Snookered again
Tribune columnist Paul Rolly exposes a classic Utah legislative scam. In this case, elected grifters Rep. Becky Lockhart and Sen. Curt Bramble dazzle the rubes with a Capitol Hill version of Three-Card Monte.Lockhart sponsored a bill that would chan
ge the way tobacco is taxed, she said, to raise the price of chewing tobacco and protect kids. But a closer look showed Lockhart's bill would actually lower the price of Skoal and Copenhagen. Did I mention the bill was being lobbied by Gary Thorup, lobbyist for Skoal and Copenhagen? Neither did Becky.A little more back story: Becky is married to Stan Lockhart, lobbyist and state chairman of the GOP. Becky and Stan are houseboat buddies of Senate Majority Leader Bramble.
Rolly does the play-by-play:
The bill remained buried under the radar screen in the Senate Rules Committee, where it was lifted to the Senate floor by Lockhart's buddy Sen. Curtis Bramble on the last night of the session and quickly passed.Is anyone conscious in Utah County?
Above: Two of the better photos of Rep. Beck Lockhart and Sen. Curt Bramble by the Trib's Trent Nelson. For more of Trent's stuff, go here.
3 Comments:
Fortunately for the people of Provo there is hope. Dr. Boyd Petersen is running against Lockhart this year. Dr. Petersen has taught Honors English at BYU and is currently the Mormon Studies chair at Utah Valley University. He brings a compelling blend of local culture, academics and government service form his National Library of Congress days. Interestingly Petersen is the author of a Hugh Nibley biography that won the Best Biography award from the Mormon History Association. I’ve found Dr. Petersen to be engaging, warm and thoughtful. Congratulations to the Democratic Party for producing such a refreshing candidate during these troubling times.
Becky Lockhart is opposed in District 64 by Boyd Peterson. I hope that editorials like this will stir moderate Republicans to seek out and support a candidate with real principles and integrity - even if the candidate is a moderate Democrat like Peterson. If the voters in Utah have grown impatient with the hypocrisy of a legislature that postures for the public by niggling over the sale of fruity, malt-liquor beverages while completely ignoring a bill on ethics reform, maybe its time to elect candidates like Boyd Peterson whose hearts are set on serving Utah and not on filling their campaign coffers with money from the tobacco lobby.
Becky Lockhart is just another example of what is wrong with Utah politics -- cozy lobbyist relationships, political inbreeding. It is time Utah County wakes up and brings in some fresh air to Utah.
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