Dems Say Constitutional Amendment Protecting Secret Ballots "Rushed"

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(KCPW News) Utah Senate Democrats were outraged by what they considered to be an ambush Friday, when a constitutional amendment to protect secret ballots was lifted from the Rules Committee for a floor debate without warning, then passed with only one floor vote, while the usual procedure requires two. Senate Minority Whip Ross Romero said the policy is premature, and was rushed through the process.

"This has been bad process. This has been bad form and I would suggest that this has been an abuse of the majority position by the Majority Party," Romero said.

Republican lawmakers, Governor Huntsman and national conservative pundits see preserving secret ballots as a necessary protection against proposed federal legislation that will supposedly make it easier for small businesses to unionize. They believe secret ballots are a fundamental component of democracy, and need to be protected in the state constitution.

But Senate Democrats argued at length that the constitutional amendment is a bad idea, calling the proposal irresponsible, a red herring, despicable, and based on fear and intimidation. This prompted Republican Sen. Steve Urquhart to urge lawmakers to keep their tempers in check during the stressful last days of the legislative session.

"Temperatures, obviously, are starting to rise in the body. I think there have been some fairly disparaging remarks made in the discussion we've just had," Urquhart said. "I just want to clarify that my vote isn't based on fear, my vote is based on reading the bill, looking into the issue, and simply deciding that I want to cast an ‘aye' vote."

All 21 Republicans in the Senate joined Urquhart in voting for the bill, while all Democrats said no. It now heads to the governor's desk to be signed. However, it will be up to voters in the 2010 general election to decide if the amendment should be added to the constitution.