Utah's delegation makes headlines in Congress

May 13, 2013

By Sarah Rosier

WASHINGTON, District of Columbia: Members of the congressional delegation from Utah have been among the most outspoken of the 113th United States Congress during two of the recent newsbusters: the Benghazi hearings and the news of the IRS targeting specific conservative groups.

Jason Chaffetz, a Republican member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee from Utah's 3rd Congressional District, has been at the forefront of the investigation into the events both preceding and following the September 2012 Benghazi attacks which killed four Americans. His position on the committee has given him a soapbox to publicly call for Hillary Clinton to testify for the second time before Congress. Chaffetz controversially stated that if Clinton refuses to appear again, the possibility of issuing a subpoena requiring her appearance remains.

Chaffetz has also been outspoken on the recent news that the IRS specifically targeted tea party and other conservative organizations in 2012. Chaffetz publicly stated, "Whoever is responsible, whoever was complicit in the execution of this, those who participated in the cover up, not only should they be fired, they should be prosecuted and thrown in jail." The media has also focused on Utah Sen. Mike Lee (Utah)'s reaction to the recent scandal as he was heavily supported by tea party groups during the 2010 Utah primary against incumbent Bob Bennett. “This should not be dismissed as just another conflict between left and right. It is a conflict between the federal government and the American people,” Lee said. Both Chaffetz and Lee have found a fellow-Utahn friend in Democratic Rep. Jim Matheson (4th District) who has agreed with his Republican counterparts, "This kind of profiling is unacceptable and wrong."

See also

• Jason Chaffetz
• Mike Lee (Utah)
• Jim Matheson
• United States congressional delegations from Utah
• Texas Lieutenant Gubernatorial election, 2014