It is time for Gov. Cox to retire the “Disagree Better” mantra. Recent actions suggest he doesn’t actually believe in it.
To truly “disagree better,” all parties must be at the table. Instead, Cox and the Republican leadership seem intent on ensuring that 40% of Utahns remain unrepresented in Congress. Readers of The Tribune know the history: after the courts ruled that the public had a right to pass Proposition 4 to end gerrymandering, the GOP response wasn’t collaboration — it was retaliation against the courts.
The Legislature clearly despises citizen initiatives, passing draconian requirements to keep them off the ballot. Furthermore, after paid gatherers used deceptive tactics to push for the repeal of Proposition 4, many citizens sought to remove their signatures. In a move designed to stifle public input, Republicans introduced a bill — just one hour before adjournment — to disallow any requests to remove a signature if the request arrived in a postage-paid envelope after last Friday!
The bill passed within the hour and was signed by Gov. Cox in the middle of the night. These autocratic actions are repulsive. Proposition 4 must remain the law as we work to restore a functional two-party system in Utah.
David Bennett, Park City