Senator Mike Lee Says Independent Commissions in Utah Are a Power Grab

Utah has jumped into the gerrymandering battle happening right now in Texas and California. A judge has ordered the legislature in Utah to redo the congressional maps so that it doesn’t favor Republicans. 

Clash Comes from Proposal Passed by Utah Citizens 

There was an independent commission set up in Utah to look at how the congressional districts should be drawn in the state. This was done from a proposition voters in the state passed in 2018. 

Since then, new laws have been signed that lessen the ability of this commission to decide what the legislature could do. Now the judge has ruled that the legislature must follow what the commission suggests. 

There is a lot on the line as the Republicans want to split Salt Lake into the four districts that would lessen the chance there was a Democrat elected to congress from Utah. This is the same battle on a smaller scale currently taking place in Texas and California. 

Senator Claims Independent Commission is Actually Less Democratic 

Sen. Mike Lee weighed in on the controversy with a post on X. He says voters do not understand how setting up an independent commission actually plays out. His point is that the commission ends up a lot less independent than the name implies. 

Lee says it is a way for the side that voters haven’t elected to wield power over the majority. He also points out that the U.S. Constitutions already covers this scenario and adding an unelected board to the process isn’t helpful. 

Read More: What Is The Law In Utah About Being Buried In Your Yard?

Do you think the Senator is correct? Does a group set up to do the work elected officials are supposed to take care of actually do an end run around democracy? It is a hot topic that is growing in Utah and making headlines in the nation.