In an effort to spur attendance at party caucus meetings next month, the House passed a bill to prohibit cities and counties from holding meetings on caucus night.
"This bill boldly proclaims a new principle for Utah voters: that every Utah citizen age 18 or over needs to attend their neighborhood political caucus," said Rep. Kraig Powell, R-Heber City.
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But HB90 narrowly passed on a 38-34 vote, after several members objected to the state dictating local government policies to help political parties, which are private entities.
"I would hope every person would attend a caucus meeting," said House Majority Leader Brad Dee, R-Ogden. "I am not willing to sacrifice and say as a state … that they must completely shut down their local government that night to support a caucus system that is totally irrevocably separate from state government."
Rep. Chris Herrod, R-Provo, argued that the Legislature and government lost the public’s trust during the open records fight last year, and Powell’s bill would assure citizens they can attend their caucus without worrying what their city government is up to that night.
The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.
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