Salt Lake City, UT (December 3, 2013) — In an effort to involve more Utahns in the political process, Libertas Institute announces the launch of a new program to bring more citizens to the legislature. The Citizen Sponsorship Program enables interested Utahns to monitor and lobby for or against one bill during the general legislative session each year.
“We are looking to crowdsource citizen participation at the legislature,” said Connor Boyack, president of Libertas Institute. “Other than legislators, government employees, and tourists, almost all of the people at the Capitol are professional lobbyists. We intend to change that.”
“Many Utahns we’ve spoken with are interested in politics and would like to become more involved, but simply don’t know how,” said Boyack. “And if they do know how, they are often intimidated because they haven’t yet started. Our project helps any individual overcome those barriers and make a direct impact on state government.”
The project features a new, three minute video highlighting some of the steps involved with citizen participation at the legislature. Participants in this program commit to read their assigned bill, lobby their Senator and Representative, and offer testimony in committee meetings for that bill. Details of the program can be found here.
“Many political commentators lament the lack of citizen involvement in the political process,” said Boyack. “We’re doing something about it.”
