Here's what Utah's politicians wished from Santa

Pignanelli and Webb: Santa Claus is resting this morning. He took care of more than 4 billion items on his to-do list. Not a bad night's work. We assume he visited all of Utah's politicians, but those on the "naughty list" no doubt received coal in their stocking rather than candy and gifts.

Thanks to the repeal of HB477, we were able to file a GRAMA request and obtain lists of what Utah politicians requested for Christmas gifts.

Gov. Gary Herbert asked Santa for "the plan." This is an elusive document designed to satisfy a number of Republican and Independent skeptics who say the governor "is a nice guy — but he has no plan to take Utah to the next level." No one can provide details of the ephemeral plan (they just want Herbert to have one). Well, Santa didn't bring "the plan." Instead, he brought a pretty tough Democratic opponent in Peter Cooke. Herbert must have been on the naughty list.

Utah Republicans' Christmas ask was pretty simple: Mitt Romney on the presidential ticket. This is the gift that keeps on giving — a GOP landslide in Utah in November, a pretty sure bet to finally terminate Jim Matheson, and bolstered state credibility at the national level (the possibility of our favorite adopted son in the White House!).

Utah Democrats had a short request: "Please give Republicans coal in their stockings by ensuring Newt Gingrich is the nominee!" Were Santa to come through, upset Utah Republicans would be far less enthusiastic on Election Day, giving the Democratic Party a fighting chance for a 2012 comeback.

Sen. Orrin Hatch sought nothing for himself this Christmas. He respects the financial and fiscal skills of possible opponent State Sen. Dan Liljenquist so much that he asked Santa to deliver a church mission call to Liljenquist to overhaul the LDS Church retirement system.

Liljenquist's Christmas request was also quite simple: He just asked Santa to help Hatch "act his age" with a bounteous number of "senior moments" in 2012.

In another example of selflessness, Salt Lake County Council Member Richard Snelgrove (and candidate for Salt Lake County mayor), requested that Santa bypass his house and spread the cheer to other residents. "Richard Burwash made my Christmas so wonderful that it would be greedy to ask Santa for more."

Sen. Mike Lee had a couple of requests. He asked Santa to place pocket-size copies of the U.S. Constitution in every stocking this year. He also wanted Santa to help him win the affection of average Utah voters who like candy by becoming known by his favorite nickname: Junior DeMint.