The Stamp Act Congress met on Oct. 22, 1765, to protest British taxation without representation. It was a key factor in our country’s fight for freedom.
On Feb. 29, 2024, the Utah Legislature voted to approve the amended HB488. The “bill amends provisions related to certain local option sales and use taxes to allow revenue to be used for public safety purposes, and to remove the requirement for the imposition to be subject to an opinion question for the relevant registered voters in certain circumstances”(Lines 15-17).
Why would the Legislature vote for taxation without representation? What transit oriented project would rise to the level of our elected leaders fearing the voice of the people? There is only one I can think of — the gondola.
Carefully crafted, HB488 authorizes the raising of millions of dollars for transit funding for a list of options that could be almost anything. But why would they require the removal of voter approval? It was obvious from the record number of emails that UDOT received against the gondola that the public was not in favor of the project. Putting one and one together I can only come up with one reason: yes, the funding of the gondola.
Fellow citizens, rise up, contact your representatives, remind them of the history that created our country. Tell them that taxation without representation will not be allowed in our state. Tell them that in the next legislative session they must repeal HB488. Their reelection hangs in the balance.
Roger Kehr, Sandy
