Republicans are asking voters to sign petitions that would undermine their own constitutional right to “alter or reform” government.

Republicans are asking voters to sign petitions that would undermine their own constitutional right to “alter or reform” government.

Welcome to Inside Voices, a weekly newsletter that features a collection of ideas, perspectives and solutions from across Utah — without any of the vitriol or yelling that’s become all too common on other platforms. Subscribe here.

If you’re confused about Utah’s redistricting battle, you’re not alone. Even Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson — a Republican — is baffled by her own party’s latest move.

“This is injecting a level of chaos and confusion into this process that is completely unprecedented,” she recently said.

In short, the Utah GOP is gathering signatures for petitions designed to overturn what voters approved in 2018. Voters passed Proposition 4 to create fair congressional maps. Now Republicans want to block even a slightly less gerrymandered alternative and potentially repeal the fair boundaries law altogether.

Kimberly Harris Wagner, a former Utah Senate candidate, explains why this matters: “Running as a minority candidate is challenging enough; gerrymandered boundaries shouldn’t make it more difficult still.”

The twist? Republicans are asking voters to sign petitions that would undermine their own constitutional right to “alter or reform” government.

Read why Wagner is urging Utahns to “just say no” to these petitions.

And let me know: Should voters have the final say on redistricting, or should the Legislature?

— Sam Morse, Newsletter Editor

Utah Voices

Gerrymandering by either party — anywhere — is offensive and undemocratic. Here’s how Utah can steer away from it.

“I’m a registered Republican in Utah, and I’ve been a regular attendee of my neighborhood caucus meetings for 12 years and counting,” writes David Harris, of Salt Lake City. “I’ve served as a county delegate for approximately eight years and a state delegate for three.

But many members of my family and a number of close friends don’t support most of what the Republican Party stands for in Utah, and yet they don’t have any voice in state politics. How is this fair? Why is the Utah Legislature so reluctant to give non-Republicans a right to their voice? What are they so afraid of?”

The shutdown has a profound impact on Utah’s national parks

“The shutdown is already having a negative impact on national parks. Utah parks remain open, but amenities are closed,” writes Grace Wicks, of Salt Lake City. “Since parks are now low on staff, enforcing rules is more difficult, which is dangerous for visitors and the parks. Trash is piling up, trails ignored, ecosystems trampled, and wildlife harmed. Tourism drives Utah’s economy, and closure threatens jobs and local stability. If parks remain low on staff or inaccessible in Utah, locals will face job loss and instability. This could show a rapid decline in Utah’s local economies.”

What will it take for Republican voters to finally realize they are being duped?

“Extort universities, law firms and entertainment companies with dubious government sanctions unless bowing to despotic personal preferences and demands,” lists Raymond A. Hult, of Bountiful. “Bypass the restrictive 10-year census law to unfairly politically gerrymander voting districts to maintain House of Representative dictatorial control. … Lie and exaggerate on a daily basis to mislead and gain support of a gullible following. Appeal any negative judicial rulings by benefiting from an already orchestrated despotic-leaning Supreme Court majority. All of this within the first year of President Donald Trump’s second term. What’s it going to take for Republican voters to finally realize they are being duped and threatened with forfeiting their representative form of government as established by the Founding Fathers?”

What do we sacrifice in the name of anti-DEI?

“I was recently let go, after working in higher education for three years, following the termination of my department,” writes Tricio Salgado, of Salt Lake City. “During that time, staff members and I, many of whom were student employees, had cultivated a culturally responsive and student-centered environment. We observed how the college sought to comply with HB261 by renaming DEI-focused offices and closing others, which was not a standalone action by our institution. The University of Utah committed to its compliance by closing the Center for Equity and Student Belonging, the LGBT Resource Center, and the Women’s Resource Center under new centralized centers. Since the closure of our office, the loneliness on campus feels much more apparent.”

Share Your Perspective

Salt Lake County announced this week that they want to increase taxes by nearly 20%. And folks aren’t very happy about it.

“I fully acknowledge that the proposed increase places an additional burden on individuals and families already working hard to make ends meet,” Mayor Jenny Wilson said Tuesday morning.

Rising costs were cited as the culprit, but that’s cold-comfort for struggling Utah families. Between everyday inflation and a rising cost of living, would you rather cut county services and the scope of government than see your taxes rise? Let us know…

From Bagley’s Desk

Drop Us a Note

We’re always looking for fresh perspectives, ideas and solutions that’ll move our state forward. Learn more about our guidelines for an op-ed, guest essay, letter to the editor and more here, and drop us a note at [email protected].