This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
As a proud liberal, I remain nauseated and depressed by the election's outcome. Nevertheless, I applaud Rep. Mia Love for calling on Congress to limit bills to single issues (ksl.com/?sid=42851345&nid=757). The Constitution enjoins Congress to make "necessary and proper" laws. But it is neither necessary nor proper to include contradictory measures in the same bill, or to attach riders that have no logical bearing on the original aims of bills. A measure standing alone can be understood both by members of Congress and the public. The current way of doing things can only be justified in terms of "that's the way we do things." It is not rational and it is not democratic. Moreover, allowing bills to become jumbled messes does not benefit either party, but it does keep the public in the dark. No wonder citizens feel that their government is an insiders' game! Thank you, Rep. Love.
Roger Argenbright
Salt Lake City