Pignanelli: Expect to hear or read the following frequently this year: "(candidate) will work tirelessly to lower your health-care costs but maintain the quality we expect by (choose: restricting insurance companies or maximizing efficiencies) through (choose: market-driven action or public-private partnerships)." Because it is a cause du jour this season, campaigns will talk, or even offer plans, on the subject. But few, if any, will recommend massive modifications to voters' lifestyle or current involvement with the system.

Webb: I hope it will be an enormous issue. I hope voters at every opportunity will ask candidates what they plan to do about health costs, and encourage them to take action. I hope they will tell candidates how they are personally being impacted, how costs are rising, and how current trends can't continue. Citizen activism will make a big difference.

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Republican LaVarr Webb is a political consultant and lobbyist. During the recent legislative session, Webb conducted some communications work for the Salt Lake Chamber on health-care reform. 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. E-mail: frankp@xmission.com.