A general session of the Utah Legislature fosters important policy deliberations on education, transportation, budgets, etc. However, the daily assemblage of politicos in Capitol corridors also breeds a host of interesting rumors and conjecture. Your gossip-mongering columnists offer some scuttlebutt from the Hill:
What are all the rumblings within the Republican Party about Sen. Bob Bennett facing an intraparty challenge?
Pignanelli: Several Republican lawmakers and other conservatives are urging Attorney General Mark Shurtleff or Mike Lee (former general counsel to Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.) to challenge Bennett next year. This is serious talk because Shurtleff and Lee are first-rate players on the Utah GOP varsity bench. Bennett's detractors are hoping to take him out through the primordial convention process "Chaffetz" style. But they are in for a fight. The junior senator has been fundraising for years and is well-liked by most Utahns. For many politicos, the grousing about Bennett is confusing. He is respected on both sides of the aisle (an important asset when the power shifts) and rarely engages in partisan sniping. All Utahns have benefited from his Appropriations Committee assignment and effective advocacy of Utah's homegrown industries (financial services, military defense, high-tech) against congressional attack dogs. (I will let LaVarr explain this nonsense within his ranks, if he can).
Webb: The talk is serious. The execution will be far more difficult. Bennett watched the Chris Cannon defeat last year, and the earlier challenge to Sen. Orrin Hatch by then-Rep. Steve Urquhart. Bennett won't be caught unaware. He will spend this year working the delegates, raising money and connecting with local officials, business leaders and opinion leaders in preparation for a convention fight. Clearly, some conservatives think Bennett has become a creature of Washington, has been there too long and has been too moderate/liberal on issues like health system reform, immigration and the federal budget. But Bennett is working hard to shore up any weaknesses. Utah Republicans do have a lot of young, impatient, aggressive stars sitting on the bench waiting for the old guys to retire — a sign of party strength and vitality.
Mike Leavitt
is back in town. What is his future and will he really be content to live in southern Utah and write his memoirs?
Pignanelli: Utahns Mike Leavitt, Charlie Johnson and Rich McKeown constructed the early features of comprehensive health-care reform in our country. And their efforts are a bright spot in an otherwise dark and gloomy time of our nation's history (aka the Bush administration). Although Leavitt is consistently mentioned as a potential U.S. Senate candidate, his skills may be tapped to lead a large company or institution.
Webb: Leavitt is a big-league star, sent home at the top of his game. He won't want to sit around for long. He's clearly still ambitious and wants to stay involved in public policy. But with no obvious road ahead to either elected or appointed position, Leavitt will write, give speeches, serve on corporate boards and likely pursue business interests. He could champion a cause or issue and attempt to influence public policy from the outside. I'm guessing we'll see a lot more of Leavitt (unless, of course, he gets pressed into church service).
How is the ousted Senate leadership faring in their new roles?
Pignanelli: Last year, Capitol veteran Sens. John Valentine, Curtis Bramble, Gene Davis and Brent Goodfellow were not returned to leadership positions. To their credit, they remain engaged: Valentine is spearheading the alcohol legislation and Bramble will always be a player. Indeed, they have formed the "Penalty Box Caucus" within the Senate ranks. This is a reference to a handful of senators and vigorous hockey fans who were sidelined from leadership in the 1990s. Expect to hear more from them.
Webb: If it's any consolation, it's a good year to be out of leadership and in the penalty box. But don't worry. These guys will break out.
Why is the governor's recently formed Commission on Strengthening Utah's Democracy (on which Pignanelli and Webb were asked to serve) receiving a cold reception by legislators?
Pignanelli: In the last week it seems every creature on Capitol Hill (human and animal) expressed reservations about the commission. Plenty are upset over what is viewed as the governor's encroachment on legislative prerogatives. The new agenda for the commission is ambitious and will be difficult to achieve by November. For many years, Utah boasted one of the highest voter-turnout rates in the country; and now has one of the worst. The best and highest priority for the commission would be a diagnosis and suggested cure for this disturbing disease.
Webb: Saving democracy is no doubt hard work, but I think it's going to be fun. Lawmakers are naturally skeptical when a bunch of do-gooders start telling them how they ought to operate. But the governor has assembled a diverse group, and I predict this commission won't just rubber-stamp a lot of liberal good-government bright ideas. Conservatives like Dave Hansen, Bruce Hough and Dick Richards won't be elbowed aside by the liberals and moderates in the group. There will be vigorous debate and I'm looking forward to cancelling out most of Frank's votes. The best ethics commissioners, the best judges of campaign finance propriety, the best evaluators of redistricting fairness, are informed voters. Let's have some faith in them.
Republican LaVarr Webb is a political consultant and lobbyist. Previously he was policy deputy to Gov. Mike Leavitt and a Deseret News managing editor. E-mail: lwebb@exoro.com. Democrat Frank Pignanelli is Salt Lake attorney, lobbyist and political adviser. Pignanelli served 10 years in the Utah House of Representatives, six years as House minority leader. His spouse, D'Arcy Dixon Pignanelli, is a Utah state tax commissioner. E-mail: frankp@xmission.com.