As the impending war with Iraq approaches, the Utah House of Representatives has abandoned its plan to speak out in opposition to the United Nations.

House Resolution 7, sponsored by Rep. Don Bush, R-Clearfield, was shot down in the House Thursday and sent back to the House Rules Committee.

If passed, the resolution would be sent to President Bush and Congress to ask them to withdrawal from the United Nations.

Rep. Bush said the United Nations is a financial drain on the United States and withdrawing would help America preserve its liberty.

Rep. Michael Noel, R-Beaver, spoke in favor of the resolution and said that in many ways the United Nations is counterproductive to what the United States stands for.

Noel said the state of Utah would improve its image if the resolution were passed.

Others disagreed and said the bill comes at a bad time.

"We've created such a positive image with the Olympics," said Rep. Loraine Pace, R-Logan. "I think this will unravel that. I think it's a great mistake to have this discussion this year."

House Majority Leader Greg Curtis, R-Sandy, said the United States doesn't need to step into the debate and that the resolution is a matter of poor timing.

President Bush is seeking the approval of the United Nations one of the most important issues the United States has faced in years and Utah doesn't need to oppose that, Curtis said.

"We have our own issues. We have the budget and the education crisis," Curtis said.

Curtis said that Utah needs to leave the resolution for another time.

The resolution is expected to "die out" in the rules committee.

If passed, the resolution would have been the first of its kind in the county.



Copyright Brigham Young University 25 Feb 2003