Special Session Could be Ugly
Special sessions of the Legislature can get horrid in a hurry. Special sessions are much different beasts than regular sessions. Lawmakers don’t have the luxury of dealing with an issue over several days, or even weeks, providing time for the thorough study, consideration, and amendments that are necessary for an issue to fully ripen. Items are also considered out-of-context of the overall budget and priorities of the state.
Therefore, governors usually like to place only items on a special session agenda that have widespread support. That doesn’t seem to be the situation in this special session that will convene Wednesday at 2 p.m. House Majority Whip Steve Urquhart notes in his blog, that little coordination on some of the session items has occurred between the governor and the Legislature and between House and Senate caucuses.
That means all sorts of forces, egos and agendas will be in play during the session. It’s likely this one will be bloody, will last into the wee hours (and maybe spill into the next day), and plenty of frustration will be experienced before it’s over. You can listen and watch by connecting at this legislative Web page.
Blog Watch
Rep. Steve Urquhart says: "Candidly, I'm not much for special [legislative] sessions. Because the typical wheels of a general session aren't turning (committee hearings, filing deadlines, and the typical delays involved in moving legislature from one body to the other), special sessions really can be an insiders' game"... Christian Burridge explains why he's running for Congress (see also here)... Ed Meyer says rural Utah towns seeking economic vitality need to "dress for success"... In response to this D-News article about the vehicles Utah government and community leaders drive, SLCSpin says: "I've actually seen Mayor [Peter] Corroon's Pacifica in person, and the engine sounded surprisingly tough. It sounded like what you'd expect from a man who eats a Dave Checketts for breakfast, and craps out a Dean Howes by dinner."
-- Compiled by Golden Webb
Washington Watch
Cannon: Give Utah 4th House Seat
Rep. Chris Cannon urges his colleagues to approve the District of Columbia Fair and Equal House Voting Rights Act, a bill that would give an additional House seat to Utah (see press release); the U.S. House approves, by voice vote, an amendment championed by Cannon to redirect $16 million to increase funding for the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program in 2007 (press release).
Throw a Tomato at Me
Lest anyone think I’m avoiding publication of negative comments about myself, please check out George Pyle’s column in Sunday’s Tribune (this link was also included in the Sunday news links). Pyle publishes this comment from an anonymous writer:
"Mr. Webb and other members of Utah's power elite would love to know the identities of their anonymous critics to inflict retaliation through job terminations, contract cancellations, personal harassment (anonymous or not) . . . Anonymity is a legitimate tactic against the illegitimate use of power. I urge those who read anonymous comments to also ask themselves what conditions in society are encouraging writers to choose anonymity."
Added Pyle: “This correspondent also noted that Webb's career as a paid lobbyist makes it ironic for him to belittle those who pronounce anonymous political opinions while he makes a living as a front for comments made on behalf of his clients.”
Sorry. I’m not convinced. I still don’t like anonymous bloggers or anonymous comments. I will concede that rare occasion when someone posts anonymously out of fear of losing a job or they’re in danger of some other form of retribution. If that’s the case, state it as a reason for anonymity. But how often is that really the situation? I’d guess that 95% (or more) of anonymous blogging or commenting occurs because the writer is lazy and just wants to take cheap shots without any accountability. There’s nothing at stake, really, except it’s a lot easier to be anonymous than be on the record. Anonymity eliminates accountability. I suppose it would be kinda fun to flit around taking cheap shots at everything and everyone and doing it all anonymously. But my pride and sense of fairness would prevent me from getting my jollies that way.
My name and reputation are on the line in everything I write. And as I’ve stated many times, some of the things I write clearly reflect the positions of my clients (and are labeled as such), and I’m open to criticism on all of it.
People know my name, my (sour-puss) face, my e-mail address and my phone number. My home phone and address are as close as the phone book. I’m totally open, totally exposed. You can call me up and yell at me; you can throw tomatoes at my house.
And that makes me highly accountable for what I write. While I’m willing to take forthright positions and create some degree of controversy and disagreement, I certainly think twice about the logic and accuracy of my opinions and I try to be reasonable and fair.
Contrast that openness with someone who blogs or comments anonymously. You wonder: Who is this person? What is her or his motivation? Are they working for a candidate or a special interest group? Do they have a financial interest? Are they nutty or wacky or just strange?
Blogger Jeri Cartwright said it well in a message to the Tribune’s Pyle: “I highly agree with LaVarr on the issue of anonymity in blogs. You know what can happen when someone gets behind the protection of a car: Road rage from people who wouldn't dare do it if they were face-to-face with their road ‘enemy.’ There are other alternatives and protections for those who need to remain anonymous. Bringing down someone's or a company's reputation online is a form of ‘public murder.’ I am shocked at the anger I see in blogging online. I can only assume that those doing the more vicious carping have probably never been in the harsh public spotlight or they would tone down their rancor.”
Now if I can just discover who wrote to Pyle I can inflict retaliation by getting him fired, canceling his contract, and personally harassing him. Although I’m starting to think it was my wife.
The Day’s Best Headlines
(Compiled by James Taranto of OpinionJournal.com)
Raging Pacifists
"Brawl at Anti-Violence Rally Preceded Shootings"-- New Haven (Conn.) Register, May 19
Pull It Off Quickly to Minimize the Pain
"Congressman Caught on Tape, Documents Say"-- Associated Press, May 22
What Would We Do Without British Polls?
"French Are Rudest, Most Boring People on Earth: British Poll"-- Agence France-Presse, May 20
Why Would a Dinosaur Be Interested in Such a Thing?
"Scientists Show Dinosaur Fingernail Fossil"-- Associated Press, May 19
UDOT/Layton Transportation Open House
UDOT and the City of Layton will be hosting a public open house Wednesday to discuss current and future traffic needs for the I-15/South Layton Interchange (Exit 330) area (see press release).
PETA Urges Bullhook Ban
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sends letter to Ogden Mayor Matthew Godfrey "urging him to ask the City Council to enact legislation that would ban the use of bullhooks, electric prods, and other devices commonly used to inflict pain on elephants.” PETA’s request comes in light of the scheduled May 27-29 visit in Ogden by the Carson & Barnes Circus. PETA claims the circus violates the federal Animal Welfare Act (see press release).
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