{"id":2293595,"date":"2024-07-12T15:05:02","date_gmt":"2024-07-12T19:05:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republicans-slam-utah-supreme-court-gerrymandering-ruling-for-striking-very-heart-of-our-republic-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-07-12T15:11:45","modified_gmt":"2024-07-12T19:11:45","slug":"republicans-slam-utah-supreme-court-gerrymandering-ruling-for-striking-very-heart-of-our-republic-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republicans-slam-utah-supreme-court-gerrymandering-ruling-for-striking-very-heart-of-our-republic-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Republicans slam Utah Supreme Court gerrymandering ruling for \u2018striking very heart of our republic\u2019 &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">34<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Frepublicans-slam-utah-supreme-court-gerrymandering-ruling-for-striking-very-heart-of-our-republic-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2293595&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article\u200c discusses the reaction of Utah Republicans to \u200da Supreme Court ruling on redrawing legislative districts through gerrymandering. The court\u2064 declared that the legislature overstepped its authority by passing legislation \u200cthat went\u2063 against a voter-approved independent redistricting process. Republicans in \u2063the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/tennessee-school-safety-plan\/\" title=\"Tennessee school safety plan\">state legislature criticized<\/a>\u200c the court&#8217;s decision, claiming it infringed on their authority and \u2062created chaos. The ruling\u200c could impact future ballot initiatives and the legislature&#8217;s power to alter them. The\u2064 gerrymandering saga began in 2018\u200c when <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/putin-signs-law-effectively-making-himself-president-for-life\/\" title=\"Putin Signs Law Effectively Making Himself \u2018President For Life\u2019\">voters approved<\/a>\u2063 an independent commission to\u200b draw new boundaries, which\u2063 was later repealed by the legislature. The League of Women Voters of \u2063Utah \u2063filed a lawsuit against the legislature, leading \u200bto the Supreme Court decision. Governor Spencer Cox expressed resignation over \u200cthe ruling.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><a class=\"tdb-logo-a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" title=\"Washington Examiner\"><span class=\"tdb-logo-img-wrap\"><\/span><span class=\"tdb-logo-text-wrap\"><span class=\"tdb-logo-text-title\">Washington Examiner<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\">\n<div class=\"tdb-search-form-inner\"><input class=\"tdb-head-search-form-input\" placeholder=\" \" type=\"text\" value name=\"s\" autocomplete=\"off\"><button class=\"wpb_button wpb_btn-inverse btn tdb-head-search-form-btn\" title=\"Search\" type=\"submit\"><span>Search<\/span><\/button><\/div>\n<\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><a class=\"tdb-logo-a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" title=\"Washington Examiner\"><span class=\"tdb-logo-img-wrap\"><\/span><span class=\"tdb-logo-text-wrap\"><span class=\"tdb-logo-text-title\">Washington Examiner<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Republicans slam Utah Supreme Court gerrymandering ruling for \u2018striking very heart of our republic\u2019<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-author-name-wrap\"><span class=\"tdb-author-by\">By<\/span> <a class=\"tdb-author-name\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/author\/ehallas\/\">Emily Hallas<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><time class=\"entry-date updated td-module-date\" datetime=\"2024-07-12T14:49:51-04:00\">July 12, 2024 2:49 pm<\/time><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1043975\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/utah\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Utah<\/a> Republicans issued a resounding condemnation of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/utah\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>state\u2019s<\/a> Supreme Court ruling on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/gerrymandering\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>redrawing<\/a> district lines. <\/p>\n<p>The state\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/those-motherfs-really-did-it-celebrities-react-to-roe-v-wade-possibly-being-overturned\/\" title=\"\u2018Those Motherf*****s Really Did It\u2019: Celebrities React To Roe v. Wade Possibly Being Overturned\">highest court declared<\/a> the state\u2019s legislature acted outside its authority when it passed legislation determining how to draw up new legislative districts, known as gerrymandering, after voters approved a 2018 ballot initiative greenlighting an independent redistricting process. <\/p>\n<p>In a unanimous opinion, the court criticized lawmakers for usurping the democratic vote of the state\u2019s residents. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe hold that when Utahns exercise their right to reform the government through a citizen initiative, their exercise of these rights is protected from government infringement,\u201d Justice Paige Petersen wrote in the opinion. \u201cThis means that government-reform initiatives are constitutionally protected from unfettered legislative amendment, repeal, or replacement.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Republicans disagreed in the state legislature, arguing the court was legislating from the bench. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cRather than reaching the self-evident answer, today the court punted and made a new law about the initiative power, creating chaos and striking at the very heart of our republic,\u201d House Speaker Mike Schultz and Senate President Stuart Adams <a href=\"https:\/\/house.utleg.gov\/president-adams-and-speaker-schultz-respond-to-utah-supreme-court-decision\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>said<\/a> in a statement. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Utah Senate President Stuart Adams speaks on the Senate floor during the Utah legislative session in 2020. (AP Photo\/Rick Bowmer)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The two Republican leaders argue the legislature holds the authority to alter voter-approved laws, calling the decision, \u201cOne of the worst outcomes we\u2019ve ever seen from the Utah Supreme Court.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The decision the court handed down Friday could affect future voter ballot initiatives and the power of the state legislature to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/johnson-declines-to-commit-to-senate-gop-hed-bundle-ukraine-and-israel-aid\/\" title=\"Johnson refuses to promise Senate GOP he&#039;ll combine Ukraine and Israel aid\">pass legislation altering<\/a> them. <\/p>\n<p>The gerrymandering saga began in 2018 when Utah voters narrowly approved a <a href=\"https:\/\/betterboundaries.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Better Boundaries<\/a> ballot measure. Proposition 4 approved an independent commission to draw new boundaries for the state\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.deseret.com\/utah\/2021\/11\/10\/22774645\/redistricting-utah-congressional-map-that-splits-salt-lake-county-four-ways-gov-cox-gerrymandering\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>2021 redistricting process<\/a>. In 2020, the state legislature repealed and replaced Proposition 4, shifting the commission to an advisory role.<\/p>\n<p>Angry over the proposition\u2019s repeal, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lwv.org\/sites\/default\/files\/2023-02\/Complaint.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>League of Women Voters of Utah<\/a> filed a lawsuit arguing the legislature violated Utahns\u2019 right to shape their government. <\/p>\n<p>While the state\u2019s 3rd District Court initially <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sltrib.com\/news\/politics\/2022\/11\/26\/state-lawyers-ask-utah-supreme\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>ruled<\/a> the legislature did not act improperly by altering Proposition 4, the Supreme Court\u2019s Thursday decision swings the case back into Judge Dianna Gibson\u2019s court. <\/p>\n<p>Gov. Spencer Cox (R-UT) sounded a more resigned note than his Republican colleagues in the state legislature. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhile I disagree with some of the court\u2019s analysis and determinations, I respect the role of the court in our system of government,\u201d he <a href=\"https:\/\/governor.utah.gov\/2024\/07\/11\/gov-spencer-cox-issues-statement-on-league-of-women-voters-case\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>said<\/a> in a statement. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title><strong>CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>In 2021, the governor offered a pragmatic take on the practice of drawing up districts to favor certain political outcomes. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf you have to divide counties, Republicans are always going to divide counties with lots of Democrats in them,\u201d Cox said during a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/watch\/live\/?ref=watch_permalink&#038;v=980426705869206\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>live Facebook town hall<\/a>.\u00a0\u201cAnd Democrats are always going to divide counties with lots of Republicans in them.\u201d <\/p>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1043975\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1043975\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><a class=\"tdb-logo-a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" title=\"Washington Examiner\"><span class=\"tdb-logo-img-wrap\"><\/span><span class=\"tdb-logo-text-wrap\"><span class=\"tdb-logo-text-title\">Washington Examiner<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<p><\/body><\/html><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Utah Republicans strongly criticized the Utah Supreme Court&#8217;s ruling on gerrymandering, accusing the court of undermining the democratic process. The court declared that the state legislature overstepped its authority by passing legislation on redistricting, which went against a voter-approved initiative for an independent redistricting process. The Republicans in the legislature argued that the court was overstepping its bounds and creating chaos. The decision could have implications for future voter initiatives and the legislature&#8217;s ability to alter them. Governor Spencer Cox expressed disagreement with the court&#8217;s decision but acknowledged the court&#8217;s role in the government system. The gerrymandering issue began with a ballot measure in 2018, which was later repealed and replaced by the legislature, leading to a legal battle<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3142,"featured_media":2293596,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Stuart-Adams.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[22850,3756,5782,34842],"class_list":["post-2293595","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-gerrymandering","tag-republicans","tag-ruling","tag-utah-supreme-court"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Stuart-Adams.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2293595","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3142"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2293595"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2293595\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2293596"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2293595"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2293595"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2293595"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}