Legislature is a better show than t he Oscars

By Frank Pignanelli & LaVarr Webb
Published: Sunday, March 5, 2006 5:13 p.m. MST
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Pignanelli & Webb: Every year at this time we get to watch as men and women reveal their emotions, in print and on the screen, before thousands of others. The rest of the world may get such entertainment from the Academy Awards, but in Utah our amusement is more than satisfied by observing the Legislature. This session produced no overwhelming winners; everyone won some and lost some. Here is our insider view of the personalities that highlighted the messiest, but most energetic, of legislative sessions:

• House Speaker Greg Curtis' firm hand on state government was challenged by a reinvigorated Senate and a new governor flexing his muscles. Legislators, lobbyists and anyone else who disagreed with the speaker felt his famous wrath at some point during the 45 days, an activity often described as a "beating with a shovel." The shrewd lawmaker didn't get everything he wanted, including complete removal of the sales tax on food and a modicum of efficiency in House activities. Still, Curtis bagged a soccer stadium for his hometown, obtained enthusiastic public support from the governor for his tax positions, and maintained respect from his caucus — good results for any politician.

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• Right to the end of the session, the Legislature and governor remained in a heated deadlock. The acrimony between the House/governor and the Senate were at historic proportions. Interestingly, insiders deeply involved in the negotiations say that the last-minute breakthrough on tax cuts came from the most unlikely of sources, House Majority Leader Jeff Alexander. This Utah County legislator is famous for explosive outbursts and angry denunciations of his targets. Toward the end of the session, Alexander posted a blog requesting civility in legislative discussions and earnestly reached out to senators in a joint leadership meeting. Alexander's exercise of diplomacy broke down the walls, allowing serious discussions of compromise.

• Through six weeks of public and private recriminations from the House and the governor, Senate President John Valentine and Senate Majority Leader Pete Knudson maintained their composure and refused to budge. Valentine, a talented tax attorney, insisted that meaningful tax reform required broad-based lower rates with no phase-ins. The Senate stuck to those principles.

Ultimately, meaningful tax reform was thwarted by the House's failure to pass the flatter personal income tax. However, that matter will be addressed in a special session.

• It's official — Utah has a governor! While disagreement rages with the policies he chose to support, there is no doubt that Jon Huntsman Jr. used the office to secure his priorities. Senators retaliated and Huntsman suffered some losses (i.e., full-day kindergarten). But the important result is that Utahns, and their elected officials, are on notice that the state chief executive carries a sword with his diplomatic credentials.

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