Yesterday’s assertion by Paul Rolly in the Tribune (Conservative Wing of the Legislature Marginalizes Moderate Republicans, 12/30/07), that “the conservative caucus…has grow into the dominant force on the Republican side of the aisle,” (italics added) does nothing less than warm my heart.

(A side note: Because 55 members of the Utah State House are Republican, 17 Republican members of the House must sit on the left side of the Chamber, which is traditionally the Democrat side. So, 46 percent of those sitting on the left side are Republicans [nearly half]…a mixture of Republican moderates and conservatives…Oh, maybe he was just speaking figuratively.  But I digress…)

As a conservative thinker and co-founder and Vice-Chair of the House Conservative Caucus, with Chairman Greg Hughes (R-Draper) in 2004, I’ve seen the real benefits of allying myself with others in the state legislature who think and vote like me…votes which reflect the values and principles of the people in my community who elected me to this representative office.  These good, politically active citizens of my district (House District 57) have sent me to Capitol Hill over the past five years for a number of reasons…including my conservatism.

So, to suggest that I, or any other conservative become more like “Sheryl Allen…Mel Brown…(K)orey Holdaway…Kay (McIff)…and Steve Mascaro,”  (all wonderful people, less conservative than me) would be a disservice to myself and those who elected me to represent them.  (Korey’s name is spelled with a K, not a “C” and Judge McIff’s name is not spelled M-c-K-i-f-f., I’m sure the Tribune will want to apologize for these mistakes)

With Referendum 1’s defeat in District 57 by 54 percent (plus or minus), I also recognize that 46 percent of active voters are looking for me to address changes in public education.  (Even a simple guy like me recognizes that 46 pecent is nearly half.)  Oh, and by the way, I voted for many of the issues that injected $500,000,000 new money into the Utah State Educational System last session–including the $2500 teacher raise and $1000 bonus…just like Rep’s Allen, Brown, Holdaway, McIff and Mascaro.  Not bad for a tight-fisted conservative, huh?!  In fact 100 percent of all House members present, including conservatives, voted to finalize (concur) with the final draft of the Teachers salary bill. [Click HERE to see vote]

In his article, Mr. Rolly makes it sound anti-Utahn to support the mitigation of the growth of government  and government sponsored programs.  “Pro-voucher, anti-tax, pro-privatization and pro-traditional marriage” are the marks of a conservative. OMGosh…did he really write that stuff?!  Educational choice, tax minimization, smaller government, and marriage between a man and a woman (democrat votes for 2004 House Resolution on marriage were: E. Anderson, P. Jones, and K. Morgan) are all planks in the Utah State Republican Platform and tenets in most Utah State County Republican Platforms.  Oh, sorry, I forgot…these platforms are all driven by a zealot-right-leaning delegation.

The fact is, each legislative district (Senate and House), through a constitutional and statutory process, defines who their representatives will be.  If you don’t like it…change it.  George Washington said it best this way:

The power under the Constitution will always be in the People.  It is entrusted for certain defined purpopses and for a certain limited period to Representatives of Their own choosing.  And, whenever it is executed contrary to Their interests or not agreeable to Their wishes, Their servants can and undoubtably will be recalled.

Brilliant!  There you have it from our first elected US President.  Don’t like your representatives?  Take your opinion to the ballot box…and bring a few friends…who agree with you…and “fix” it.  That’s how a Representative Republic was designed to work.  And, it’s still the best system around.  The People ultimately decide.