Political storms may undermine special sessions

Webb: Special sessions ought to be employed infrequently, only for issues so compelling they can't wait for a general session and that are simple and straightforward enough that majority support can be readily achieved.

I have assisted the Salt Lake Chamber and the 2015 Transportation Alliance in proposing a special session that we believe fulfills both of those requirements — especially if the session is limited to simply authorizing the Salt Lake County Council to place a one-quarter cent sales tax increase on the November ballot so that county voters can choose whether they want to build four new TRAX light-rail lines.

Limiting the proposal to Salt Lake County makes it about as simple and direct as is humanly possible. No one can say the proposal is too complex or hasn't been thoroughly studied. The four TRAX lines to Draper, South Jordan/West Jordan, West Valley City and the airport have been planned for years by mayors and county leaders in the Wasatch Front Regional Council.

Routes have been selected and negotiated. Rights of way have been purchased. Preliminary environmental/engineering work has been completed. Federal funding requirements have been met. Construction could be under way within months.

City and county leaders are near-unanimous in their support for the four lines, even if it means a quarter-cent tax boost. Local business associations are supportive, and, very significantly, polls show overwhelming citizen support for the new TRAX lines.

Compelling reasons exist for the Legislature to act now instead of waiting until January.

By acting now, the County Council could choose to place the proposal before voters in the November election. If delayed until January, another general election isn't available until 2008 — two more years of increased congestion, tens of millions of dollars in increased construction costs, and the possible loss of federal dollars.

That's plenty compelling to justify a quick, simple and straightforward special session. As for winning majority support, legislators who represent other parts of the state ought not to care if Salt Lake County voters want to tax themselves to expand the TRAX system.

If ever there was a major, gridlock-busting transportation project ready to go, improving mobility and saving multimillions of dollars by building now instead of later, this is it.

Unfortunately, this simple proposal is falling victim to the "perfect storm" Frank describes above — a whirlwind of rancor and suspicion over the soccer stadium, tax reform and the poisonous atmosphere between branches of government and the House and Senate.

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Republican LaVarr Webb was policy deputy to Gov. Mike Leavitt and Deseret News managing editor. He now is a political consultant and lobbyist. E-mail: lwebb@exoro.com. Democrat Frank Pignanelli is Salt Lake attorney, lobbyist and political adviser. A former candidate for Salt Lake mayor, he served 10 years in the Utah House of Representatives, six years as House minority leader. Pignanelli's spouse, D'Arcy Dixon Pignanelli, is a Utah state tax commissioner. E-mail: frankp@xmission.com.