Issues worth watching in last 9 days of Legislature

Although the legislative session is still nine working days from adjournment, politicos are already scrambling to define the unusual tone on Capitol Hill. Here are some issues we're watching.

Is election-year politics playing a greater role this year?

Pignanelli: "A zoo offers the public … a form of idle and witless amusement, which compared to a visit to a penitentiary or a State legislature in session, is informing, stimulating and ennobling." — H.L. Mencken.

Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon, the Democratic challenger to Gov. Gary Herbert, is utilizing the Legislature as a campaign tactic. He is taking shots in the media to paint the governor as a sycophant to right-wing extremists out of touch with mainstream Utah. This is a strategy to attract the independents and moderate Republicans Corroon must have to win in November.

However, the GOP response to this irritation is defining the session as lawmakers rally around the governor. Classic example is the legislation that allows Snowbird to be annexed into Sandy and provides opportunities for lawmakers (especially sponsor Sen. Curt Bramble) to rail against the "horrendous, burdensome county taxes" imposed by Corroon. Legislation that could help the mayor balance the county budget without increased taxes was quickly extinguished. Politicos believe the governor's recent line in the sand against a tobacco tax increase is a great "twofer." It secures a grumpy conservative base and builds a potential barrage against Corroon. Readers can anticipate Herbert supporters reminding voters the governor refused to raise any taxes in a recession while Corroon imposed a police fee.

The good news for Corroon is that some Republicans consider him a threat to be included in their stratagems. Congressman Jim Matheson is the only other Democrat in decades to achieve this status.

Webb: Election? What election? Would our politicians ever be so crass as to posture for the next election? Arch-conservatives seem to be on a roll. They are angry, vocal and highly influential with the Legislature. But the prospect of teacher layoffs, larger class sizes, early release of prison inmates, laying off Highway Patrol troopers and less access to higher education might just wake up the mainstream majority and give moderate Democrats plenty of ammo in the general election. Republicans in Salt Lake County, especially, might want to check the ingredients in the right-wing Kool-Aid.

Will any tax increases pass?

Pignanelli: Not in this election year.