Conservative group GrassRoots gives Herbert highest ranking ever

SALT LAKE CITY — Gov. Gary Herbert, who in a month faces a state Republican convention packed with conservative delegates, has been given the highest ranking yet for a Utah governor by a local conservative group.

Utah GrassRoots says Herbert acted "right" 71 percent of the time. The organization ranks lawmakers and the governor after every legislative session on how they voted on two dozen or so key measures.

And considering GrassRoots' stands on a number of issues, voting the "right" way might mean Herbert is on the far end of the political right, at least nationally.

Herbert said while it's always flattering to rank highly on an evaluation, the most important thing he can do is govern correctly through principle.

Through his spokeswoman Angie Welling, Herbert said: "I will continue to govern the state in a way that is fiscally prudent, helps grow the economy and creates an education system that gives Utah youth the best possible chances of success and promotes economic development."

GrassRoots has been doing its ranking since 1992.

And since that time, former GOP Govs. Mike Leavitt, Olene Walker and Jon Huntsman Jr. never ranked as high as Herbert — who just finished his first Legislature as chief executive. Herbert took over after Huntsman resigned in August to become U.S. ambassador to China.

In fact, all three former Republican governors were considered "moderates" — or worse — by the group.

For example, for the five legislative sessions Huntsman oversaw GrassRoots gave him an overall 39 percent ranking — worse than some Democratic legislators have received.

For the one Legislature she oversaw in 2004, Walker got a 33 percent rating by GrassRoots. And a month later, Walker was booted out of office in the 2004 state Republican Convention, failing to advance to a GOP primary election.

Rep. Mike Morley, R-Spanish Fork, got a 100 percent correct voting ranking from GrassRoots for his work in the 2010 Legislature.

Sen. Margaret Dayton, R-Orem, was the top GOP senator on the conservative group's list, getting a 90 percent ranking.

GrassRoots said while the 2010 Legislature did many correct things from the group's perspective — especially in passing laws and resolutions concerning states' rights — "all news was not good."

With the GOP majority leading the way, lawmakers passed a $1-per-pack increase in the state cigarette tax — a move opposed by the conservative group.

Herbert let that tax hike go into effect without signing the bill.

GrassRoots also complained that the Legislature allowed the Utah Transit Authority to become a limited partner in a housing development.

And the House gave a "blow" to parental rights by killing a bill that would liberalize the current booster seat law, the group said.

The full GrassRoots report is available to download as a PDF.

e-mail: bbjr@desnews.com