Why doesn't the Utah Legislature just vote to completely remove citizens from the democratic equation? Then developers could efficiently get on with with the job of passing out Jazz tickets and developing.

In a step toward that end, the last Legislature thoughtfully passed a law that prevents citizens from initiating referendums to reverse land-use decisions. This is bad news for a group of misguided Sevier County voters who want to vote on a proposal to build a $600 million coal-fired power plant. Who would not delight in having a coal burner in the 'hood?

Because of the new law, the Sevier County group has about a week to get the necessary signatures. Under the old law they would have had into mid-summer to circulate petitions.

Such an adjustment to grass-roots democracy could have saved the Lege a lot of grief over their educational voucher program. A voter referendum sent that sweet idea sailing into the old dustbin of history.