Legislative session providing friction and progress

Pignanelli: "The mouth from 4th South" — Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson — is once again a factor in deliberations regarding legislation that impacts the capital city. His premeditated attacks on Davis County drivers coupled with an asinine remark that there are too many Mormons on the City Council (and a suspicion he was involved with a shadow PAC that sent hit pieces against Republicans last year) has angered lawmakers and hampered the ability of city legislators and lobbyists to accomplish important goals. What Rocky and his followers fail to grasp is that Salt Lake City has less than 10 percent of the population of the state (with commensurate political influence) and desperately needs the alliances of other communities at the Legislature. A worthy investment for the council would be a human muzzle.

• Any bill with the word "tax" will be incorporated into a huge task force to study all issues related to Utah's methodology of collecting revenue from companies and individuals. Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. was hoping to have major changes to the tax code this session but didn't have enough time to build support and address funding issues. The more compelling subject is how this Legislative task force will include the governor in its deliberations. Will he have adequate representation in the membership or will he have to construct a parallel group of his own appointees? The final makeup of the committee will be a good indicator of his relationship with the Legislature.

• Last week, hundreds of Latinos stormed the state Capitol to express anger and frustration at legislation that would strip standard drivers' licenses from undocumented workers and replace them with limited ID cards. These individuals — some Americans and others citizens of neighboring countries — exercised democratic action in communicating to elected officials. Although emotions were high, they articulated their concerns with courtesy and intelligence. Our state and country will benefit from having such energetic people continue to participate in government activity.