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The Utah Senate continued its sessionlong pursuit of states' rights Monday by passing a bill that would seek to rein in U.S. senators who otherwise might ignore the state government's wishes.
SB250 would allow political parties to develop bylaws asking their caucuses within the state House and Senate to evaluate the performance of U.S. senators and create a ratings system for Senate candidates.
Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper, said his bill is meant to ensure that senators respect their state's wishes, as they would have had to before the 17th Amendment's passage allowed voters, instead of legislators, to elect senators.
The caucuses then could determine how senators' and candidates' views lined up with legislators' stands on federalism and access to public lands, Stephenson said.
"It has the potential of bringing the relationship of the Utah Legislature and our two U.S. senators closer," he said, "whoever they are and whichever party they represent."
The measure, which passed 20-8 and now goes to the House, follows a number of bills and resolutions that either challenge federal regulations of such items as guns or tells Congress to leave social policy to the states.
Sen. Ben McAdams, D-Salt Lake City, opposed the bill because he said it would only bring the state's U.S. senators closer in line with their party, not with the state as a whole.
Sen. Lyle Hillyard, R-Logan, opposed it because he said it's unnecessary. Parties already could judge senators through their bylaws if they wished, he said. "I'm never congratulated when the session is over about the number of bills we pass."
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