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Show February UTAH FARM BUREAU Page4 You and Your Legislature To start with there are several Ideas that have acceptance In the public that may need airing. For example, how does the legislature solve the prohlem that Its presented with In regard to number of bills and time to consider them. There are many who say society would be better off It the Congress and the Legislature only met for a rather limited time. The feeling seems to be that the longer the session lasts the more foolish bills that get presented and the better the chances for passage of such. On the other hand It has been expressed that more time should be available to give proper consideration to the few good bills that ought" to be presented. Now It is easy to tell which bills are good and should be presented and passed. Simply determine whether you are for the bill or against It. We humans are funny In these kinds of things. Now multiply this Idea by the million Utahns and it becomes readily apparent why so many bills are presented in such a short time and no matter how the legislature was cut or extended In time the relationship would be the same. Of course consideration should be given the fact that only a small percentage of the populous get involved even in the smallest way. For example how many citizens even contribute one dollar to a political party. Nothing could be easier than this but a report as to who pays and how much would be very revealing. Everyone has heard the argument that Eastern Money comes in and supports our candidates and thus Utahns should not support them with their vote - True as this may be and as significant as the financial support is when the decision to vote in congress comes along, few citizens take steps to change. Congressmen vote the will of those people, groups and Interests that help to elect them. It Is fortunate Indeed for a citizen who finds the congressman happens to support an Issue the citizen also agrees with. Now there are limits to the amount of influence "outside" money can have on the people in controlling the votes. The net result is therefore that the interests put up the candidates and a choice is made between them at the polls, more effective representation would exist were the local citizens to take such an active Interest as to raise their own money, organize their own campaign, nominate their own candidates and be more assured that the Interests of local and state citizens will be . .1971 How It W)rks! House of Representatives chamber, Capitol Building Hyrum Lee, Beaver Is chairman of House Agriculture Committee. The calendar could be considered the agenda of the body. The work progresses according to what is on the calendar. At this point the bill is read in full and the report of the committee. By a vote of the body it then passes to the 3rd reading calendar. In the House second reading Is to put bill on the calender, debate will take place on third reading. In Senate most debate takes place on second reading. The Bill has to be on third reading In the senate one day before final debate or vote to pass or kill. After consideration here it requires a voice vote of the members to pass. Upon approval It is sent to the other body of the legislature and will there follow a very similar procedure. Upon apIn bodies the measure both proval is then sent to the Governor for his signature, veto or to set for a legaltime to pass where in It would become law without his signature ten days after session closes. When the governor rejects a bill by veto It could then be reconsidered by the legislature Perhaps enough has been said about this subject but by way of summary the public interest will best be protected If every citizen would take a more active part-the- re is something everyone can do. If this were the case the phrase that politics are "dirty" would soon be eliminated. The next step after election time when the legislature convenes is the matter of what bills will be considered and who will present them, Obviously, only and by a 23 vote could become members of the Legislature - a law without approval of the govSenator or a member of the House ernor. A bill becomes law sixty of Representatives. Now it has days after session unless a date is been said that that bill is a labor specified or an emergency rebill or that bill Is the auto dealers quires immediate implementation or the farmers or some other in which case a 23 affirmative vote ' party. This oftimes is merely a Is required. way of Identifying where the InDr. Daniel Dennis, veternarian, member of House Agriculture comterest In a bill developed. For (contd on page 5J Roosevelt is often the spokesman for Ag proposals. example: Suppose a truck owner mittee, wanted to use his truck hauling produce, equipment or what ever, for whom ever he could Interest in his services. The man has paid for a license to register his truck for the weight he desired to haul. Upon receipt of the bill the comHe goes into business and he Is mittee holds hearings. This Is a soon stopped by the law enforcevery significant time In the life of ment officers and told that even the bill. Here it is that lobby he has a license other though groups present information in truck owners have been permitted favor and against the measure. It tne right to haul the kind of is at this time that considerable goods he Is hauling from the place research on the matter Is exposed where he Is picking up and to the .for the and consideration viewing places where he Is delivering, and of the committee members. The that others have the "right" to committee has to sift and resift, pick up in other places and that evaluate, ponder and criticize in until such a permit is obtained order to get all of the significant by him he will have to disconanswered. Is It true, Is it questions tinue business even though his cost will it serve the best inright, to the customer is much less exterests of society, will it injure at pensive and every bit as good. the expense of others gain? These Upon Investigation it is found are important questions and they that many other truck owners are not easy ones to answer. Howwould like to do the same but deends and to meet discussion termination has been made that ever, the time requirement to report there is no "need for more the bill a decision Is made. It is Such then trucks in the business. "reported out" to be placed a problem Senator Merrill Jenkins, Ogden, and LeGrand Jarman, UFB discuss is then brought to on the calendar of the Senate or the legislature collectively with House which ever the case legislation. Senator Jenkins was formerly Weber County Farm Burmay be a spokesman and soon various eau secretary and assisted in organization of Farm Bureau Insurance into which legislator according legislators feel there is a legittroduced the measure. The bill imate problem that has been can be reported "favorably", that created by previous law and a fair is the committee felt to recommend solution would mean passing anew .. passage of the measure or "unlaw. favorable", meaning they did not s-j find enough support for a favorable report but not enough fault to At this point a legislator who "table" the bill which for most infavors the proposal would actent and purposes means the bill t cept the challenge and write a will not move any further toward bill or have one written that would passage, unless something drastic s ' solve the problem. The bill then "untables" it for passage to a body would be presented to the Rules of the A committee I legislature. Committee of the legislature for can also report a bill without a j Tmt acceptance as being in the legal recommendation. The bill apparform necessary for consideration, ently seems significant but for a checking the grammar, construcof reason the committee variety tion, etc. The bill is then asrefrained from giving support or comsigned to a to the bill. An unfavorrejection mittee that considers matters In the able committee in the subject matter related to House kills the billreport whereas it this problem. Other committees doesn't In the Senate. as well as Senate and House and The pictured board is used in the House and Senate chambers as party leadership has been organOnce the bill is received in a ized at the beginning or prior an "agenda to give order to debate. Bills are presented on 2nd to the opening of the Legislative body of the legislature it is put reading and depending on whether it is in the Senate or House on the second reading calendar. session. debate will take place on 2nd and3rd reading until the bill is passed . f 9 , 4 mm f I7W pre-organiz- ed 4 George Fordsum has served as House Minute Clerk since 1933. |