This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The Utah Legislature approved a bill Wednesday reining in a pair of advisory boards created to advise lawmakers about taxes and amendments to the Constitution.
Under the bill, it would take a request by the governor, legislative leaders or the entire Legislature for the Constitutional Revision Commission — made up of lawyers, lawmakers and citizens — to study and opine on a proposed amendment.
Currently, any member of legislative leadership, either from the minority or majority, can make a request.
"The bill does not eliminate these highly useful advisors but it does require legislative approval to activate them," said House Majority Whip Greg Hughes, R-Draper, the House sponsor of the measure.
The change was proposed by Sen. Margaret Dayton, R-Orem, who planned to sponsor an amendment banning affirmative action, but has abandoned it this year.
During the summer, the commission held a pair of hearings that posing skeptical questions about the amendment. Neither Dayton nor supporters of the amendment attended.
Several lawmakers argued the commission is still needed and putting it under legislative control is a mistake.
"I'm very concerned about this process, because it appears as though the Legislature is setting itself up as the font of all wisdom," said Rep. Mel Brown, R-Coalville, who has served on the commission.
And Rep. Kay McIff, R-Richfield, a retired judge, said it is an instance where "we haven't liked the message so we want to kill the messenger. I think that's bad public policy."
The bill imposes similar constraints on the Tax Review Commission. It passed the House by a vote of 47-24 and heads to the governor for his action.