From my point of view, the 2012 Senate race is not really a race for U.S. Senate, but is actually a race for Senate Finance Committee! That’s the main reason, in spite of the fact that I think Dan Liljenquist is a rock-star and would make an amazing Senator, that I still support Orrin Hatch.
The Liljenquist campaign has made assurances that Dan can get on the Finance Committee and that Orrin Hatch is not assured the Chairmanship simply because he has more seniority that Olympia Snowe and Chuck Grassley has already served more than 10 years in Republican leadership of the committee (Republican rules limit the amount of time a Senator can serve in leadership). First of all, I’m not 100% convinced of either claim and second I’m not convinced it’s worth the risk.
All voters, even within the party, have unique policy priorities. My background as an economic conservative from the ‘Jack Kemp’ wing of the party means I consider Finance Committee membership and it’s Chairmanship penultimate in priority. In my admittedly slightly skewed world-view, controlling the agenda in the Senate Finance Committee is almost as important as controlling the White House. Obviously some of my friends will disagree.
The Senate Fincnace Committee controls everything that matters in 2013. It has jurisdiction over tax policy and entitlements (both of which must be reformed immediately or I fear our country is headed for disaster. Our state (Utah) MUST have a voice in the coming debate on tax policy and entitlement reform. This is our opportunity to lead the nation in the “Right” direction and not simply to sit on the sidelines hoping things go our way. As the most conservative state in the union we have an obligation to be thought leaders on these issues, and a seat (a powerful seat) on Senate Finance will ensure that.
Will the world collapse if Dan Liljenquist replaces Orrin Hatch in the Sneate in 2013? After meeting with and talking to Dan about economic policy for almost an hour I have to say no, we’ll be in great hands. Will the world end if Liljenquist doesn’t manage to get a seat in the Senate Finance Committee to replace Hatch? MAYBE not, but the prospect makes me nervous. Will the world end if Olympis Snowe becomes chairman of the committee because of her seniority and because Senators from other less conservative states are impressed rather than repelled by her willingness to work with Democrats to get things done? Probably within five years, yes…at least the world as we know it.
I have a few friends on the Liljenquist campaign (including now Dan himself), but I’m not convinced that removing Hatch and hoping that (a) Utah retains a voice on the committee and (b) that the committee is led by an uber-conservative who knows what needs to be done is the right course to plot in 2012. The consolation prize will be that a new generation of brilliant conservative leaders who ‘get it’ will ascend to represent us in Hatch’s place – but I’m just not convinced it’s worth the trade-off.