This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated.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 Salt Lake Tribune's front page Wednesday juxtaposed two stories, and I hope readers caught the irony.
The top piece was about President Barack Obama's executive orders to expand background checks on gun sales and noted he was accompanied by several family members of people lost in mass shootings, including the mother of a teenager killed during the Trolley Square bloodshed nine years ago.
The story included remarks from Utah's all-Republican congressional delegation condemning Obama's action, claiming he had gone above the law and is ignoring the will of the people by executing orders without going through the legislative process.
U.S. Rep. Rob Bishop, a former gun lobbyist, said that "the president is out of touch. He is exploiting tragedy for political gain."
U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, called it "yet another attempt by President Barack Obama to bypass the American people, their elected representatives and the Constitution itself."
And first-term U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, said it was "unfortunate" that Obama was misleading Americans.
Just below that article was another story about a poll, commissioned by UtahPolicy.com, that showed 76 percent of Utahns support expanding background checks on gun sales.
So who exactly is not representing the will of the people?
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Teddy get your gun • Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz saw a chance to score some political points — and raise some campaign cash — when Obama announced his gun initiative.
Being, somehow, on the Texas senator's mailing list and getting frequent contribution requests, I received an email Wednesday from the candidate letting me know that if I click on the attachment, I will join the protest against Obama's executive action and can enter my name for a chance to win a shotgun, engraved by Cruz.
The contest is free to enter.
But there is a P.S.: "You can further support the cause by chipping in $35 (or another amount) after you enter to win my free engraved shotgun."
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Early bird gets the quorum • I wrote Wednesday about the dysfunctional relationship between the South Jordan City Council and Mayor David Alvord.
At the council's last gathering before three members were due to be replaced in the new year, Alvord had a hurried-up meeting in which a $30 million bond proposal was tabled and the session quickly adjourned while one member, a bond backer, was in the restroom.
After much bickering, the council reconvened and eventually approved the bond.
Now, Alvord and some council members have decided on a new way to be exclusive. The council regularly holds a public work session to go over various business before the council meetings, which are every other Tuesday.
The work sessions typically begin at 4 p.m. on that Tuesday.
Now, the work sessions will be held at 6:30 a.m. on Mondays. That means city staffers will probably have to work over the weekends to be prepared first thing Monday morning for the council's work sessions.
It also means the council will probably not have to do that business in front of many constituents.
Who's going to get up that early Monday to attend a council work session?
It gets better.
Some city staffers and elected officials get together periodically for early-morning basketball games. Three members of the new City Council are regular participants.
So the council will have a quorum at the games, which means a public notice must be issued at least 24 hours in advance.