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Show 'Delicate balance' j between legislators, j press, Rampton says ! SALT LAKE "These two groups cause at least 90 percent of the governor's headaches, joked former Gov. Calvin Rampton during dur-ing a joint meeting of the press and state legislators. Rampton, a native of Bountiful, served as Utah's governor from 1965 to 1977. "It has been 14 years since I've had this kind of captive audience of legislators,' the veteran Democrat leader said Wednesday at a Utah Press Association-sponsored gathering. The governor's address centered on the "delicate balance' between the legislature and the press. "It's essential that the relationship between be-tween the legislature and the press be cordial, but not intimate. If they get too close it may lead to the suppression sup-pression of news items, Rampton warned. The collective legislatures are the single most powerful body in the United States Government, said Rampton. Utah legislators "have usually, but not always" used that power wisely, Rampton told the publishers and editors. "The press is often referred to as the fourth branch of government. The power of the press is great," he said, but cautioned, "If misused, it J can lead to great mischief. ' 1 Rampton said he had found the I Utah Press to be 'generally respon- j sible and much more fair, and more j constructive," than members of the f press he has dealt with in other states. j He spoke of the importance of a free press. "A free press is essential j to government It is the way by which people receive information. If it is not fairly reported there will be no basis for the citizenry to form their opinions," Rampton said. He asked the legislators to "resist the temptation" to seek new revenues by eliminating certain tax exemptions now in effect for the newspaper industry. "A free press cannot survive with financial restraints, Rampton said. Rampton told both groups they should be aware of the other's time constraints. "Members of the press remember legislators are busy people. peo-ple. Don't be over demanding.' He warned the legislators not to "try to con" the press, and to remember "they have deadlines. In closing, he admonished members of the press to remain unbiased un-biased in their reporting. "Leave the editorializing to the editorials, Rampton said. |