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.