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Richard Piatt ReportingIt's been less than a week, but Governor Olene Walker is feeling the benefit and the pressure of running as an incumbent.
Governor Walker may have the advantages of an incumbent, but this week she's also coping with the pressure of an incumbent. That's because of the hundreds of bills that will cross her desk soon, bills which will get either a signature or a veto. And she could pay a political price either way on many of them.
She talked about her unique situation a little bit today when she addressed the Utah League of Credit Unions annual convention.
It's still to early for her to say if specific bills will get a 'yea' or a 'nay', but everyone knows there are political hot-buttons--bills that have to do with things like abortion, same sex marriage, and education.
We asked her about the possibility of politics affecting her final decisions.
Gov Olene Walker: "Oh, of course it does. I'd be naive to say it doesn't add a dynamic. But I think it's a low priority compared with figuring out what's right for the citizens of the state."
This is just one more example of how the legislature is playing into this election year. Issues brought up over the 45 days this last winter will be brought up again this spring and summer---for better or worse for candidates.
There is a new internet web link to track the bills the legislature passed this session. The Governor has only gotten a handful of them, but over the next few weeks you can see what her decisions are.
