| Show Legislative Auditor In Proposition One If approved on the November November November Novem Novem- ber ballot Proposition One one of four constitutional amendments to be voted upon will ill provide for the addition of three new sections to Article VI of the State Constitution One would provide a legislative legislative legislative legisla legisla- tive auditor with authority to post-audit post any agency department department department depart depart- ment fund or operation of state or local government The legislative auditor would function function function tion in addition to the existing elected state auditor whose powers and duties would not be curtailed or otherwise af af- af The legislative auditor would be app appointed by and responsible responsible responsible re re- re- re solely to the Utah State Legislature Would Okay Payment Another section would authorize authorize autho autho- me per diem compensation not exceeding the regular session session session ses ses- sion rate of 25 a day plus actual ac ac- ac- ac teal travel expenses for legislators legislators legislators legis legis- attending meetings of interim legislative committees authorized by law The proposition is designed to modernize and simplify certain certain certain tain legislative procedures For example bills and resolutions resolutions resolutions would be read three times by title titIe only eliminating the requirement to read them in their entirety some are scores of pages long The only exception would be if two-thirds two of the legislature agreed to full reading Affects Language Bills and resolutions passed would no longer ha have ve to be signed in open session The House speaker and Senate president would have up to five days after adjournment for signing and vouching for accuracy and authenticity The proposition would attempt also to eliminate am am- or unnecessarily complicated complicated complicated com com- language in measures obsolete material deadwood deadwood deadwood dead wood and to streamline and speed up the legislative proc proc- ess Proponents argue the resolution resolution resolution tion conforms to accepted modern accounting principles and say a post-audit post should be performed by an agency entirely independent of management management man man- It is pointed out that the legislature legislature legislature leg leg- appropriates state monies and should therefore be in a position to see they are expended in accordance with legislative intent Proponents say Proposition One WIll will go a alon along along lon long way toward this goal They say the legislature long has needed streamlining of its duties and elimination of duplication and irrelevancies Opposition Basis Opposition to the revision is based generally on the argument argument argument ment that Utah has operated under its present constitution for more than three quarters of a century and that any attempt to rewrite re re- rewrite e- e write Article VI might create unforeseen and undesirable problems There is specific protest against an auditor and legal counsel responsible to the legislature on the ground that these moves might weaken weak weak- en the positions of the elected auditor and attorney general constitutional offices since statehood There is an organized group opposing Proposition One Ken Larsen Provo is state chairman chairman chairman chair chair- man of the Committee to Defeat Proposition No 1 American Independent Party The committee according to Mr Larsen opposes the appointment appointment appointment ap ap- ap- ap of a le legislative audi audi- tor |
