Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
State Representative Steve Mascaro thinks Utah lawmakers could benefit from a weeklong break during the annual legislative session to reconnect with reality.
It's a terrific idea!
To do it, the Utah Constitution would have to be amended to extend the allowed meeting time for the legislature from 45 to 52 days. The non-paid break would come somewhere in the middle of the session.
Rep. Mascaro offers several sound reasons for his proposal.
By mid-session lawmakers are always overwhelmed with information.
It would give them some time to step back, clear their heads and get refreshed for the annual stretch run.
It would allow them to reconnect with their families, their constituents and their jobs. Perhaps, if issues are hot, they could hold town meetings to receive constituent input.
It would let the legislative staff get caught up on the mountain of data the beleaguered staffers are constantly processing.
KSL believes Rep. Mascaro's idea is worth pursuing. Care must be taken, though, to put in mechanisms to prevent legislative leaders from using the designated week to merely pile on more work or extend the session. If it can honestly be a time for reconnecting with reality, we're all for it.
