The Legislature is at work, and it's an election year

There's one really nice thing about the Legislature: When it's over, spring is here! It's like walking into a dark tunnel on a gray, cold, winter day, and when you emerge out the other side, 45 days later, the air is warm, the sky is blue, and birds are singing.

The Legislature always creates entertaining political dynamics. Here are some of our perspectives.

How will election-year politics impact the session?

Pignanelli: "In politics, what begins in fear usually ends in folly." — Coleridge. Anxiety and drama always increase in an election year, but they are off the charts in 2012. Many lawmakers are spooked by what happened to incumbents in the past 18 months. Sen. Bob Bennett was knocked off in the 2010 convention (by Republican delegates), while Rep. Jim Matheson was forced into a primary (by Democrat delegates).

In 2011, delegates in a special election did not give several incumbent House members the usual deference in appointment to a Senate seat. Furthermore, legislators must file for re-election immediately after the gavel closes the session and precinct caucuses are held shortly after that. Consequently, the focus is pleasing the delegates — who are in a grumpy mood. (Thus, we may want to give legislators some slack this year.) Members of both parties will strive to placate these unforgiving activists — especially the right wing. Speeches vilifying the federal government will reach such a crescendo that Utahns will wonder if reptilian extraterrestrial aliens have morphed into Washington, D.C., bureaucrats as part of an intergalactic plan to suck the life force from Americans.

Webb: Unlike the national scene, where an election year utterly paralyzes an already dysfunctional Congress and president, in Utah our Legislature does a great job of getting the stats work done, mostly in a bipartisan, responsible fashion. The budget will be balanced; the important bills passed; most crazy bills will be killed; and Utah will be well-managed.

Still, election-year jitters do play a role. Lawmakers with an eye on imminent caucuses and conventions are naturally cautious and careful to avoid issues (even the whiff of a tax increase) that would offend their electoral base, especially their delegates and political activists.

Interestingly, more Republican legislators are fearful of a challenge from within their own party, especially from the right, than from the Democrats. That tends to skew policymaking to the right.