The Utah Senate cultivates a reputation for being more genteel and thoughtful than their House counterparts. That’s why it was stunning when President Wayne Niederhauser, R-Sandy, had to admonish the body to stay away from personal attacks during a debate.
HB11, which removes the requirement for a certain number of members from political parties on some state boards and commissions, passed a final vote in the Senate on Friday, but not before a sharp and pointed debate on the issue.
Sen. Jim Dabakis, D-Salt Lake City, made a political gambit to paint his Republican colleagues into a corner by offering an amendment to remove all considerations for appointments to those boards and commissions.
“Everybody has said the same thing about this bill, all we should care about is competency,” said Dabakis. “This does exactly what the body wants by getting rid of geographical requirements for these commissions. Why should we put up with inferior candidates by having regional or geographic requirements?”
Republicans beat back that change to the bill, then passed it after deflecting charges from Democrats that it was simply a ploy to further dilute the voice of the minority party in Utah.
During the final vote, Sen. Dabakis vented his frustration with the process by saying “This bill is inclusionary, but it only includes this wing of the GOP and that wing of the GOP. Anyone who says different has a deep misunderstanding of this bill.”
That statement drew a quick rebuke from Sen. Lyle Hillyard, R-Logan, who said Dabakis was impugning the integrity of the bill’s Senate sponsor, Margaret Dayton. R-Orem.
President Niederhauser then scolded the body (without naming Dabakis) to cool it with the personal attacks.
“We vigorously debate the issues, but we should stay as far away from the sponsor of the bill as possible,” he said. “We don’t deal with a lot of partisan issues, but we will have a few of them. We need to work cooperatively and not take things personally.”
The bill passed 22-7, with Republicans Brian Shiozawa, R-Salt Lake City, and Ann Millner, R-Ogden, joining all five Democrats in opposition.
The measure now heads back to the House for final approval before moving to the governor.
