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KSL stands solidly behind a proposal to delay the start of the legislative session each year until after the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday!
As it now stands, the annual holiday always falls on the same day the state Constitution says the legislature must convene - the third Monday in January. It is a needless conflict that contributes to unfortunate misunderstandings about the state's commitment to the national holiday.
To bring about the change, the Constitution will need to be amended.
We're encouraged that legislative leaders from both political parties have announced their support for a constitutional amendment that would have the 45-day legislative session begin on the 3rd Tuesday in January.
That's what the Utah Constitutional Revision Commission is recommending, and a measure has been introduced in the form of a Senate Joint Resolution. The resolution would also give lawmakers a holiday on President's Day.
Two-thirds of lawmakers in both the House and Senate must vote for it. Then it must go before voters statewide during the 2008 General Election.
KSL encourages lawmakers to approve the measure. And we urge the people of Utah to get behind the subsequent effort to amend the Constitution.
In our view, it's simply the right thing to do!
