Since EnergySolutions is required to pay the county 5 percent of its revenues, which makes up a significant part of the county's budget, it is worth noting that the all-Republican County Commission that repealed the ordinance came into power in 2006 when two of the commissioners defeated Republican incumbents, who had created the audit requirement in the first place, at the party convention.

The chairman of the Tooele County Republican Party works for Hart Engineering, a consultant to EnergySolutions. The party's vice chairwoman is Joyce Hogan, public relations director and lobbyist for EnergySolutions.

At the time of the convention, one of the defeated commissioners blamed the EnergySolutions influence in the Republican Party hierarchy for his defeat.

Hogan, who denied any involvement in the races, also is the mother of Tooele County Attorney Douglas Hogan, who advised the commission that it should repeal the ordinance. He defeated fellow Republican Douglas Ahlstrom in that same 2006 GOP convention.

EnergySolutions, by the way, was listed in the county treasurer's published "2007 delinquent tax" notices 15 times, for a total of $576,219.22.

Does size matter? When the three-year, $200 million Capitol renovation was completed earlier this month, it was discovered that some Senate leadership offices were larger than others, and there was some grousing about it, Senate President John Valentine confirmed last week.

But Valentine said the main problem was how to make the furniture configuration work in Senate Majority Leader Curt Bramble's office, which, because of some infrastructure problems, is a bit narrower than the others.

The furniture has now been rearranged and the Senate is open for business. Valentine said the bigger problem is the front-office area, which awkwardly has two reception areas separated by a glass partition.

Bramble, for his part, said he never complained about the size of his office and if anyone got that impression, it was a miscommunication. He did have questions about how to accommodate the furniture.

"It's a privilege to serve," he said. "I'd be satisfied being in a coat closet."

Meanwhile: Former Democratic Sen. Paula Julander had been asked by Valentine to put together the program showcasing the new Senate chambers during public review. But when she showed up that morning, she was told she had been replaced. Someone reportedly didn't want a Democrat doing it.

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