If they want religion, they'll get religion.
Rep. Curt Oda, R-Clearfield, said he's willing to add that to his proposed constitutional civil rights amendment if that's what it takes to get it passed. The resolution that would precede an amendment was scheduled for debate in the House of Representatives first thing Tuesday but was subsequently shelved.
"We're basically giving everybody a chance to read through it and ask questions," Oda said, though not without a jab: "The darn thing was only a page and a half long."
The resolution would place a question on November's ballot whether to insert language from the 1964 Civil Rights Act into Utah's constitution that would prohibit: "the State, public institutions of higher education, and political subdivisions from discriminating against or granting preferential treatment to any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, ethnicity, or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education, or public contracting."
The inclusion of religion in the list was brought up late last week in the state's constitutional revision commission.
It's the use of "preferential treatment" in the language that could affect many state programs, specifically those that target minorities and women, including college scholarships administered by universities and potential hiring practices for teachers in public education.
Democrats spent the weekend preparing arguments against the proposal that has passed in four other states. They didn't have the chance to use them.
"This is probably one to take a little more time with," said Majority Leader Kevin Garn, R-Layton, just before circling the bill.
Oda said he hopes to have it back on the floor for debate in a couple of days.
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