SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Senate has unanimously passed a bill that would allow lawmakers to throw away some of FLDS leader Warren Jeffs’ mail-in revelations.
House Bill 234, sponsored by Rep. Mike McKell, R-Spanish Fork, would allow lawmakers to accept books with a value of up to $30. Lawmakers could then donate the book or toss it in the trash.
The bill is being run in part because of a barrage of books by the imprisoned polygamous leader sent to every member of the Utah State Legislature. FOX 13 first reported on the issue last year, when lawmakers were hit with numerous letters containing “revelations” calling lawmakers into repentance.
Jeffs’ revelations have been sent in book form, but lawmakers can’t accept them because their estimated value, which includes the cost of binding the books, exceeds the gift limit of $10 each.
Lawmakers routinely receive books from well-meaning constituents in efforts to educate them about issues, but because of the gift limit they must be returned.
“Under our current law, I have an obligation to actually mail that book back to Warren Jeffs,” Rep. McKell told FOX 13 in an interview last month. “The problem is, when I receive that book it’s incumbent on me to go down to the post office, put it in a package, spend $8 to send it back wherever it came from.”
House Bill 234 now goes to Governor Herbert for his signature to become law.
