Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Utah Senate Wants Congress to Repeal 17th Amendment

Brian Grimmett
File: Utah Senate

The Utah Senate has approved a resolution calling for the repeal of the 17th Amendment.

The 17th Amendment to the Constitution took the power of selecting U.S. Senators away from state legislatures and gave it to the people. But now, the Utah Senate has passed a resolution asking congress to abolish it. Republican Sen. Alvin Jackson is the sponsor of the resolution. He says Senators are supposed to stand up for the states, but because of the 17th amendment are more concerned about playing nice with special interest groups and lobbyists.

“It’s time for our Senators to come home every weekend and take direction from this body and from the House and from the Governor on how they should vote in the upcoming week,” Jackson says.

But, Democratic Sen. Luz Escamilla says she worries this would take away one of the few elected offices that can accurately represent the will of the whole state of Utah.

“Right now, the way we draw our own boundaries in the legislature, it really does not reflect the state of Utah and where the constituents are,” Escamilla says.

The Senate passed the bill by a vote of 20 – 6, almost entirely down party lines. The only person to stray from their party was Republican Sen. Brian Shiozawa, who voted against it

KUER is listener-supported public radio. Support this work by making a donation today.