Your four-day, 10-hours-a-day workweek has begun with much fanfare, some pretty good photo ops of you checking in at the workplace and shaking hands with smiling employees and the apparent approval of the majority of state workers.

But somebody, it seems, forgot to check the Utah Constitution.

Article 16, Section 6 says: "Eight hours shall constitute a day's work on all works or undertakings carried on or aided by the state, county or municipal governments."

Phil Dyer, a longtime labor attorney who formerly represented the Utah Public Employees Association, says the language in the constitution could present a problem for Huntsman's 10-hour-day scenario if someone wants to make an issue of it.

Section 7 of that same article says the Legislature, "by appropriate legislation, shall provide for the enforcement of the provisions of this article."

The Legislature, however, has not done that, so there is nothing in the law to enforce the provision and there are no interpretations from the courts to provide a guide.

Dyer said a taxpayer, or an employee, could file a lawsuit based on the constitutional provision. That would be plowing new ground in Utah law.

I tried calling the Utah Attorney General's Office for its take, but, alas, the office was closed Friday because of the new four-day workweek.

A hidden agenda? Did the Governor's Office try to pull a fast one last week when it released a formal proclamation from Huntsman appointing Brian Monsen to the Legislature in "House District 25," or was it, as I'm sure is more likely, somebody's typo?

Let's have fun here for a second.

Monsen was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Rep. Mark Walker, R-Sandy, who represents House District 45.

House District 25, one of the most liberal districts in Utah, is represented by Rep. Christine Johnson, D-Salt Lake.

A sneaky way, perhaps, to get rid of a liberal Democrat?

A Utah moment: Larry Miller, at his news conference Friday, was impressive in honestly summarizing for the world his serious health problems over the past two months and his gracious thanking of the news media for its sensitivity and his family for their support.

He specifically mentioned Salt Lake Tribune sports columnist Gordon Monson and Deseret News sports columnist Brad Rock.

But I had to smile when, during one poignant moment, he relayed how his failed kidneys began working again, which baffled his doctors because they had no medical explanation.

"This may be a line in your column, Brad," said Miller, not mentioning Monson. Miller then stated his belief that the miracle came from "another realm."

But then, who can blame him for not trusting The Tribune to have the same spiritual bent as the Deseret News? I certainly can't.

Crazy eights: If you read last Friday's date backward, you might understand how that was a special day for Utahn Elaine Kitterer. She turned 80 on 08/08/08.

prolly@sltrib.com