Tuesday, January 22, 2008

The State of South Utah

JC Carter (not Chavez), writing on JMBell's blog, talks about HJR 6:

Evidently Neal B. Hendrickson has decided that he’s had enough of us “Wasatch-Front Northerners” and is asking for Utah’s Dixie to secede from our glorious Deseret union!

Yep, that’s right, folks! One of the new bills that will be considered by the state legislature this session calls for exactly that: A separate state whose northern border would start at the southern end of Utah County.


However, by reading the text of this resolution, you see that Hendrickson is trying to make a point:

WHEREAS, the history of this nation, and its unique legacy to governments throughout the world, demonstrates that representation of the people is the most sure way to preserve freedom;

WHEREAS, citizens in the more populated areas of northern Utah have many interests that stand in stark contrast to the interests of southern rural areas of the state, which feel they do not have the influence on state policymaking that citizens along the Wasatch Front enjoy;

WHEREAS, Article IV, Section 3 of the United States Constitution states in part, "New
States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new State shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or more States, or parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Congress";

WHEREAS, the creation of a separate state, consisting of the southern portion of the present state of Utah with a northern boundary stretching east and west across the present state of Utah at the southern border of Utah County, would provide the citizens of what is presently southern Utah increased access to their state government;


It will be fun to see this one discussed.

Oh, and to further prove that Southern Utah is underrepresented, Hendrickson represents West Valley City.

His Gerrymandered District:

1 comment:

JM Bell said...

his name, by the way, is JC Carter, and you're right. Too quick of a read and it gets muddled.