Utah Senate Republicans Vote for New Leadership
Nov 11, 2008 by KCPW
(KCPW News) Although new Utah Senate President Michael Waddoups was appointed by his Republican peers last week, he'll now preside over both parties in the legislative body's daily proceedings. Democratic Senator Scott McCoy says Waddoups may have more challenges ahead than his predecessor, John Valentine."It is definitely difficult to be the guy in charge when you've got an economic downturn because what it does mean is, is means that programs might have to be cut and good programs that are in the pipeline that might have gotten the funding otherwise may not, and so that is very difficult. It creates a difficult balancing act for President Waddoups," McCoy said.
Senator Ross Romero was appointed to Minority Whip. Retiring Minority Leader Mike Dmitrich was replaced by Senator Pat Jones, and newcomer Luz Robles was appointed minority caucus manager. Overall, Senator McCoy says the Senate Democratic leadership represents Utah's population better than Republican leadership.
"I am very proud of and confident that our new minority leadership will do a wonderful job I think that our leadership really does reflect the diversity of the state of Utah and of the Democratic Party. The minority has a few women in leadership; the majority party doesn't have any women in leadership. We have Hispanics in leadership and I just think that that is a demonstration and a credit to the minority leadership," McCoy sai.
The balance of power between the Republicans and Democrats remains the same after the election, 21 to 8. Although the Democrats picked up a seat in Salt Lake County, they lost one in Price.
Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom. Copyright 2009 KCPW
1. Josh Daniels said:
First, this entire article is terrible. It is nothing more than a samizdat press for the Utah Democratic party. Despite being entitled "Utah Senate Republicans Vote for New Leadership" it doesn't mention a single leader besides the new Senate President. It also doesn't feature a single quote from a Senate Republican. I think it may actually be a typo and the article was supposed to be entitled "Senate Democrats Vote for New Leadership." Second, Senator McCoy's comments are even more ridiculous. He rates his leadership in relation to the GOP based on race and gender. What is with that? So the quality of legislative leadership is now solely reliant on race and gender? I thought democrats where the ones that wanted our society to be race and gender neutral. They are the ones always complaining about discrimination. This makes no sense. Does Sen. McCoy remember that his party beat out one of the GOP's leading (not to mention brilliant and classy) female Senators in Carlene Walker? Is that the strategy Sen. McCoy? Target and beat all the racial and gender minority GOP legislators then turn around and call the GOP racists, bigots, and sexists, because we don't have any minority or women leaders in the Senate? Keep in mind there are not a whole bunch of slots for leaders in the Senate. Sen. McCoy also forgot that the GOP has a woman leader in the House in Becky Lockhart. I think it would be wise to edit titles before publishing and not interview Sen. McCoy so often. That may improve the journalistic qualities of these little news blurbs.
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