This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
It is great to see Sen. Hatch is concerned about the public perception of the Senate and will be giving speeches on how to make the Senate work again ("Hatch longs for return of Senate's good ol' days," July 27). He is spot-on that the public is fed up with the the body's inability to accomplish the people's business.
The lack of comity and the ability to work with the opposite party is certainly at the root of the problem. There are many new members, as the old hands have left in frustration at the gridlock. Sen. Hatch says the solution is to "restore the Senate's rightful place in our constitutional order." Among his ideas for change are defending the Senate's prerogatives to debate endlessly and to filibuster till the kingdom comes.
I would suggest a simpler and more direct solution: return the Senate to a five-day workweek. When work is not getting done, senators would work as long as it takes to move legislation though the sausage mill. This has the added benefit of giving the members more time to get to know each other ... like in the good old days.
Lew Baker
Salt Lake City