The Legislature begins!
By Renae Cowley, Frank Pignanelli
Republican Renae Cowley is a political consultant, lobbyist, social media influencer and professional rodeo athlete. Frank Pignanelli is a Salt Lake attorney, lobbyist and political adviser who served as a Democrat in the Utah State Legislature.
The Utah Legislature convenes this week. This annual event becomes the focal point of Utah policymaking and politics. Thus, your columnists must offer their perspectives.
Gov. Spencer Cox, the Senate Majority Caucus and the House Majority Caucus released priorities for the upcoming session. These include affordability (tax cuts), housing, energy, immigration, water, education, etc. This is a big order for less than seven weeks. What can legislators realistically accomplish, and what should they avoid?
Cowley: Trump declared a national emergency on energy, announcing America would “drill baby, drill.” Utah has a tremendous amount of energy resources, not just oil. For months, the Legislature has been planning a massive undertaking to increase energy production, and up until Trump’s inaugural speech the federal government was their biggest obstacle. The Legislature should take advantage of these political winds.
In a down-budget year, tax cuts will likely be small and frankly de minimis for most Utahns. If they are going to cut taxes, they need to do so in a way that has the most impact and bang for their buck — eliminating the tax on social security benefits.
Knowing when to show restraint is also a worthy legislative virtue. Sometimes the best thing the legislature can do is nothing. Not every inconvenience requires a fix-it bill. Perhaps this year will reverse the trend of passing a record number of bills year after year.
Lastly, they should keep in mind what matters most to people: gas and groceries.
Pignanelli: “Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.” —Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
This is my 39th legislative session in which I have been involved in lawmaking as a public servant or lobbyist. Although becoming somewhat curmudgeonly, I am still invigorated by the enthusiasm, goodwill and dedication of everyone involved in this representative democracy.
Because the lawmaker reflects his or her constituents (a.k.a hard-working, common-sense Utahns), it is not unrealistic to believe practical results will occur by March 7. However, legislators must remain focused on what has worked and avoid what has not.
Several years ago, legislative leaders readjusted the debate schedule. Emotional, controversial, social and moral issues were not left to the end but instead debated and finalized in the first weeks of the session. This left time for worthy deliberations of the essential budgetary and policy matters. A similar format will serve well this year.
My experience affords me the confidence that good ideas will pass, questionable proposals will quietly fade away and foundations will be established for future considerations. But I also understand that it will be a wild and entertaining ride until adjournment.
National polls in the Wall Street Journal, Fox News and a local survey conducted by the Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics document support for initiatives supported by President Donald Trump and state leaders. But Americans and Utahns want moderation in many of these actions. How will such public sentiment impact legislative deliberations?
Cowley: In Utah, Trump’s policies are more popular than Trump the person. The devil is in the details and as much as voters want secure borders, they don’t want their hard-working neighbor deported. They want to bolster domestic manufacturing but not if everyday goods cost more. Trump made some big promises for his final term. How he tackles these topics will be the difference between midterm gains or losses.
Utahns want compassionate approaches to solving big issues. The legislature’s challenge will be to thread that needle — which is entirely possible. They can protect women’s sports while showing grace to trans athletes. Utah can be an energy-producing superpower, without impacting our air quality. They can enact policies that make the American dream of home ownership attainable, while preserving neighborhoods. Handling these hot-button issues with kindness and empathy will make difficult decisions more palatable to a broad array of voters.
Pignanelli: Whether in polling or other forms of discourse, Utahns clearly communicate that they want practical government solutions. Thus, they support evicting immigrants with criminal records but not those who contribute to the economy and well-being of the nation. Higher education reform is needed while protecting the benefits universities and colleges deliver. Utah parents want their adult children to stay close, so housing incentives are critical. Strong action delivered in a moderate tone and focus is the formula voters request. This pragmatism of Utahns provides a welcome guidance to our leaders.
What role can Democrats play in these policy developments?
Cowley: Energy production, domestic manufacturing, even border wall construction will create a slew of jobs for skilled workers. The stage is set for Democrats to reclaim their role as the party of organized labor if they are willing to promote policies that create blue-collar jobs.
If they choose to fight for the preservation of DEI policies, which Trump has promised to end, they will continue to see similar electoral losses.
Pignanelli: All of the surveys — national and local — indicate citizens want collaboration between the parties. Thus, opportunities exist for Democrats. They can cosponsor realistic solutions supported by Republicans while offering critiques when obvious overreach is apparent. Understanding what Utahns want, not just a narrow slice of the electorate, is critical for relevancy.