Salt Lake Tribune: Utah Senate Republicans Elect New Leader; House Retains Speaker

Looks like corporate America continues to enjoy the most effective Utah legislative representation that money can buy

I actually feel that [closing caucuses] creates some transparency that we wouldn’t have otherwise.

Wayne Niederhauser - Senate President
Utah Senate Republicans elect new leader; House retains speaker
November 8, 2012

Political language... is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind.

George Orwell
Brainyquotes - George Orwell Quotes
25 June 1903 – 21 January 1950

The Salt Lake Tribune this morning reports that a short two days after Tuesday's election, the Utah state legislative majority, after meeting in closed caucus session, has already elected new legislative "leadership":

• Utah Senate Republicans elect new leader; House retains speaker

In a nutshell, here's the new state legislature's 2013 leadership lineup:

Senate:
Senate President: Wayne Niederhauser
Majority Leader: Ralph Okerlund
Majority Whip: Stuart Adams
Assistant Majority Whip: Pete Knudson

House:
House Speaker: Becky Lockhart
Majority Leader: Brad Dee
Whip: Greg Hughes
Assistant Whip: Don Ipson

Significantly, Trib columnist Rober Gehrke notes, Niederhauser "is also is Utah co-chairman of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a corporate-backed group of conservative lawmakers from around the country that has been criticized for its influence in formulating policy around the country."

Looks like corporate America continues to enjoy the most effective Utah legislative representation that money can buy, and that back-room politics will remain the Utah legislature's modus operandi, while Utah lumpencitizens continue to play second fiddle.