Carolyn Phippen urges grassroots organizing, names REINS Act top priority
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Summary
Carolyn Phippen, introduced as a U.S. Senate candidate, told Utah County Republicans that grassroots organizing can capitalize on post‑COVID political engagement and said the REINS Act — to send major regulations back to Congress — is her top legislative priority.
Carolyn Phippen, introduced at the meeting as the evening's guest, framed the present moment as a 'golden moment' for grassroots activism and urged attendees to recruit neighbors and build relationships with like-minded organizations. She traced her experience to roles working for Sen. Mike Lee and for the Utah House leadership, and said those experiences shaped her approach to messaging and policy.
"Now is the time," Phippen told attendees, urging sustained local engagement rather than short-term burnout. She argued that changes during the COVID period created opportunities for political organizing and that activists can bring people who are 'waking up' into conservative organizations and campaigns.
On policy, Phippen listed three top priorities: border control, the state budget and reining in the regulatory state. She described the REINS Act as her "absolute number 1 priority," explaining its intent to require Congress to review "significant" regulations and highlighting two thresholds she described as central to the bill — regulations that "raise consumer prices" and rules that cost the American economy more than "$100 million a year." "If it raises consumer prices ... Let's let Congress vote on it," she said, and added that the REINS Act "will not pass this year" but that she would pursue it "in whole or in pieces."
Phippen also recounted prior experience crafting communications and research to persuade legislators, citing work on Medicaid expansion debates and citizen initiatives. She recommended identifying a sustainable personal level of involvement to avoid burnout and urged attendees to join and use organizations such as Utah Citizens for the Constitution for training and coordinated action.
During a short Q&A, Phippen expressed openness to budget-cutting proposals mentioned by attendees and reiterated her emphasis on regulatory reform, the budget and border enforcement as legislative priorities.
The meeting concluded with her invitation for questions and with organizers turning the session back toward local preparations for caucus night.