Choose Your Weapons
Last year, the Republican majority in the Utah State Senate launched a Web site with the aspiration of encouraging dialogue and publicizing the positions of the majority to explain what would happen in the Legislature and why.
They were careful to explain it was not a formal Senate Web site, but the "unofficial voice of the Senate Majority." In case someone is not sure, that would be the Republicans.
When Republican leaders launched the site, though, they probably didn't realize the potential quick sand they were creating for themselves.
Case in point:
The Senate site recently posted an opinion piece, written by Senate President John Valentine, commenting on the proposal, generated from the House, that sales tax on food be completely eliminated. The piece was titled: "Ain't Gonna Happen."
It went on to say the best taxing policy is to keep taxes low in all areas of taxation rather than having extremes with some areas not taxed and others taxed higher to make up the difference.
"The senate approved reducing the tax on food (to take effect next year) because that will lower the rate while it keeps the base constant," it said. "As a group, we're not okay with doing away with it altogether. That would be shrinking the base, making our revenue stream incrementally more volatile."
That, apparently, was seen by House leadership as a shot across the bow. The Senate Republican staff was then notified by the House Republican staff that this means war. It was considered a slap in the face to the House, which, traditionally is a challenge to a duel.
Stay tuned. The upcoming legislative session could be fun to watch.
Cheers,
Paul Rolly
They were careful to explain it was not a formal Senate Web site, but the "unofficial voice of the Senate Majority." In case someone is not sure, that would be the Republicans.
When Republican leaders launched the site, though, they probably didn't realize the potential quick sand they were creating for themselves.
Case in point:
The Senate site recently posted an opinion piece, written by Senate President John Valentine, commenting on the proposal, generated from the House, that sales tax on food be completely eliminated. The piece was titled: "Ain't Gonna Happen."
It went on to say the best taxing policy is to keep taxes low in all areas of taxation rather than having extremes with some areas not taxed and others taxed higher to make up the difference.
"The senate approved reducing the tax on food (to take effect next year) because that will lower the rate while it keeps the base constant," it said. "As a group, we're not okay with doing away with it altogether. That would be shrinking the base, making our revenue stream incrementally more volatile."
That, apparently, was seen by House leadership as a shot across the bow. The Senate Republican staff was then notified by the House Republican staff that this means war. It was considered a slap in the face to the House, which, traditionally is a challenge to a duel.
Stay tuned. The upcoming legislative session could be fun to watch.
Cheers,
Paul Rolly
12:54 PM
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