Depends on what "closed" means
Often on Utah's Capitol Hill, you have to pull out a dictionary to double-check the meaning of certain words -- "closed," for example.
House Republicans closed a caucus meeting Monday to discuss a map dividing Utah into four congressional districts. It wasn't unexpected; GOP lawmakers often kick out the public at the first sign of controversy or dissent. And four new congressional districts already have created both in Republican ranks.
Besides, caucus members can invite whoever they want to address them. So the interpretation of "closed" periodically changes.
Apparently, Monday, "closed" meant: "off limits to members of the public and the media, but open to Republican Party operatives." Turns out, lawmakers let GOP Party Director Jeff Hartley stay to hit up legislators who still owe the party money for last month's election.
"They kicked me out too," a sheepish Hartley said as he closed the door behind him, 10 minutes after everybody else left.
Add public embarrassment/loan collection as another exemption to the closed meetings law.
-- Rebecca Walsh
House Republicans closed a caucus meeting Monday to discuss a map dividing Utah into four congressional districts. It wasn't unexpected; GOP lawmakers often kick out the public at the first sign of controversy or dissent. And four new congressional districts already have created both in Republican ranks.
Besides, caucus members can invite whoever they want to address them. So the interpretation of "closed" periodically changes.
Apparently, Monday, "closed" meant: "off limits to members of the public and the media, but open to Republican Party operatives." Turns out, lawmakers let GOP Party Director Jeff Hartley stay to hit up legislators who still owe the party money for last month's election.
"They kicked me out too," a sheepish Hartley said as he closed the door behind him, 10 minutes after everybody else left.
Add public embarrassment/loan collection as another exemption to the closed meetings law.
-- Rebecca Walsh
3:00 PM
| 
3 Comments:
Rebecca--
You might also want to check your dictionary. Look up caucus. It denotes a closed meeting.
From Merriam-Webster: "a closed meeting of a group of persons belonging to the same political party or faction usually to select candidates or to decide on policy"
So, let's see ... they gotta be closed cuz that's what the dictionary says?
Hmm, does that mean the Legislature also abides by the definition of "transparent" when it describes its decision-making?
And finally -- does it makes any difference that when the super-majority Republicans in Utah meet in caucus, it is actually a super-majority of the entire Legislature doing public business behind closed doors?
Just wondering...
Your writer is the one that started the dictionary war.
Post a Comment
<< Home