When we passed Proposition 4 in 2018, we affirmed our desire to have an independent redistricting committee determine voting districts. When the independent redistricting committee recommended a map, the Republican led legislature rejected it and put in place their own gerrymandered map. Lawsuits followed. Had the legislature followed the will of the people, we would not be in the mess we are in now.

Recently, House Majority Leader Casey Snider (R-Paradise) said that the court’s handling of the case has damaged trust in the courts (SE, 12-12-25). I would say, however, that the legislature’s response has greatly damaged the people’s trust in the legislature. We only have to look at the legislature’s attempt to deceive voters with Amendment D in 2024 that would have allowed the legislature to repeal any citizen ballot initiative. Fortunately, the Utah Supreme court stepped in to nullify this amendment, protecting the citizens of Utah. Currently, I have a lot more faith in the courts than the Republican led legislature.

Similarly, despite the overwhelming public opposition to H.B. 267 (Public Sector Labor Union Amendments) that restricted labor unions from negotiating for their members, the legislature passed it anyway. This action forced Utahns again to seek what they want through a ballot initiative. When it became clear that the Republican led legislature was on the losing end of this issue, they repealed H.B. 267. Why can’t they listen to their constituents in the first place?

Thom Priest