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Despite all the denials, the FLDS border towns of Colorado City and Hildale on the Utah/Arizona border still aren’t up to par on the American way of life.
Even after recent reports of more horrific animal abuse (even more recently than we’d previously thought), and the reports that as many as 60 surveillance cameras allow church personnel to keep an eye on anyone in town, the state Legislature doesn’t feel like doing a damn thing about it.
See also:
–Colorado City, FLDS Haven, Reportedly Covered With Security Cameras, 1984 Style
–Michelle Ugenti’s Anti-Colorado City Bill Gets No Love from State Senate
–Doris Goodale Won’t Explain Her Defense of Colorado City’s Police Force
–Colorado City Sued by Justice Department; Warren Jeffs Still Running the Joint
As regular readers of this blog would know, Republican Representative Michelle Ugenti proposed a bill this year — similar to legislation proposed last session — calling for local police departments to be dissolved if half of its police officers had their licenses taken away over the course of eight years. That happens to fit the description of the Marshal’s Office in Colorado City and Hildale.
Colorado City previously was patrolled only by the Marshal’s Office, which is believed to be loyal to Jeffs instead of the law, at least, according to Attorney General Tom Horne and a federal lawsuit from the the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. The Mohave County Sheriff’s Office now does patrols on top of the Marshal’s Office, but it’s relying on money from Horne’s office to do so.
In all likelihood, the bill is dead this session, too. A neutered version of the bill passed the House — as Representative Doris Goodale wouldn’t explain her “no” vote on the bill to New Times or one of her fellow lawmakers — but the bill wasn’t even heard in the Senate.
CNN was on the case when almost the same exact thing happened last year, too.
With all this, the Leg’ does nada.
This morning’s question: did lawmakers likely screw the pooch on this one?
Cast your vote below:
