The Sutherland Institute has been at it again: thinking.

The smoking-hot brains at Utah's premier conservative think tank tackle all kinds of issues. Last fall they offered a thick essay that argued that our pioneer forefathers and foremothers would have embraced educational vouchers. Unfortunately, living Utahns disagreed, and overwhelmingly voted the voucher program down in a referendum.

Sutherland, which is so active it once asked to be referred to as a "do tank" (I'm not kidding), has come up with a jim-dandy idea this time: Convince the federal government to allow Utah to independently address its illegal immigration issues.

With the feds permission, Sutherland proposes, Utah lawmakers could create in-state work permits, student aid and health services for undocumented immigrants.