Utah ballot news
From Ballotpedia
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| Propositions • | Recall | • Law |
Utah GOP opposed to ethics initiative
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah: This week Utah GOP leaders announced that the party's central committee approved a resolution to oppose a proposed Utah Ethics Commission Initiative (2010). Of the 103 committee members present, only one member opposed the resolution. "The state party strongly supports ethics reforms at all levels, but did not feel this initiative achieves those goals," said state party chairman Dave Hansen.[1] Among the arguments against the initiative, the resolution stated,"among other things, the UEG initiative removes responsibility for ethics in government from the people and their elected representatives, and places it in the hands of an unelected, unaccountable commission."[2]
The initiative, sponsored by Utahns for Ethical Government, proposes establishing a five-member independent commission to investigate ethics complaints against lawmakers and recommendations to the state legislature. Additionally, the initiative proposes ending corporate contributions to legislative candidate and placing a $2,500 cap on individual donations and $5,000 cap on contributions from political action committees over a two-year period.[3]
Volunteers begin collecting signatures for Utah Ethics Commission Initiative
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah: Volunteers in Utah started circulating petitions the same day Lieutenant Governor Gregory Bell formally approved the petition language for the Utah Ethics Commission Initiative.[4] The initiative, sponsored by Utahns for Ethical Government, proposes establishing a five-member independent commission to investigate ethics complaints against lawmakers and recommendations to the state legislature. Additionally, the initiative proposes ending corporate contributions to legislative candidate and placing a $2,500 cap on individual donations and $5,000 cap on contributions from political action committees over a two-year period.[5]
In order to place the measure on the November 2010 ballot initiative supporters must collect a minimum of 95,000 valid signatures by April 15, 2010.[4]
Granite area petitions for township status
SALT LAKE COUNTY, Utah: The Granite area community filed petitions, in August, calling for a vote on whether the unincorporated area should become a township.[6] The 2,000 resident occupied area has long been carved out via annexations by nearby cities. Granite Community board chair Mike Hansen said that with the petitions filed, "This is our first step toward letting Granite residents decide the future of Granite." A total of 355 signatured were delivered to the Salt Lake County clerk on August 19, 2009.[7]
Utah citizens look to create two new commissions
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah: Two Utah citizen-driven groups are looking to create two new commissions: an redistricting commission and an ethics commission. On August 12, Utahns for Ethical Government filed a ballot initiative for the November 2010 ballot. The initiative proposes creating a five-member independent commission to investigate ethics complaints.[8]
Earlier the Fair Boundaries Coalition filed an initiative to create establish a commission to set the state's 75 state legislative district boundaries, rather than continue with the current method whereby state legislators re-draw district boundaries after each decennial federal census.[9]
Both groups must a minimum of approximately 95,000 valid signatures by April 15, 2010.[10]
Redistricting initiative filed in Utah
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah. Sponsors have filed the wording for a Redistricting Initiative with the Utah Lieutenant Governor's office.
The ballot initiative is intended for the November 2010 ballot in Utah. In order to qualify for the ballot, the measure's supporters will have to collect 94,552 signatures by April 15, 2010.[11]
The redistricting initiative is sponsored by a group called the "Fair Boundaries Coalition." Its official sponsors are Mark Sage, Tania Knauer, Catherine Millicent Shaw Lewis, Mary Jo Bishop and Cynthia J. Bias-Thompson.[12]
House Speaker David Clark has indicated he will be active in dialogue on the issue. He chairs a 50-state redistricting committee for the National Conference of State Legislatures and generally prefers to have the Utah State Legislature continue to draw the state's legislative boundaries, as it currently does.
Most of the leading sponsors of the initiative are Democrats.[13]
See also
References
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