This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The Utah Senate wants to select U.S. senators by itself instead of letting the people elect them directly — as they have since the 17th Amendment was ratified in 1913.
Senators voted 17-6 to give preliminary approval to SJR2 on Tuesday, sending it to a final vote likely later this week. It calls for Congress to repeal the 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Its sponsor, Sen. Al Jackson, R-Highland, says reverting to the old system would improve Washington, D.C. because no one in the federal government now represents the needs of state governments.
"Our senators are now more beholden to Washington, D.C., special interest groups than to their own particular state because getting reelected is paramount," Jackson said. "This is about restoring power back to the states."
He added, "Washington, D.C., is incapable of solving our problems and is dictating way too much policy to this state and all states."
Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper, said, "Now, there's not a single U.S. senator in the nation who says I'm here to represent the state government…. We need to wake up U.S. Senate that states need representation in Congress."
Sen. Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City, was among a handful who opposed the resolution. She said the current process allowing people to directly elect senators "is empowering voters to participate in the process," and that should not be removed.
— Lee Davidson