricti- ng By Jack Anderson and Douglas Cohn United Featurea Syndicate ' ’ w Bfcw : time-consumi- ng : Lawmakers ut oppo-’saseB- trf -- : R ! 225-045- 753-689- ' - 625-56- LOGAN-MUNICIPA- 393-836- 77 c 752-31- w 52 ever-annoyi- ng O : 753-822- : so-call-ed 753-601- : 225-553- 753-696- 52-13- 70 wide-rangi- ng H - 538-103- - -- 224-544- Your view : 524-593- 224-52- Put a stop to HR 2356 51 - - 723-20- 524-438- 35 - O v an -- ' 753-004- 752-261- Shays-Meeh- ' an : : M ? ‘ 224-61- 752-212-1 ! 42 " r 236-677- -- Mallard Fillncro 'X ' The - BL Herald Journal TharVilnlnnnualalntMiiliHnanniialrl r rp vnei IhaHarald Journal wakxxnaaMtam to tht' adtor FotanSaRy Kialouaoroffonaivalettara wNnotbapuhKihadhowaverandttiaadHor raaaivM tha light to adR al Mam to contonm tothalangthanditytaraquiranianlaottha r isadsis with a varisly ol viawpoMs on inaUBri of puMc importaoM and pravidi mamban ot tha community with atotunlorSiairviawt Paraonal cotumna cartoona and Mtais Korn ' IVTV0CI D9 OpoOVlt 0T UWf VMWfB W1Q Edloriataundarthahaadng'Our did ILr UamTu Ia repmOTwwvwws or vwnera journal M board IIMwndftiiiioriilboinfc 1 - DARRELL EHRUCtddty adtor CtNOYYURTHfaaturaaadhor BRUCE 8MITHpublahar CHARLES McCOlUUVinanaging adtor amcksitms art non Gfelji to Segathend out oft multitude of tongues tfian tfcvugfi any find of autforttattoe sdection if'-"- - y ' t-- - i t V - ’ Lattaraahouldbo: lypawrittanapidoubleepaoad No mora Sian 460 woida in length ' wAddreaaad and include daytknaphona number for purpoaaa ol verification Signed by the airihor ' IndlvidualaamlmSadtooriapubSihedletlar within any 3tMay period AddmeeE-ma- l lattarato hpottBfdhnawicom fV mat ""hv mantariNaraalwwaioomaandamnjnM Via odRor's diBcratton — Judgt Ltaneitfani JbieriM Jurist r ' ' (1S72-196- 1) i ' ‘ |