Breaking rules
One of the more interesting turnabouts in this week's deal to call a special legislative session on taxes came in the House.
Many House members, who all face re-election, have been agitating for a special session to pass the $70 million income tax cut they had promised -- but failed to deliver -- in the regular session.
They, of course, were following Rule of Utah Politics No. 36: Giving a tax cut before an election is not exactly buying votes, but voters do feel warm toward incumbents who give them money -- even if it already belongs to them.
Nevertheless, the drive for a special session earlier this summer was blocked by a counter-intuitive decision by House leaders who decided a special session before the election was a dangerous idea.
They, of course were invoking Rule of Utah Politics No. 43: Put a group of Utah lawmakers together to promote their own interests and they'll screw it up.
As Speaker Greg Curtis later explained, any special session has a risk of controversy. What he didn't dwell on is that lawmakers are always capable of doing something politically suicidal -- like, say, refuse to give dental care to the poor. The public has yet to forget that smooth move, even in Curtis' district.
"Some members were leery of a special session," Curtis said. "Even in a tax cut, anytime you do something that involves controversy -- it could come back on you. We figured, just kind of let the waters calm [from the dental-care fiasco] rather than keep churning it."
So why the change of heart on a September special session on taxes?
Rule No. 44: If you're desperate to advance your agenda, forget you ever heard of Rule No. 43.
If the September special session is held, House members will get their tax cut. Curtis and business leaders will get their sales tax for mass transit. And Huntsman and his allies will get something they can call income tax reform.
Will they screw it up? Probably (see Rule No. 43.)
But of course, there's Rule No. 1: never admit you blew it.
-- Glen Warchol
Many House members, who all face re-election, have been agitating for a special session to pass the $70 million income tax cut they had promised -- but failed to deliver -- in the regular session.
They, of course, were following Rule of Utah Politics No. 36: Giving a tax cut before an election is not exactly buying votes, but voters do feel warm toward incumbents who give them money -- even if it already belongs to them.
Nevertheless, the drive for a special session earlier this summer was blocked by a counter-intuitive decision by House leaders who decided a special session before the election was a dangerous idea.
They, of course were invoking Rule of Utah Politics No. 43: Put a group of Utah lawmakers together to promote their own interests and they'll screw it up.
As Speaker Greg Curtis later explained, any special session has a risk of controversy. What he didn't dwell on is that lawmakers are always capable of doing something politically suicidal -- like, say, refuse to give dental care to the poor. The public has yet to forget that smooth move, even in Curtis' district.
"Some members were leery of a special session," Curtis said. "Even in a tax cut, anytime you do something that involves controversy -- it could come back on you. We figured, just kind of let the waters calm [from the dental-care fiasco] rather than keep churning it."
So why the change of heart on a September special session on taxes?
Rule No. 44: If you're desperate to advance your agenda, forget you ever heard of Rule No. 43.
If the September special session is held, House members will get their tax cut. Curtis and business leaders will get their sales tax for mass transit. And Huntsman and his allies will get something they can call income tax reform.
Will they screw it up? Probably (see Rule No. 43.)
But of course, there's Rule No. 1: never admit you blew it.
-- Glen Warchol
8:01 AM
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