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Show (CdDimimcDDQilaDiPnsQ 'Utah Valley (Economy Hangs In The Balance' Free Press Editorial Utah Kelp Protect Your Right To Know The United Press International reported last October that Haiti had just passed a new law that provides prison sentences for newspapers that commit the vague e crime of "offenses" against President Duvalier or his mother, Simone. The law also outlaws articles that "disturb the public peace" or erode confidence in the nation's financial system . In an effort to control the activities of the press, all journalists in Haiti are Journalists Association. In required to register with the government-affiliate- d contrast, the First Amendment written as part of the U.S. Constitution in 1791, assures you that the stories you read in your local newspaper are in no way controlled by the government, but are written by free and independent citizens who are bold enough to speak out about your quality of community life. Jean-Claud- But your right to know what government officials are saying and trying to accomplish is a new right in the history of civilizations. Utah's Open and Public Meetings Act was first enacted in 1955, completely rewritten in 1977, and clarified further in 1979, making it one of the most stringent "sunshine" laws in the country. This act guarantees you the right to read news reports of meetings held by school boards, city councils, county commissions, and any other public body. The Open Meetings Law says that public bodies, such as city councils, school boards and county commissions, can only close their doors to the public and to the press to discuss certain subjects (a) character, competence, or health of a particular individual; (b) strategy for collective bargaining, litigation or real estate purchase; (c) security measures ; or (d) criminal investigations. The law also notes that meetings can only be closed with a recorded public vote of of the members present at an open meeting. But while the law is fairly clear, it appears to require some diligence on the part of the public and the press to enforce the law. There are no legal penalties for breaking the law, except that decisions made in an illegally closed meeting can be declared invalid. - two-thir- County Commissioner Jerry Bradshaw caused stricter compliance to the law by the county commission when he released to the press and the public a number of infractions. But he suffered social ostracism for his action. Sometimes one gets the impression at certain public meetings that considerable informal discussion has already taken place and pretty much the outcome. All that remains is the formal vote. This at least breaks the spirit of this important law. It has come to our attention that last week a meeting of the American Fork Planning Commission was called just prior to the city council meeting. No agenda was posted, nor advanced notice given. There is some question as to whether it was a full commission meeting or a site plan review meeting. The chairman of the commission called the meeting. The head of the site plan review committee refused to attend, noting that it was illegal. While no formal decisions were reached, developers sought a "consensus" of attending commission members so that they could go ahead with certain financial arrangements. And it is our understanding that further discussion on the development is being stifled on the basis that "a consensus has been reached" and a commitment has been made. The Free Press pledges itself to vigilantly oversee the keeping of this law which provides you with the right to know what's going on in government. We will also resist the continual social pressure to downplay or ignore important and controversial political issues. We will do our best to provide you with the knowledge you need to wisely exert your political influence. Valley's economic future "hangs in the balance" with the Steel EPA-U.- negotiations, a prominent Orem businessman (old the Senate Select Committee on Small Business recently. Jerry Washburn, a local car dealer and representative of the Citizens' Coalition to Save Geneva, was asked to testily by Sen. Orrin Hatch, a member of the committee. The Citizens' Coalition is a 25.000 member group dedicated to keeping the U.S. Steel plant in Orem open. The committee is studying recent steel plant closing Letters To Editor and projected closings. "For Geneva Steel in our community, to "The closure of the Utah Valley, it is not too hundreds of businesses, plant. ..would bring on a late. The to thousands of in19:is type depression in benefits of the plant to dividuals and families, our area (hat would last for years," Washburn said. "Many of us in Utah feel we are witnessing a game of Kussian Roulette iK'tweon the Kl'A and U.S. Steel. The stakes are frighteningly high." Washburn testified alter several witnesses With Tom Griffiths had told the committee The mood of America is changing. People are what had already restless. They want action. Trust in. our represent because of tatives in Washington is at a new low. Our president, it closings in their seems, does not know how to make a decision. Take communities. Ex- inflation as an example. Everyone from the wage pressing concern for earner to the senior citizens are being hurt. Our Utah County's economic president states very forcefully that he will not prognosis, he was also recommend wage and price control. He acknowledges . cautiously optimistic-that inflation is serious but has no answer for its control. Our senators and representatives are spending more time on than they are on the welfare of the nation. Dishonesty in government is being uncovered almost every day. What is being done about it? Very little, if anything. What has become of the case of Senator Talmage who pulled some financial quickies. Like a lot of other dirt it has been swept under the rug where it can't be seen by the public. And what about the latest years and experience, scandal uncovered by the F.B.I. I will be greatly and with the mess the surprised if anyone involved is even censured. Then we have the national budget which is a liberals have our country disgrace. Every man, woman and child in this country in, we need wisdom and is in financial bondage to the government. ; benever like courage If it wasn't so serious I could laugh at some of the fore. America is all but bureaucrats spend the taxpayers' money. shot out of the saddle by ways that Here are a few examples: liberal eggheads running $100,000 was spent for a study of the emotional effects and of the government separating baby monkeys from their mothers. press. $100,000 was spent to study why hermit crabs pick With the runaway one seashell over another to live in. inflation, higher and $640,000 went to Gay. Community Services for and gay people's higher taxes, energy "Education about gay and problems." shortages, problems $93,000 went to Navajo Indians to teach them to be of a magnitude our ' ; medicinemen. country has never faced, to tend Amazon parrots. went $100,000 all caused by liberals in $29,100,000 was spent on advertising for the federal ' government and press, government. we need a man whose The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and philosophy is, "Get the Alcoholism spent millions of dollars to find out if drunk off the fish are more aggressive than sober fish. government people's back!" Three billion, three hundred million each year is Yours truly, spent just to print forms, directives and reports ; Dick Mader created by the government. to file and store is each dollars Two billion spent year Box699 of these accumulated papers. all 82716 Gillette, Wy The National Endowment for the Humanities spent Dear Editor: The cry of the liberal press trying to turn people against Ronald Reagan because of his age won't hold water. W'iston Churchill and Benjamin Franklin did their greatest for their country when they were much older than Ronald Reagan! They were two of history's greatest for freedom, both conservatives. Recently we were in Phoenix, Arizona, when the flood washed out eight of ten highway bridges across the Salt River, including the new interstate bridge. The two highway bridges and railroad that bridge stood the flood were built in the early part of this century and before!! the older Maybe generation wasn't as far behind as some of our current crop of eggheads would have us believe! Wisdom comes with NORTHERN ELECTRIC BLANKETS srr,m Dual control Reg. $30.99 $25.99 Single or Dual Control Reg. $29.99 Full-siz- - e is ? -j- rf)$)RTHERN S hap-pene- d Post Office Using Anthony Dollar The Lehi Post Office is using the new Susan B. Anthony dollar coin when making change, master Merlin L. Wright has announced. Nationally, the postal service is supporting the efforts of the Treasury the postDepartment, master said, because "widespread use of these dollar coins could be of great benefit to both our window clerks as well as our customers. They are easier to handle at the counter and can be mechanically sorted and counted." customer to accept them," the postmaster said. The Susan B. Anthony dollar coin, introduced last July, was designed to be convenient and easy to handle in cash transactions. Over 600 million of the new dollars were produced in Fiscal Year 1979 by the Bureau of the Mint. Approximately 300 million released have been Federal banks for to Reserve distribution to com- mercial banks. u 5 Is un u ii un 11 i7n fit Garden Egf a SUPER SCE7SJ SPECIAL . 1 1 11 11 11 11 11 603IAC 70607 ) Ace Metric Hose ' Ace 3 Gal. Sprayer Galvanized steel tank with adjustable steet- nozzle. 26 inch hose. I f 19 80 x 19.80 Meters. Quality hose features durable, construction S brass couplings. 73522 rm I49" "03TH0 I WEED B GON UwnWsed -- . t L.) , II u STERN'SGARDEN ' PRODUCTS 112 lb. Miracle Gro 7iei7) Wtd KllUr mowiai Celll. Pf. Only..... -- :v V- j 2siV8 i A I lawn 8.99 farina fcr! v.?. 1 Quality .."- '- j! Spading Fork Welded & tempered for longer life. Has 30" "0" handle & 10" lines. :t,,,. READY-TO-WEA- R 10" Gas Chain Saw lightweight. 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Is it any wonder the budget cannot be controlled? What bothers me about this stupidity is that it is known by the lawmakers, but nothing is done about it. I am glad there is a lighter side to this political thing. I like to think of the persistent party member who appeared before President Abraham Lincoln and demanded appointment to a judgeship as reward for some campaigning he had done in Illinois. The president, aware of the man's lack of judicial attributes, told him it was impossible. "There simply are no vacancies at the present time," Lincoln explained. The man left. Early the next morning he was walking along the Potomac when he saw a drowned man pulled from the river and immediately recognized him as a federal judge. Without a moment of hesitation he presented himself to Lincoln while he was eating breakfast and told him what he had seen and demanded an immediate appointment to the vacancy. President Lincoln shook his head, "I'm sorry, sir, but you came too late. I have already appointed the lawyer who saw him fall in." $2,500 steel-plan- Selected Fabrics "0 set- Americans Are Restless $19.99 SALE must, be equitably tled," he said. Sen. Hatch echoed Washburn's concerns. Browsing ( Queen-siz- e and to the entire state, far. outweigh the minor disadvantages and difficulties that can, and Reader Attacks Age Issue "1 SALE Lchi Free Press Thursday.March 20, 1980 22 Page Quality oil ft Lubricant, Qt. for use in chain taw, minimizes wear on bori. Engine Oil .. tPi.chains. MC 0 GLASS, PAINT AND ACE HARDWARE BENNETTS PAINT WALLPAPER GIFTWARE 76 WEST MAIN PHONE 756 6363 AMERICAN FORK, UTAH 84003 |