Dave Hansen's Official Party Resignation e-mail December 29, 2010

                                                           State Party Secretary Christy Achziger
Here is the "official" e-mail sent out by Dave Hansen announcing his resignation.  Note the resignation of  State Party Secretary Christy Achziger on January 22, as well.  This has not been previously noted on this blog.

URP Officer Resignations

Dear Friends,

As you may have heard, I recently announced that I would be resigning as Chairman of the Utah Republican Party at the January 22, 2011 State Central Committee meeting.  The purpose of making the announcement early was to allow time for those who want to fill the vacancy to announce their intentions and campaign among the Central Committee members prior to the January 22 meeting.

My intention when I was elected in 2009 to serve the entire term.  However, circumstances have required me to tender my resignation early. 

Serving as your party Chairman has been one of the greatest experiences of my life.  I cannot thank all of you enough for the assistance you have provided to the party, your dedication to Republican principles, and your desire to see our party and our candidates succeed. 

I value the friendships I have made and those that I have strengthened from this opportunity.  Thank you all very much for allowing me the privilege of serving with you.

Sincerely,

Dave Hansen, Chairman

Utah Republican Party

NOTE: State Party Vice Chair Kitty Dunn and State Party Secretary Christy Achziger will also resign effective the January 22 Central Committee.  Details on the election process as well as candidates who have declared their intent to run can be found at www.utgop.org/events/event/96.

Daw and Clark want National Constitutional Convention

 Rep. Brad Daw, R-Orem, is sponsoring a bill for this Utah legislative session calling for a national convention to amend the U.S. Constitution, a move that is needed to restore balance between the powers of state and federal governments.  Daw’s bill would have convention delegates draft an amendment that would require the states to ratify any increase to the U.S. debt ceiling hoping to force the federal government into fiscal restraint.

http://le.utah.gov/~2011/htmdoc/hbillhtm/HJR014.htm

Outgoing House Speaker David Clark, R-Santa Clara is also pushing for a constitutional amendment that would allow states to repeal laws passed by Congress or rules enacted by the federal government.  Clark wants to restore state’s rights and put balance back into the federal government.

Both amendments would require a national convention to amend the U.S. Constitution.  Under Article V of the Constitution, two-thirds of the states would have to call for a constitutional convention in order for the gathering to be convened. Any amendment proposed would need ratification by three-fourths of the states.

There has never been a constitutional convention and opponents think that until two-thirds of the states present the amendment to their legislatures simultaneously, the Utah Legislators shouldn’t take time away from Utah state issues to debate and vote on these constitutional amendments.

Utah Gets a 4th Congressional Seat

The 2010 Census on Tuesday officially listed Utah’s population 2,763,885, up 23.8 percent over the past decade, which is enough to give Utah State a fourth seat in the U.S. House.  In 2000 Utah missed a fourth seat by 80 people, which gave the last Congressional House Seat to North Carolina.

New numbers show that Utah is the nation’s 35th largest state.   After the 2012 election, Utah will have more House members (and electoral votes) than 15 states, the same as five others, however 29 states have more electoral votes than Utah.  

California has the largest population with over 37 million people, up 10% from 2000.  Texas has over 25 million people, up over 20%, followed by New York with over 19 million people.  These are the three largest states with Wyoming the smallest with a population of 563, 626.

Texas will receive four additional votes in the Electoral College -- the biggest winner nationwide.  New York and Ohio will surrender the most electoral clout, giving up two congressional seats each.

Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, South Carolina, Utah and Washington each gained an extra Electoral College vote. And Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey and Pennsylvania each lost one. Florida picked up two seats.

Republican State Party Chair and Vice Chair Resigned

At the December 4, 2010,  Utah Republican Party State Central Committee meeting, State GOP Party Chair Dave Hansen and State GOP Party Vice Chair Kitty Dunn officially announced that they will be stepping down from their elected Party positions in order to work on Senator Orrin Hatch’s 2012 re-election campaign.  Kitty Dunn replaced Morgan Philpot who was elected at the State Convention in 2009 and then resigned to run for the 2nd Congressional District.   Dave Hansen and Kitty Dunn will remain in party leadership until January 22, when the State Central Committee will elect  a new Chair and Vice Chair at their meeting.  Hansen’s and Dunn’s terms of office would have expired in June.  Dave Hansen has long been one of Senator Hatch’s closest political advisers.

Dave Hansen

Kitty Dunn

State Central Committee voted to take power away from state delegates!

The GOP State Central Committee approved the following constitutional change which takes power away from the 3500 state delegates and gives it to the 180 SCC members at the December 4, 2010 meeting.


Paul Rolly made the following observations regarding the proposed change:
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home/50827068-76/party-committee-central-delegates.html.csp

GOP state delegates have posted concerns on Facebook and blogs about a resolution passed Saturday by the Republican State Central Committee that gives veto power to the central committee over party constitution and bylaw amendments passed by delegates at the state convention. The resolution still must be ratified by delegates at their spring meeting.

If the delegates, for example, chose to change the candidate nominating process to a more inclusive direct primary system, the Central Committee could veto it.

There are 3,500 state delegates and only 180 Central Committee members, made up, critics say, of party insiders. Even worse, the critics add, it takes only 40 members at a Central Committee meeting to constitute a quorum. So 21 Central Committee voters conceivably could overturn what 3,500 delegates at the convention do.

Outgoing State Party Chairman Dave Hansen says the resolution was offered through a unanimous vote of the party’s seven-member Constitution and Bylaws Committee. He said it provides just one more check in the process to make sure what gets done has merit.

—

Proposed Constitution and Bylaws Amendments
Constitution Article X.B. Amendments.
The Constitution may be amended by a 2/3 vote of the members at a State Central Committee meeting if subsequently ratified by a majority vote of the Delegates present at the State Convention. The Constitution may also be amended by 2/3 vote of Delegates present at the State Convention -------if subsequently ratified by a majority vote of the State Central Committee.

Rationale – Changes to the foundational Party Constitution should not be made in haste, or on their first reading, or without the opportunity for considerable deliberation, debate and perfecting amendments. Constitutional changes made by the SCC are already subject to further review and ratification by a state convention. This amendment provides that same check and deliberation by the SCC for changes adopted by a state convention, which are always done on first reading and with limited opportunity for debate and amendment. This amendment will ensure that all changes have the benefit of unified action and approval by the state convention and the SCC.

Submitted by Clair Ellis, 155 Silver Fox Circle, Providence UT 84332, 435-753-5553.

C&B Committee action: Amendment forwarded to SCC with unanimous positive recommendation.

Rationale – The C&B Committee recognized the benefit of a system with checks and balances.