Let me share some of my perspective. It is an honor to serve in the Legislature. I know my colleagues feel the same way. We realize our friends, neighbors and constituents put trust in us to serve with integrity. And we hope they realize we can’t satisfy every person in our districts, but we try to debate and vote with respect for the process and for the state. But, sometimes we may take for granted the great responsibility that has been given to us by the public.

In an article in the February 17th Deseret Morning News Bob Bernick, Jr. shared his thoughts about some bad legislative behavior. Referring to comments directed at the media during a committee meeting he wrote, “Unfortunately, over the 25 years I’ve covered the Legislature such bashing-matches are happening more and more. Leaders are doing nothing to stop it; in fact sometimes they seem to fuel the attacks. Civility is not the legislators’ strong suit.” This quote struck me not only because I’m a legislator, but because I am also one of the leaders about which he is writing.

You may think I am going to vehemently object to Mr. Bernick’s comments but I am not. Bob is right. We have lost civility. Not just at the Legislature but as a society in general.

Legislators, believe it or not, are recipients of as much if not more civil-less behavior than most. Even one of the examples Bob wrote about in his article last week to show the Legislature’s lack of civility could be looked at in a different light. The article mentioned that the chairman of a legislative committee hearing cut off a citizen witness for pointing-out the conflicts of interest of two committee members. And while it is correct that the chairman finally did cut-off debate, it was only after another member of the committee raised a "point of order" that the citizen had gotten way out of line.

First, the citizen confused Rep. Dave Clark with a Mr. "Dave Clark" who works for Intermountain Healthcare (Rep. Clark is a banker) – and then proceeded to vociferously attack Rep. Clark. Second, the citizen violated the very rules of civility that Mr. Bernick’s column argues for. Instead of speaking to the legislation at hand, he spent his entire time personally attacking three (not two) members of the committee.

Just as the Legislature could be more civil, so could the public.

That being said, legislators are elected offices entrusted by the public and we simply need to do better. As the Majority Leader I understand that I must help bring civility back into the legislative process.

Civility is showing courtesy or being polite to another person. We all know that in our world there is not much civility anywhere. More and more people are expecting more of others and giving less of themselves. It is as though we are driven by having the last word.

I’ve always appreciated what President Gordon B. Hinckley has said about Civility. "Civility carries with it the essence of courtesy, politeness, and consideration of others. All of the education and accomplishments in the world will not count for much unless they are accompanied by marks of gentility, of respect for others, of going the extra mile.”

In a much earlier time President George Washington wrote a book about the rules of civility. Two of those rules seem particularly applicable to our present discussion: every action in company ought to be with some sign of respect to those present and show not yourself glad at the misfortune of another, though he were your enemy.

I regret that sometimes, as legislators, we get so involved in the work at the Capitol that we take our responsibilities for granted. Because there are so many people who want to talk with us and need our help we begin to think we are more important than we really are. Sometimes we forget that if we weren’t legislators nobody would care who we are and in fact most people don’t now.

I don’t always agree with what Bob Bernick has to say, and he knows that. But this time I have to thank him for the wake-up call. As leaders in the Legislature it is time for us to lead and help the House and Senate develop a greater respect for their positions and for the people we serve. Consider that my pledge.