Deadlock makes for a wild legislative session

By Frank Pignanelli & LaVarr Webb
Published: Sunday, Feb. 26, 2006 12:40 a.m. MST
E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
Pignanelli: In sumo wrestling, the contenders grunt and move about the ring facing each other. Then they grapple with the opponent and oftentimes bounce away. Although slower than boxers, sumo combatants are powerful and aggressive. The House and Senate are mimicking the Japanese sport: glaring and groaning, stomping their feet, grabbing the other. (Comparing the Legislature to strong, large-bellied men wearing thong underwear may appear disrespectful but somehow seems appropriate in this case.)

The "sumo-like" face-off between the House and the Senate was significant for its origins and underlying basis. Both sides had clear, but very different, policy considerations that LaVarr notes below. But as with most things political, the personality dynamics of the players powered the discussions and public statements. House Speaker Greg Curtis is a savvy political street fighter who fashioned the sales tax removal as a personal cause for him and his leadership team. Further, Curtis has driven state policy for the last 14 months and was not about to abandon this role in a last-minute concession.

Prior to the session, there was talk that Senate President John Valentine was in trouble with his colleagues for perceived weakness in dealing with the speaker and the governor. Such comments are no longer made or heard. Indeed, Valentine brilliantly utilized the Senate's refusal to remove the sales tax from food as a mechanism to rally senators (including a number of Democrats). Prior internal dissensions (usually surrounding Sen. Curtis Bramble) have dissipated, and the senate caucus was a unified bloc impervious to the normal pressures to compromise.

Story continues below
Emotions ran high as some House members and senators labeled each other as "stupid" or other such fond affections. This made for interesting antics in the closed-door meetings between leaders. The House expressed frustration (usually with high octave demonstratives) at the Senate's refusal to offer counterproposals to remedy their differences. Sen. Bramble, a master of pushing people's buttons, enjoyed responding to the House recommendations with a wry smile and a sickly sweet "That's nice." His comment was always rewarded with the same reaction — explosive anger from House Leaders.

Governor Jon Huntsman Jr., who usually uses his diplomatic skills to referee such contests, weighed in in a big way with the House. Huntsman, with his massive popularity and persuasive abilities, changed the tenor of the debate. This angered a number of lawmakers unaccustomed to such force from the executive branch. Yet the governor could not remain on the sidelines for these important policy deliberations.

Until Thursday, most politicos were convinced that emotional and personal investment would prevent compromise. According to the buzz on Capitol Hill, the logjam broke for two reasons: legislators were concerned about the eventual public relations fallout from a stalemate without tax cuts (especially in the upcoming party precinct caucuses), and a governor who was willing to use the power of his office to publicly draw a line in the sand.

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.