Happy Earth Day

We all observe important days in our own way. I thought the best way to celebrate Earth Day would be to stay home, sleep all day, and not consume any energy. But my wife kicked me out of bed. So here I am. The Wall Street Journal celebrated Earth Day by publishing an op-ed essay by Patrick Moore telling why he left Greenpeace. Here’s his summation: “Sadly, Greenpeace has evolved into an organization of extremism and politically motivated agendas.” On the other hand, the New York Times reports that Oklahoma City wins big by rejuvenating a river.

Utah Priorities Project

Utahns’ Views on the Environment

Note: Each Tuesday during the 2008 election cycle, Utah Policy Daily will offer highlights from the Utah Priorities Project, an effort by Utah Foundation to focus political dialogue on the issues that matter most to Utahns.

By Steve Kroes, Utah Foundation President

On this Earth Day, it’s interesting to see how some of the results from the Utah Priorities Survey highlight Utahns’ environmental concerns. The environment is not the top priority for Utah voters, but it does factor into many of the top ten issues highlighted in our Utah Priorities Survey. Energy issues scored as the highest concern in this year’s survey, primarily because of rising gasoline prices. Second on the list of energy concerns was the development of renewable energy resources, but when asked outright about environmental impacts of energy use, voters in the survey ranked that as their lowest energy-related concern. Water supply and quality ranked seventh on the list of top priorities, and in follow-up questions, issues of pollution and water quality rated nearly as high as supply-related concerns.

The overall issue of environmental quality ranked eighth on the list of the top ten issues for Utah voters. In follow-up questions, voters expressed their highest concerns about air quality and pollution. A question specifically about global warming or climate change seems to show skepticism among Utah voters, with that issue rating distinctly lower than the other environmental concerns. When asked for feedback on transportation issues, voters in the survey placed their highest emphasis on the development of public transit options like buses and trains, which could be influenced by environmental concerns.

Some concerns about the environment were also apparent in the topic of dealing with Utah’s growth, which ranks tenth on our list of issues. By the way, a majority of Utahns now feel that Utah is growing too fast. Nevertheless, that may change as the national economic slowdown begins to be felt in Utah. Overall, the survey shows Utah voters with mixed opinions on environmental issues; they show a growing concern about air and water quality and development of new technologies or fuels that may help the environment, but they also show some skepticism about global warming and a few other topics when they are specifically labeled as “environmental” concerns.

Washington Watch

Matheson: No to Bogus Drugs
Rep. Jim Matheson introduces a bill that would "provide a way for authorities to track, seize and destroy counterfeit drugs before they wind up in sick Utahns' medicine cabinets." Says Matheson: "Counterfeit drugs hurt people and this is a growing problem. The victims are often people who need real, quality drugs the most -- cancer patients, AIDS patients and people being treated for heart disease. Even though bogus drugs account for a small fraction of the 3 billion prescriptions filled in this country each year, it's time to fill the gaps in our regulatory system before the situation gets worse" (see press release).

GOP Chair Notes Progress

Utah GOP Chair Stan Lockhart has sent a newsletter to delegates and party leaders, noting preparations for the May 10 state convention, and successful fundraising and candidate recruitment. Lockhart also responds to recent news stories critical of him and other party leaders. He concludes: “I accept the fact that as Republican Party Chair I'm fair game for the media and delegates.  When something goes wrong, I'll get the blame.  When something goes right, much of the credit goes to others.  That is a part of the job description.  I do my best.  Sometimes I make mistakes and when that happens I try to make it right.  In the end, it's a volunteer position and I serve at the will of you, the delegates.  I appreciate your trust in me.  It's a great honor and privilege to represent you.”

Today in Political History

April 22, 1864:  Congress authorizes the use of the phrase “In God We Trust” on U.S. coins. (Source:  NBC5) 

April 22, 1889: The Oklahoma Land Rush begins at noon as thousands of homesteaders stake claims. (New York Times)

April 22, 1898:  U.S. Congress passes the Volunteer Army Act, marshalling the First Volunteer Cavalry, which becomes known as the Rough Riders. (The Encarta® 2000 New World Timeline © Copyright 1998, Helicon Publishing Ltd.)

Wise Words

“I’d put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don’t have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that.”

-- Thomas Edison, 1931 (EcoGeek)

Communications Tip

Make It Personal

Some days we interact more with keyboards and keypads than we do with people, so make your emails and communications friendly and conversational whenever possible. In an electronic age, people are hungry for the human element. Give it to them and you'll gain entry to them. Then serve them the information they need to know in a tight, little bundle and you'll be remembered. It's easy to see how this works on an audience of one, but the same approach applies to larger readerships. At the heart of this tip is the golden rule of communications: "Know your audience."  (Source:  Info Works) 

National Politics

Best Stories From . . .

-- Bloomberg: "To overtake Barack Obama in the nationwide popular vote, Hillary Clinton needs a bigger win in [today's] Pennsylvania primary than she has had in any major contest so far. And that's just for starters."

-- Politico: An historic spike in Democratic voter registrations in Pennsylvania could hurt Clinton's chances in today's primary and John McCain's chances of competing there in the fall.

-- Wall Street Journal: The rising vitriol between Clinton and Obama "is prompting more Democrats to demand that party leaders do something to end the battle. But no single leader or clique exists within the fractious party to end the fight, and those with influence insist voters must have their say."

-- The New Yorker: Columnist Hendrik Hertzberg says last week's ABC News-sponsored Democratic debate in Philadelphia turned into "something akin to a federal crime. Call it the case of the Walt Disney Company v. People of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (and of the United States, for that matter). Seldom has a large corporation so heedlessly inflicted so much civic damage in such a short space of time."

Lighter Side

Three contractors bid on a minor fence-repair job at the White House. The first contractor, from Florida, comes in with a bid of $1,000: $400 for material, $400 for labor, and $200 profit. The second contractor, from Tennessee, says he’ll do the job for $800: $300 for material, $300 for labor, and $200 profit.

Then comes the contractor from New Jersey, who submits a bid of $100,800. “Why so much?” asks the startled procurement officer. “Well,” says the contractor, “I figure $50,000 for me, $50,000 for you and $800 for the guy from Tennessee to fix the fence.” (Reader’s Digest)