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Show A5 Saturday, March 6, 2004 BOARD EDITORIAL DITORIAL Albert J. Manzi, President & Publisher Randy Wright, Executive Editor Donald W. Meyers, Editorial page editor Linda Hamblin, Public adviser Richard Davis, Public adviser m erolft Da IN OUR VIEW Legislature adjourned, but session lingers on he Utah Legislature has adjourned for the year. For members, this means returning home to regular jobs and living with the laws they just passed. That's part of the beauty of our system of government. Of course, lawmakers may go through withdrawal from the largesse of lobbyists whose meals, event tickets and other favors are accepted as a fringe benefit of the job (but of course are not intended to influence anyone's vote). Capitol Hill observers will spend a few days, weeks maybe, trying to sort out what happened in those 45 days and what it will mean for the public, which would rather spend time analyzing the results of "American Idol" than the legislative session. In the meantime, we offer a few observations on the 55th Legislature's performance. T This year, the Legislature passed 417 pieces of legislation. They ac- tually filed 694 bills and resolutions, an average of six per lawmaker. In the future, limiting themselves to three bills apiece would make a more manageable pile, and everything would likely be heard in the y session. It also would make it a bit easier for the public to keep track of what they're doing up at the Capitol. There is a drawback, though The state's vendor of office supplies might have to lay off employees because of the sudden drop in demand for office paper, printer cartridges and the like. . 45-da- Amid its weighty deliberations, the Legislature took the time to recognize Clog America, a Utah-base- d group of dancers. House Joint Resolution 13, sponsored by Minority Leader Brent Goodf declared that the group was a "Utah cultural treasure" and proclaimed its members "ambassadors of peace and friendship to the world." One has to wonder what bad bills were left behind so this vital piece of legislation could make it through. Utah legislators may need some lessons in the First Amendment specifically how it is designed to protect the expression of unpopular ideas, not just popular ones. The Legislature approved a bill sponsored by Rep. Carl W. Duck that allows peoworth, ple to display the American flag or the state flag on rental units, trailer homes or condominiums. It seems homeowners associations and landlords were barring some people from snowing pride in their country or state. Fair enough. Yet legislators went along with Rep. James A. Ferrin, when he proposed amending a bill on cross burning to make burning the American flag a felony. That thumping you hear is James Madison, fourth U.S. president and author of the First Amendment, spinning in his grave because elected officials can't seem to grasp the concept that if the flag can properly be used to show support for the government, it is equally proper to use it as a sign of protest. Luckily, this bill went down in flames: third-degre- e On the bright side, nobody has changed or added to the list of official state symbols this year. Traditionally, school groups promote state symbol legislation to learn how the legislative process works. In the past, this has led to the Bonneville cutthroat ousting the rainbow trout as the state fish, cherries being named the state fruit and the Dutch oven becoming the state cooking pot. In the future, any school encouraging students to propose a new state symbol should bear the cost of preparing the legislation. We love kids, we really do. But with only 45 days, there's not a lot of d time for this sort of legislation. If kids want to learn how the Legislature really works, let them watch a hot-ai- r balloon race. feel-goo- This was the last legislative session before the Capitol undergoes extensive renovation and earthquake-proofing. During construction, which is estimated to require three to four years, lawmakers" and the rest of the Capitol's denizens will move to those new buildings behind the statehouse. We have one suggestion for the temporary digs: Take the doors off the caucus meeting rooms. This will force the Republican caucuses to conduct their business in public, rather than hiding in private meetings and fueling suspicions that the real work of government is taking place in secret. The Democrats have already taken their doors off. IT'S MW1MKUP "I don't think our Lord would want me to see an film about his son." Elder Shawn Watts, an LDS missionary, commenting on why he would not go see Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ." 1 EVANGELISTS... I "The Bible is mean, look at that book. ... That's a hot book." Mel Gibson, director of "The Passion of The Christ," responding to criticism about the movie's graphic violence. OF THE r-- vj Beehives & "You've got to have the madness to step outside the system, and he did. I won't say if s a work of art myself, (The Passion of The Christ), but he caused more controversy outside the system than anyone has in the last 20 years." Peter Bardazzi, ' director of new media development at New York University. Buffalo Chips .. Beehive to Utah Valley's high school state champions. The Mountain View High School's girls basketball team won the 4A championship, defeatin tournament ing Timpview play at Salt Lake Community College Feb. 27. It is Mountain View's fourth consecutive year as champion. Wasatch High School's boys won their second consecutive 3A basketball crown, defeating Lehi in tournament play at South- r 'A- 82-6- 42-3- 4 ern Utah University. Buffalo chip to Lehi High ' School for its new tardy policy: The school will now, at selected times, lock classroom doors when the late bell rings. Anyone left standing in the hall has to either pay a $5 fine (translate "tax") or attend a makeup class at 6:30 a.m. We think the fine is not nearly high enough. If you're going to impose a new tax without due process, at least try to generate enough money to do something significant, like building a summer cottage for the principal. Beehive to the Provo Foun-- 3 dation, for its Provo Attic Program. The foundation is asking people to donate old musical instruments so they can hand them down to schoolchildren. The program's goal is to establish band . programs in all Provo elementary You get to schools. It's a win-wiclean out that closet and Provo students learn to play. Little Johnny's trumpet need not remain silent just because Johnny is 47 and doesn't live at home anymore. n: Buffalo chip to McDonald's, for phasing out the "super-size- " option on its menu. The move is a response to calls for more nutritious meals at the fast-foo- d chain. Sadly for what it says about the intelligence of American consumers, this marketing ploy will probably work. But we wonder why, if people are really enough to count calories and grams of carbohydrates, they d restaurant are eating at a in the first place? j Iurn to assume . a- S H Beehive to Charles Gate, - rw who was recently honored by the U.S. Marine Corps and the Marine Corps League. Gate, 90,' served in the Marines during World War II in the South Pacific. The league gave him a certificate of appreciation for his wartime service, as well as a book of memorabilia from the years he served in uniform. 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