Legislative caucus formed to attempt to assert state power

About 200 enthusiastic Utahns stood in the state Capitol on Wednesday to cheer the creation of the Patrick Henry Caucus.

It's hoped by noted Utah conservatives that the caucus — named after a Revolutionary War hero who said "give me liberty or give me death" — will cause similar caucuses to spring up around the country, in part to stand against what they see as an ever-growing, ever-evil federal government.

One of the Utah caucus founders, Rep. Carl Wimmer, R-Herriman, seemed choked up as he addressed the crowd.

Wimmer, a former police officer and one of the most conservative members of the House, introduced his wife and three young children to the group, saying he would do whatever he can "to defend their liberty."

Wimmer said the Utah Legislature alone can't succeed. But if 25 or 30 other state legislatures, supported by rank-and-file citizens, get together, Washington, D.C., will listen.

But Utah's Patrick Henry Caucus is not the first time that well-meaning Utahns have taken up this cause.

Few may remember that former Gov. Mike Leavitt said one of his main priorities in his first term, started in 1993, was to regain state rights from the federal government. Leavitt's effort culminated in a national conference in Philadelphia, but little came of it.

A decade later, then-Utah House Speaker Marty Stephens put forward his APPLE initiative, which, among other things, tried to reclaim for the state the main responsibility of education and education reform. That, too, fell on deaf ears in D.C.

Still, members of the new caucus are vocal about their plans.

"The silent majority can't stay silent any more," said Rep. Chris Herrod, R-Provo. "Don't let the federal government take your rights away."

They also warned that losing state control would lead to dangerously centralized control.

"The best way to guarantee tyranny is to give up state sovereignty," said Rep. Stephen Sandstrom, R-Orem.

The crowd included a number of people carrying signs, including:

"Big federal government too big to succeed."

"Proud to be the party of No!"

"Keep your socialism, Utah will keep its liberty."

"Don't tread on me."

"Fight the chains of gigantic government."

E-MAIL: bbjr@desnews.com