Show Eight Constitutional Measures Make I j Coming Election Additionally T Touch Gugh Utah ballots at the November November November No No- vember 8 General Election will include eight proposed changes in the State Constitution Constitution Constitution Con Con- for the voters to approve or reject The Times Independent last ast week promised Grand County bounty voters a simplified interpretation of these amendments amendments amendments a- a to assist them in casting their votes The League of Women Voters of Utah has made a detailed study of the amendments amend amend- amendments ments on the ballot and consequently consequently consequently con con- are supporting all tight eight Their interpretation of the Proposals follows Proposal No 1 Shall Shalla a new article be added to the Utah Constitution on permitting counties of or more persons to establish a metropolitan government of their own design If the residents vote to establish such a govern govern- ment This amendment would give residents of I counties with a population of or more the right to decide for themselves whether or not they desire a metropolitan tan government of their own design Under the present constitution all aU county governments gov governments gov- gov governments must be uniform and governing units cannot be Ibe combined Legislature specifies the form of government government govern govern- government ment to rule these areas Proposal No 2 Is rs covered In a separate article Proposal No 3 Shall the Utah Constitution be amended amended amended a- a mended to allow the state auditor and the state treasurer to be eligible to 0 serve for not more than two terms rather rather rather ra ra- ra- ra ther than the one term now allowed Under the present law neither the auditor nor the state treasurer may succeed succeed succeed suc suc- themselves and it has become the custom for the two to switch jobs every four years This has become known as the game of musical music music- al chairs and the amendment amend amend- ment is designed to correct the situation Under the Utah Constitution Constitution Constitution tion both hoth officers are elected and NO qualifications are required for either Never Inthe in inthe inthe the history of Utah has there been a CPA In either office Both officers are in the executive ex ex- department which is not normal business procedure pro pro- Some people feel these officers should be appointed appointed appointed ap ap- ap- ap pointed and there should be requirements for professional professional professional qualifications also that the treasurer should be in the executive department department department depart depart- ment the auditor responsible responsible responsible sible to the Legislature Proposal No 4 Shall the Utah Constitution be amended amended a a- mended to allow each house of the Legislature to appoint committees to serve between legislative sessions as well as during sessions and to provide for fer the staffing and financing finan sing cing of said committee This amendment Is necessary necessary sary to clarify the statue of legislative committees Court decisions In the past have cast doubt on the legality of Interim legislative commit commit- tees Some attorney generals generals generals gener gener- als have expressed doubt even of DC the of the tile Legislative Council Proposal No 5 Shall the Utah Constitution be a amended amended a a- mended to provide for annual sessions of the Legislature consisting of elf ofa elfa a general session of not notto notto notto to exceed 45 legislative day days In hi odd numbered I years and a budget session ses ses- ses- ses slon sion of net not to to exceed 20 legislative d days ys In even numbered years Of the 50 states 20 legislatures legislatures legislatures legis legis- meet annually and 28 for as long as they choose hoose Of the 20 that meet each year 9 are limited to budget sessions in alternate alternate alternate alter alter- nate years Only FOUR states give their legislature as little time to work as does Utah Wyoming is tie t only state which gives less time Why do they need more time If they are still in session the Utah Legislature Legisla Legisla- ture can overrule the governors governors governor's governors governor's gov gov- veto by a 3 2 vote of members Most bills however however however how how- ever pass during the last few days of session They must then adjourn and cannot reconvene Any bill vetoed after Legislature has adjourned cannot be reconsidered and the vote becomes absolute In the 10 year period from 1955 65 there were 53 acts veto- veto rd cd d 34 of 01 these were vetoed after adjournment 19 while Legislature was in session 48 were vetoed su successful successful- ly Iy Only per cent of the successful vetoes were made when Legislature was in session If the legislature Is Isto isto isto to act as an effective check checkon on the executive branch it must be permitted to reconsider reconsider recon recon- sider skier all gubernatorial ve- ve 1 IU oes I Proposal No 6 Shall a anew anew anew new section be added to the Utah Constitution to allow the Legislature to call itself Into special session session ses ses- 51 sion on upon written re request request reo re- quest of 3 2 of the mem members members members bers of each house At th the present time LegIslature Legislature Leg Leg- can convene for special session only upon a call all by the governor and to consider only matters requested requested requested re re- re- re quested by the governor If the Legislative branch its to serve erve as a check against the executive power it needs power to call itself into session if the need arises Proposal No 7 Shall the Constitution be am amended to provide for a 1000 per year salary for legislators legislators legislators legis legis- until changed by bylaw bylaw bylaw law No salary Increase I voted by the Legislature could become effective for forth the term voted by the I Legislature thereby requiring requiring re roe quiring the House of Representatives Rep and a ca of the Senate to be elect re-elect reelected ed before receiving any benefit At the present time legIslators legislators legislators leg leg- are paid per year plus 5 per pel day expenses exl ex ex- l when Legislature is In session This makes a total total to toe to- to tal tat of 1300 for a year 2 term plus 10 cents per mile trawl to and from sessions for one trip each week Legislators come from allover all allover allover over the state They are arc farmers lawyers businessmen business business- men and salaried employ ees oes They must leave their work and move to Salt Lake fake City CHy when Legislature Is In session The 5 5 per day dar allowance may not even cven pay for their meals the salary certainly does not compensate for their loss of Income Most lost legislators leg Jeg legislators lose at least 1000 while serving the state for forone forone forone one term The low pay for legislators legislators legisla legisla- tors torI has resulted In a high Talc rate of turnover Between at 19 the tho Utah House turnover was percent the Senate higher The evidence evidence evidence evi evi- dence Is plain that some legislators are forced to quit because of the financial financial financial finan finan- cial sacrifice of representing represent represent- ing their areas in the State government Proposal Prep No 8 Shall the the Utah Constitution be amended to abolish the board of Examiners The Board Doard of Examiners consists of the Governor Secretary of State and the Attorney General Its duties duties duties du du- du- du ties are arc to examine all claims against the state and all salaries not fixed by law The courts have interpreted Interpreted interpreted Inter inter- these words to mean every 5 cent bill or over The state spends a million dollars a day The board must review all pay checks of state employees all tort claims all nil bounty claims for killing predatory animals animals ani ant mals all an contract claims etc It Is questionable that the Board of Examiners Is actually a check Rather than examine about bills daily dally the usual pro procedure procedure Is for the board to meet for about 10 minutes minutest initial the top sheet on each stack and thereby approve them all without examina examina- tion This function can certainly certainly certainly the Ibe better handled by Iby bya a staff in the finance department department department de de- de- de then checked by byan byan byan an auditor |