Legislative entrepreneurs are tenacious political leaders who challenge the status quo and take bold action to advance liberty and limited government.
SALT LAKE CITY — State Sen. Dan Liljenquist has been awarded a national tea party organization's "Legislative Entrepreneur of the Year."
The Washington, D.C.-based FreedomWorks said the Bountiful Republican earned the honor for "his remarkable accomplishments towards reining in government spending in Utah,"by pushing reforms to the state pension system and Medicaid program.
"Legislative entrepreneurs are tenacious political leaders who challenge the status quo and take bold action to advance liberty and limited government," said FreedomWorks Chairman Dick Armey, a former U.S. House Majority Leader.
Armey said Liljenquist's pension and entitlement reforms in Utah "are now the envy of states across the country, and serve as a model for the nation."
Previous winners of the award include now-U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fl., and Govs. Mitch Daniels of Indiana and John Kasich of Ohio.
The award comes as Liljenquist is expected to announce whether he'll run against U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah.
FreedomWorks leaders have made defeating Hatch a priority, visiting Utah earlier this year to interview Liljenquist and other potential challengers after Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, decided not to get in the race.
So far, no Republican has stepped forward to take on the six-term senator. FreedomWorks leaders have promised the organization will be "heavily invested" in the race.
— Lisa Riley Roche, Twitter: dnewspolitics