Show The Herald Journal Logan Utah Thursday November Utah GOP still in firm control Election a referendum for Party balance sees little change - SALT LAKE CITY (UPI) When Utah lawmakers return to Capitol Hill for their annual y legislative session beginning next January there will be 19 new members but little change in party balance as a result of Tuesdays election Democratic Party Chairman Randy Horiuchi hoping for a replay of the 1986 party surge in the Legislature had predicted the minority would pick up 11 seats in the House to grab a bare 7 edge Voters put Democrats in five House seats previously occupied by Republicans At the same time Republicans raided four Democratic House seats — resulting in a net gain for Democrats of only one Perhaps the best election news for GOP viclegislators was the tory of Republican Gov Norm Bangerter who polls had indicated would give up his office to Democrat Ted Wilson Republican control of both the Legislature and the govenor's office means the party is still very much in the driver's seat in terms of state policy and laws Democrats on the other hand will continue to enjoy the benefits of the 1986 election when they grabbed 13 House seats and considerably more manuvering clout than they had had previously Only one legislative leader was defeated in the election Tuesday — House Majority seat That leaves the minority still in the Whip Olene Walker Lake City The veteran third in the House minority by a 8 margin Republicans also helaonto control in the GOP chain of command was knocked off Senate They picked up one seat for an by Democrat Paula Julander Lake a Rep Lamont Richards advantage of 22-- 7 come-from-behi- nd 45-da- pre-electi- on 38-3- R-S- ar 47-2- R-S- UP&L still optimistic on m Democrats against In the Senate the single GOP pickup was made in district 19 where former Weber County Commissioner Boyd Storey thumped Sen Darrell Renstrom Ogden by 20 points The veteran Democrat’s problems began earlier this year when he was chargea with sex abuse He was later acquitted by a jury on at 752-212- Mof BOISE Idaho (UPI) — Gov Cecil Andrus said Wednesday that the election in which three influential Republicans in the state Legislature were defeated by Democrats was a referendum for improved education in the state During a news conference Andrus a Democrat Mid the defeat Tuesday of Senate President Pro Tem Jim Rlseh House Majority Leader Jack Kennevick and Senate Education Committee Chairman Terry Sverdsten will mean an improved political atmosphere tor education “It was without question a clear referendum for education" Andrus said “In each of these major races education was the major iMue" loss to Mike Burkett Speaking of Risch’s nearly 10000-vot- e Andrus said he believed Risch lost contact with Us constituency who perceived Urn as being more interested in his own agenda Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Jerry Evans said the vote was a menage from the public that improved education is critical in Idaho Evans declined to say whether he felt the election would affect the chances of the Idaho Board of Education receiving what it wants from lawmakers this session "loud-and-clea- ' r" WEEKLY SPECIAL I 8 Idaho apBpBMHagMwaajgMaiBBaiBwrnrnpwwriweeeBaeeeimtieBi torneys for UP4L PacifiCorp Utah Power's major custom- By Ralph Waklev SALT LAKE CITY (UPI) -Federal strings attached to PacifiCorp’s proposed takeover of Utah Power 4 Light Co will not result in a significant reduction of the merger benefits a UP4L official claims "There are still very substantial benefits The net benefits are very large” Verl Topham Utah Power senior vice president and chief financial officer testified Tuesday before a Utah Public Service Commission hearing The state commission had approved the $2 billion stock merger on Sept 28 But after the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission added a condition to its spproval in October the PSC suspended its action FERC required the combined utility to become a common carrier allowing other utilities and power cooperatives access to its distribution system The ers its shareholders other utility groups and union coal miners if they planned to ap- or seek modification of the Pal ruling Each group said it had yet to make such a decision He then said “I'm not sure this commission can give a final approval until it knows what the final (FERC) order is The net positive benefit standard was met before the FERC ruling I’m not sure it is still there” And Commissioner James Byrne said for at least 10 years UP4L has claimed total control of its transmission system has been it’s "most important asset” “Now after the FERC ruling you’re telling us that’s really not that important any more Now it's gone out the window” Byrne said “That throws into question your posi- TWO DAY tion on the merger" The PSC said it will question all parties to review the impact of the federal agency’s conditions Utah regulatory agency said that decision apparently will reduce merger benefits During the first day of Utah PSC hearings which could run into 1989 Topham said Utah Power’s ' position still' is “we can indeed achieve the very substantial benefits we’ve set forth’’ “We think overall we’ve been conservative and we may not yet have thought of every benefit" the merger will bring 'The companies have projected merger benefits of about $500 million during the first five years ratepayers he said utilities three-memb- er J In its Oct 26 approval order the FERC imposed a series of requirements on the merged company including that it share its transmission lines in and to seven western states with other to shareholders Brent Commissioner Cameron said the PSC gave its September approval to the merger based on the idea that there would be a net benefit to Utah “The FERC order places added risks to this transaction" Cameron said “Are the applicants prepared to assume the entire risks?" Topham said UP4L “is willing to underwrite the risks to the extent that there will be no rate increases" resulting from the merger But he said it would be “unfair and unreasonable" for Utah Power to guarantee it would not reduce proposed rate cuts of from 5 percent to 10 persent in Utah “However the total impact will be favorable" he said Cameron also asked at Company officials said they agree with conclusions and did not fully FERCs believed the transmission directors of both PacifiCorp and Utah Power accepted the conditions needed However last week Topham said non-pow- er such as supply benefits two-thir- ds one-thir- other nations Bush said confidently “It Continued from page gets the whole process off on Johnston and others at least the right foot it will be abroad it will send a were pleased with one of Bush's first acts after claiming reassuring message People victory — the informal wonder about change It's nice nomination of his close friend to send a stabilizing signal and campaign chairman around the world” The Republican James Baker to be secretary of who crushed Democratic Gov state succeeding George well-receiv- ed Shop on The ZCMI Early Christmas Shopper Plan In November and defer your charges until February 19891 Stop by your nearest ZCMI Credit Office for details in the following Decorative Home departments: Furniture Sleep Shop Home Accessories Draperies Area Rugs Lamps Save An Additional Michael Dukakis of Massachusetts in Tuesday’s and Vice Presidentelect Dan Quayle attended a victory ceremony with Reagan at the White House Wednesday In Boston Dukakis told reporters he “gave it my best shot" and brushed aside a question of whether he would election he handled the negotiations for the debates between Bush and Dukakis and I think he ate the Democrats alive because he got exactly what he wanted" Senate Republican leader ever mount another presiRobert Dole of Kansas who dential bid He said he was not criticized Bush Tuesday for not personally bitter but regretted doing enough for GOP Senate losing because the race “was candidates in the campaign winnable” Still he could not mask some agreed that the Baker choice was “ideal” and predicted easy bitterness over negative attacks directed at him by Bush Senate confirmation “I don't think there is any Senate of the Two members that the negativism question Committee Relations Foreign we had in this campaign had an “To's on appearing ne said “I day” program praised Baker Impactit on me” not but I does d happen hope Sen Richard Lugar for called the choice ran excellent fear it will be a signal future campaigning one I think each one of us in Bush said he received phone Congress have confidence in calls from Chancellor Helmut him": Sen Christopher Dodd said Kohl of West Germany Prime the “very close personal rela- Minister Margaret Thatcher of tionships between Baker and Britain and King Fahd For example An Additional ad- ministrative combinations are unaffected by the order and account for of the anticipated benefits d “Of the remaining that is related to power supply the largest single benefit results from the deferral of future power resource additions which also is unaffected by the FERC order" Topham said 1 Shultz “We respect him We trust him” Johnston said “He’s one of the smoothest operators Friday and Satuiday only IThis ZCMI locations! ac- cess conditions were not Bush will be an asset and “it sends a very strong signal" to Bush around veteran of the House fell to Democrat David Jones The three other Democratic gains in the House were made in open races in seats where Republican incumbents had opted not to seek On the GOP side former Rep Don Democratic Rep Strong ousted first-terGlenn Bird by 12 percentage Mints Ana Republican Bill Wright knocked off Rep Drew Daniels Fork also in his first term Two more Republican gains were made Call your carrier or The Herald Journal despite conditions on merger officials say education Andrus says 15-ye- ar Delivery Problems? 10 1988— Page 3 in the following Electronics departments: Home Office Cameras Personal Electronics Stereo Systems TVs Video Recorders Major Appliances No Special Orders or Layaways NBC-TV- R-In- Shop Friday 9-- 9 Saturday 9-- 9 |