This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

This is interesting, and probably reflects some kind of political calculus that I am not quite grasping.

Derek Monson, public policy director of the conservative Utah think tank the Sutherland Institute, successfully pitched one op-ed each to Salt Lake City's two daily newspapers. In one, he praises Gov. Gary Herbert as a wise and cautious leader. In the other, he slams Herbert's signature initiative, Healthy Utah, without once mentioning the governor's name.

Viz:

Herbert is helping Utah stay on right track — Derek Monson | For The Deseret News, Sunday

"Gov. Gary Herbert made some principled, thoughtful and bold statements on a series of important policy issues this week that are closely connected to Utah's culture and identity. It is a reminder of why Utah is and remains such a good place to live, work and raise a family — both its people and its elected officials are conservative leaders who genuinely seek to do what is right for the state. ..."

Herbert is right, Monson went on to say, in opposing medical marijuana, assisted suicide and any weakening of Utah's alcohol laws.

But:

Healthy Utah is still Obamacare and should be rejected — Derek Monson | For The Salt Lake Tribune, Saturday

"Utah House leadership announced last week that Healthy Utah will not pass the Utah House of Representatives, and offered an alternative approach to the problem of Medicaid expansion. The governor's office, on the other hand, made its case for why the House should reconsider and pass Healthy Utah.

"House leadership has it exactly right: It is time to move beyond Healthy Utah and focus only on the uninsured rather than full expansion. ..."

He describes Healthy Utah is a product of "the governor's office," as if the aforementioned wise and conservative governor wasn't part of it. As if the years of fiddling, studying and negotiating with the feds, including some facetime with President Obama himself, doesn't make Healthy Utah Herbert's baby.

Curious.