Are Utah's GOP leaders now in jeopardy?

For obsessed Utah politicos (like us), the Legislature is the gift that keeps on giving. Legislative action on immigration reform and access to government records continues to dominate political discussions. Tea party activists are angry. The news media are apoplectic over GRAMA reform. We review the ramifications.

Although the national media and local community leaders are praising lawmakers for their immigration package, many arch-conservative activists are angry and threaten to defeat lawmakers who supported the guest worker bill. Other activists on the left and right remain hostile over passage of GRAMA reform. Are Republican legislators' re-elections in jeopardy?

Pignanelli:"Man is the only animal that laughs and has a state legislature." — Samuel Butler. To use the local vernacular, "you betcha" they are in trouble. The delegate system is a Petri dish of mischief, and the immigration legislation provides a fertile ingredient for explosion of noxious bacteria. Tea party activists are aggressively confronting and challenging the most conservative of legislators who supported immigration reform. Their hostility arises because immigration is a litmus test for these ultraconservatives. The immigration solution is supported by a wide variety of Utah's influential business and community leaders. But the power brokers must come to the public aid of these courageous officials now, and in their convention battles, our future lawmakers will pay them little heed.

Webb: Let's put this in perspective. In other states they're slashing budgets, laying off thousands of teachers and legislators are fleeing over state lines. In Utah we're wringing our hands about text messages being made public. Thanks goodness we're in Utah. The reality is that the recent legislative session was extremely successful. Utahns can be proud of the frugal way their lawmakers and governor took care of state business in a very tough economic environment. Mainstream Utahns must not allow either the ultra-right or the special-interest media activists to diminish the success of the session. Utah is governed well, and it's time for mainstream Utahns to stand up for their excellent political leadership.

More legislators are expected to request an immediate repeal of HB477. Could this derail the efforts to develop a compromise for a summer special session?

Pignanelli: Yes, if the momentum among legislators to repeal HB477 continues, there will be little appetite to maintain negotiations for an alternative. Behind the scenes, a number of lawmakers want the issue off the public radar, and that includes any fighting inside a special session. They believe "out of sight" will be out of mind for the public — the best scenario.