News Highlights

Utah lawmakers say tax cut proposals may be put on hold because of the slowing economy (Salt Lake Tribune).

Daily Herald editorial says incumbent Congressman Chris Cannon may be facing his “biggest challenge” this year.

Immigration: Gov Huntsman opposes repeal of in-state tuition for undocumented students (Tribune); Deseret Morning News editorial recounts LDS Church call for “compassion” in immigration matters; Hispanic leaders and others hope legislators pay heed to Church’s advice (Morning News); Utah County Democratic leaders blast Republicans on immigration issue in Morning News op-ed essay.

Quote of the Day

"If someone is going to come in and say, ‘We'd like to recommend a wilderness designation,' there are some areas of the state that that would work just fine. But we need, and residents and citizens of this state and our Congressional designation need, to have a say in that. And actually, more than that, they need to have the final say."

-- Rep. Roger Barrus, supporting a resolution to Congress opposing lands being designated as wilderness unless Utah’s congressional delegation approves (KCPW).

Romney Campaign Positive or Negative for LDS?

In his Mormon Media Observer column in the Morning News’ LDS Newsline, Joel Campbell summarizes media reporting on Mitt Romney’s withdrawal from the presidential race. Much of the coverage implied that Romney’s campaign was, overall, bad for the LDS Church. But Campbell, a BYU communications professor, says: “I am still convinced it's not as bad as the media says it is. Call me a cockeyed optimist, but I subscribe to what President Gordon B. Hinckley once said about negative media coverage: this will be a ‘blip.’ But it has opened a door of opportunity. Latter-day Saints do have our work cut out for us. We can no longer circle the wagons in grand pioneer tradition and hope the media goes away. Latter-day Saints need to reach out in our communities, on the Web and in the nation’s media and be part of the discussion and dialog.”

Hispanic Marketing Conference

This week's edition of the Economic Review newsletter from EDCUtah features a story about the upcoming Third Annual Hispanic Marketing Conference. Says Jeff Edwards, president and CEO of EDCUtah: "Hispanics represent the fastest growing segment of our population. Corporate leaders recognize that they need to reach out to this emerging group."

Achieving Financial Stability 

United Way of Salt Lake's latest Impact Matters newsletter showcases the Improving Financial Stability Change Council, which is working to help individuals increase income, increase assets and savings while decreasing debt.

Wouldn’t It Be Nice . . .

In his Tea Leaf economic update this week, Utah economist Jeff Thredgold provides his wish list, noting how nice it would be if . . .

Washington Watch

Cannon: No to Contempt Citations
Rep. Chris Cannon blasts House Democrats for voting to hold White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten and former White House counsel Harriet Miers in contempt of Congress for refusing to testify in the U.S. attorneys firings investigation. Says Cannon: "It is becoming increasingly clear that a shocking lack of evidence is not going to dissuade the majority from pursuing contempt citations. Republicans supported this investigation to ensure that any corruption be exposed and prosecuted, if discovered. However, after dozens of interviews, thousands of pages of documents, and repeated warnings that the lack of substance to this investigation would lead to a defeat in court for these contempt citations, the majority continues to push this non-scandal in an effort to damage the administration through innuendo. Oversight is vital to keeping the branches of government in check and the repeated attempts to force this non-scandal to the courts will damage Congress' ability to conduct legitimate oversight" (see press release and related Associated Press story).

Today in Political History

Feb. 15, 1820:  Susan B. Anthony, the co-founder of the National Woman Suffrage Association, is born in Adams, Massachusetts.  She died March 13, 1906. (Source:  NBC5) 

Feb. 15, 1869:  Charges of treason against Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederacy, ere dropped.

Feb. 15, 1933:  President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt escapes an assassination attempt in Miami that claimed the life of Chicago Mayor Anton J. Cermak. (Source: Perspicuity)

Wise Words

“Oh, if I could but live another century and see the fruition of all the work for women! There is so much yet to be done.”

-- Susan B. Anthony (Source:  Brainy Quote) 

Utah Landmarks

Ensign Peak

Ensign Peak is the summit of a hill just north of downtown Salt Lake City (1.4 miles north of the Salt Lake temple); in fact, Salt Lake City was built exactly south of Ensign Peak. The peak rises 1,080 feet above the valley floor and stands out as a prominent geological formation evident from all directions. The summit is rounded, devoid of vegetation, and capped with a hard conglomerate stone formation. It is part of the foothills of the Wasatch Range.

On 26 July 1847 Brigham Young and several others climbed to the top which he named "Ensign Peak," as he reported the event in his journal. They used the view from the summit to visually explore the entire valley.

Many organizations in the State have adopted "Ensign" as part of their name, such as: Ensign Stake, Ensign Ward, Ensign Elementary School, Ensign Magazine, among numerous other. (Source:  Utah.Edu)

National Politics

Best Stories From . . .

-- Washington Post: "Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney made a Valentine's Day endorsement of Sen. John McCain on Thursday, ending a bitter, year-long rivalry and handing over almost enough delegates to guarantee McCain the Republican presidential nomination."

-- Salon: Correspondent Mike Madden says of Mike Huckabee's decision to keep campaigning even though it's mathematically impossible for him to win: "If ... he's hoping to collect enough delegates and momentum to persuade McCain to put him on the ticket, you'd think embarrassing the front-runner by beating him last weekend would be a bad way to go about it. On the other hand, if he's angling for a Fox News TV show in the future, as some Little Rock Republicans think, the free airtime can't hurt."
 
-- New York Times: "Representative John Lewis, an elder statesman from the civil rights era and one of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton's most prominent black supporters, said Thursday night that he planned to cast his vote as a superdelegate for Senator Barack Obama in hopes of preventing a fight at the Democratic convention. 'In recent days, there is a sense of movement and a sense of spirit,' said Mr. Lewis ... 'Something is happening in America, and people are prepared and ready to make that great leap.'"

Lighter Side

Best of Late Night Humor

David Letterman: From “Top Ten Reasons Mitt Romney Dropped Out Of The Presidential Race”: Harsh Midwest weather was murder on his split ends; Wants to devote more time to rap persona P. Mitty; Polls show public doesn’t want a president who looks like a casino greeter; Just couldn’t compete with the Ron Paul juggernaut; Unveiling a new line of honey-roasted Romnuts; Apparently America is not ready for a white male president; Lost all of his money betting on the Patriots.

From “Top Ten Signs John McCain Is Getting Too Cocky”: Canceled tomorrow’s campaign appearances so he doesn’t miss “Lost”; Spent the afternoon roughing up Romney supporters; He blew half campaign war chest playing Internet poker; Already working on his 2012 re-election strategy; Plans to campaign for the next three days in “Vodkachusetts”; Has started yelling, “Bingo!” when he doesn’t even have bingo.

Jay Leno: Mitt Romney threw in the monogrammed towel. That leaves McCain and Huckabee. The old guy and the preacher. Which brings up the philosophical question: Which one is closer to God? ... John McCain was the big Republican winner. One pundit said McCain’s lucky nickel was working. He carries a lucky nickel. It must be lucky—six months ago, that was his campaign war chest. ... Hillary Clinton also carries around a lucky nickel. Not for superstitious reasons—she just flips it when she needs a position on Iraq. ... Newsweek estimates that Bill Clinton made between $10 and $15 million last year for speaking engagements. That explains why Hillary never speaks to him anymore—she can’t afford it. ... Hillary Clinton has the support of Bill Clinton, L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, or as she calls them, the party unfaithful. (Patriot Post)

Casual Friday

Fishing Report

By Dave Webb

With the nice weather last weekend, people were able to get out and hike, ice fish and even fly fish the streams. This weekend should be a repeat, with snow melting and conditions improving all around.

Fly fishers have been hitting accessible spots on the Provo, Weber and Green rivers with pretty good success and those waters will provide more and more action during the next few weeks. Streamers and small midges have been effective. Midge patters will soon become hot. Check with local fly shops for the latest info.

Ice fishing for perch continues to be good at Yuba, Rockport, Echo, Hyrum and other reservoirs. Trout fishing is good at Strawberry, Otter Creek, Piute, Minersville and many other waters. Action can be spotty so move around until you find fish. Slush is a growing problem, bad in some areas and getting worse all around.

If normal patterns hold, ice will start to come off Utah Lake and Willard Bay in a couple weeks. Walleye fishermen get excited as that happens, but walleye action usually doesn't get going until mid-March. Here are Lake Powell fishing conditions as reported in the Morning News.

Outdoors Report

-- Lake Powell fishing conditions in the Morning News
-- Tribune finds romance in the great outdoors
-- Morning News hitting the powder this epic snow season
-- Experience the Canyons’ famous runs in the Morning News

-- Find out about upcoming events in the Morning News’ Outdoor Notes

-- Check out the Tribune’s Outdoor Notebook  and Recreation Roundup for sports and recreation activities this week

-- For the latest wildlife news and information and the fishing report visit the DWR website

New Films

-- The Spiderwick Chronicles: Tribune review
-- Jumper: Tribune review

-- Definitely, Maybe: Tribune review

Concerts

-- Junction City Big Band Dance, Friday, 7:15 p.m., Shepherd Union Ballroom, WSU, Ogden, $8
-- Church Music Festival, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Temple Square Assembly Hall, free
-- Leahy, Celtic music and dance, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Cox Performing Arts Center, Dixie State College, St. George, $18
-- “Opera for Lovers,” Utah Lyric Opera, Friday, 7:30 p.m., SCERA Center, Orem, $10
-- Jim Brickman, Friday, 8 p.m., Kingsbury Hall, U., $30-$45
-- Grieg’s Piano Concerto, Utah Symphony, Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m., Abravanel Hall
-- Ballroom Winter Dance Sport Festival, through Saturday, times vary, Student Center Grande Ballroom, Utah Valley State College, Orem, $10-$28
-- BYU Jazz Festival, through Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Madsen Recital Hall and de Jong Concert Hall, BYU, Provo, free

-- Performing Dance Company, through February 16, 7:30 p.m., Alice Sheets Marriott Center for Dance, U., $1

-- “And All that Jazz,”Salt Lake Choral Artists, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Libby Gardner Concert Hall, U., $15

-- “Broadway Valentine,” Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Browning Center, WSU, Ogden, $12-$24
-- Five Browns, piano, Saturday, 7:30 p.m. Kingsbury Hall, U., $19.50-$32.50
-- Todd McCabe and April Moriarty, piano and violin, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Temple Square Assembly Hall, free
-- Organ Recitals, every Saturday, noon, and every Sunday, 2 p.m., Temple Square Assembly Hall

Theater

-- “Forever Plaid” through February 15, Terrace Plaza Playhouse, Logan
-- “Man of La Mancha” through February 16, St. George Musical Theater

-- “Living Out” through February 23, Pygmalion Theatre Company

-- “Forever Plaid” through February 29, Terrace Plaza Playhouse
-- “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” through March 1, Pioneer Theatre Company
-- “Singin’ in the Rain” through March 1, Draper Historic Theatre

-- “Menopause the Musical” through March 2, Rose Wagner Center

-- “George Washington Slept Here” through March 8, Springville Playhouse
-- “My Valley Fair Lady” through March 22, Desert Star Theatre
-- “Pirates of Penzance” through March 24, Valley Center Playhouse
-- “She Loves Me” through April 5, Hale Center Theater Orem

Museum Exhibits

-- The 11th Black & White Statewide Art Competition Exhibition, Photography by Randy S. Chatelain Exhibition through March 29, Eccles Community Art Center
-- Bravo! The Tortilla Paintings of Joe Bravo Exhibition, Wasatch Back Student Art Show Exhibition through March 30, Kimball Art Center

-- Masks, Magic, and Mirrors Exhibition through March 31, Natural Revelations: Paintings by Susan Swartz Exhibition through April 13, Utah Museum of Fine Arts

-- Minerva Teichert:  Pageants in Paint Exhibition, through May 26, Brigham Young University Museum of Art

Et Cetera

-- Salt Lake City Gallery Stroll, Friday, 6 – 9 p.m., downtown

Elected Officials Birthday List

Utah Policy Daily is a service
of Utah Policy.com

Publisher: LaVarr Webb
Editor: Paul Hollingshead
News: Golden Webb
Calendar and Subscriptions: Luci Hollingshead

Utah Policy Daily
Crandall Building, Suite 300
10 West 100 South
Salt Lake City UT 84101
801.537.0900 Office
801.537.0901 Fax

Special E-Mail Messages: Utah Policy Daily may send subscribers e-mails with information about new features, special offers, or messages on public policy issues from clients and advertisers. If you do not wish to ever receive these e-mails, please let us know by e-mail at daily@utahpolicy.com.

Local Headlines

Deseret Morning News

- Buttars says issue is closed

- Compassion call could affect immigration bills

- State not likely to buy St. George airport

- Lee Benson: Mitt backer picking up the pieces

- Utah touted as leader in charter movement

- Debate resumes over illegal immigrants' status in LDS Church

- House OKs $13M property tax cut

- Road-land measure advances

- Senate passes animal cruelty bill

- Fraternal Order of Police backs Jason Chaffetz in House race

- Capital fund could get room to grow

- Bob Bernick Jr.: Buttars should think hard about political future

- Editorial: Gracias, Elder Jensen

- Editorial: Sen. Buttars' mea culpa

- Op-ed: Legislators fall short on humanity

Standard-Examiner

- Editorial: Government in the shadows

KCPW

- Becker Hosts Breakfast for Wives of Utah Soldiers

- Utah Republicans Support Tax Increase on Tobacco

- Lawmakers Warn Wilderness Designation Could Hurt Schools

- Salt Lake City Police Chief Defends Privacy Bill

- NAACP Calls for Sen. Buttars' Resignation

Daily Herald

- Senate barely passes animal-cruelty bill

- Sex-offender registration bill heads to Senate

- Ticket-quota bill fails

- Committee stalls on smoking-ban issue

- House tables measure designed to simplify sales tax

- Bill would deport undocumented prisoners

- Editorial: Challenging Cannon

KSL Editorial Board

- Reporting Incompetent Drivers

Davis County Clipper

- Last-ditch action saves thousands of jobs

- House bill 330 hopes to add state funds

KUER

- Legislature Looks at Bullying, Immigration & Health System Reform

Salt Lake Tribune

- Romney backs McCain for GOP nomination

- Guv: Buttars' future is up to constituents

- Slowing economy may put brakes on tax cuts

- Kennecott opts for piecemeal plan on west bench

- Senate OKs bill to equally fund construction

- Guv says he opposes bill to repeal tuition breaks

- Senate becomes house of love on Valentine's Day

- Ban on ticket quotas for police stalls

- Bills would aid students

- Utah to Congress: Stop declaring wilderness lands

- Senate advances bill increasing penalties

- Rolly: Buttars is more than anti-gay

- Bountiful land-trade bill goes to House floor

- ATK regains federal contract status

- Bluffdale loses city manager - again

- Wasatch council rejects another incorporation bid

- Editorial: Wild and scenic: Forest Service should include more Utah rivers

- Editorial: Bag the swag: Proposed gift ban comes with strings

Please submit calendar items to Daily@UtahPolicy.com

- Feb 15: Legislative meetings scheduled throughout day. See Legislative calendar for details.

- Feb 15: Midday Metro at 10 a.m. on NPR Utah, KCPW 88.3 FM: The Bible condemns usury. But a new study finds a surprising relationship between conservative Christian populations, such as those found in America’s Bible Belt and the Mormon Mountain West, and the proliferation of payday lenders. Learn more with the study’s co-author Chris Peterson, a law professor at the University of Utah.

- Feb 15: Governor Huntsman to attend the Utah Bankers Association Hall of Fame Luncheon, 12:15 p.m., Grand America, SLC.

- Feb 15: Governor Huntsman to attend the Utah Realtors Association Conference, 2:30 p.m., Salt Palace, Room 155, SLC.

- Feb 16: Lt. Governor Herbert to speak at the Emery County Lincoln Day Breakfast, 8 a.m., Museum of the San Rafael, Castledale.

- Feb 16: Davis County Republican Party Lincoln Day Dinner, 6 p.m. meet and greet, 7 p.m. dinner, Davis Conference Center. Single tickets $30, couples $50. Sponsorships available. RVSP to Ben Horsley at 801-529-4387 or email ben.horsley@gmail.com.

- Feb 16: Washington County Lincoln Day Dinner
- Feb 18: President's Day

- Feb 18: Legislative meetings scheduled throughout day. See Legislative calendar for details.

- Feb 18: Teen Lobby Day sponsored by Planned Parenthood Action Council, Equality Utah, and the Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault, 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., Utah State Capitol. Call Joey Richards at 801-328-8939 for more info.

- Feb 18: Planned Parenthood Action Council Citizen Lobby Day, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Utah State Capitol, East Building Cafeteria. Tell your legislators what is important to you this session. For more info call 801-328-8939 or email ppac@ppau.org.

- Feb 19: Wisconsin Republican Presidential Primary

- Feb 19: Hawaii and Wisconsin Democratic Presidential Primaries and Caucuses

- Feb 19: Utah Women's Alliance for Building Community Networking Event, 5:30 p.m., Wells Fargo Building, 299 S. Main, 11th Floor, Salt Lake City. Senator Carlene Walker and State Representative Karen Morgan will speak. Learn about the legislative process and ways to participate in local government. Free event, refreshments provided. RVSP here.

- Feb 21: Utah Republican Party Executive Committee Meeting, 7:30 a.m., Party Headquarters.

- Feb 21: Lt. Governor Herbert to speak at the Gathering of Seagulls Conference, 12 p.m., Red Lion Restaurant, Salt Lake City.

- Feb 22: Washington's Birthday

- Feb 22: Uintah & Duchesne Republican Party Lincoln Day Dinners

- Feb 26: United Nations Association of Utah program "Climate Change--Contrasting Approaches of the EU and USA," 6 p.m. dinner, 7 p.m. program, Sugarhouse Garden Center, Sugarhouse Park. Guest speaker is Dr. Erich Pohl of the University of Heidelberg. The public is welcome to both the dinner and program. Contact Maxine Haggerty at 801-277-7493.

- Feb 26: Salt Lake Council of Women (SLCW) Hall of Fame Event, 6 p.m. Reception, 7 p.m. Dinner and Awards program, Joseph Smith Memorial Bldg, 15 E. S. Temple, 9th floor. Keynote speaker First Lady Mary Kaye Huntsman. SLCW will induct seven women who have given twenty-five years or more of voluntary service to the community. Reservations by Noon, Feb. 19. Contact: Peggy Rounds at 801-943-7462 or prounds@msn.com.
- Feb 28: Salt Lake County Libertarian Party Meeting, 7 p.m., Mo's Neighborhood Grill, 358 South West Temple, Salt Lake City. For more information, visit LPUtah.org.

- Mar 1: American Samoa Republican Presidential Caucus

- Mar 3: Desert Greens meeting, 7 p.m., Coffee Club, just south of 4800 S. Redwood Road (east side of the road). Desert Greens is Utah's national affiliate of the Green Party of the U.S. and meets on the first Monday of the month. For more info call Eileen at 801-201-0219.

- Mar 4: Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas, and Vermont Republican and Democratic Presidential Primaries

- Mar 7: 2008 political office filing period begins (runs through March 17)

- Mar 7: BYU Executive Master of Public Administration Information Session, 7 p.m., BYU- Salt Lake Center, 3 Triad Center, Room 101. For details call 801-422-4516, email, or click here.

- Mar 8: Wyoming Democratic Presidential Caucus

- Mar 10: American Samoa Democratic Presidential Caucus

- Mar 11: Mississippi Republican and Democratic Presidential Primary

- Mar 20: Utah Republican Party Executive Committee Meeting, 7:30 a.m., Party Headquarters.

- Mar 23: Easter Sunday
- Mar 25: Republican Party neighborhood political party Precinct Caucus meetings. Contact your county leadership for more info.

- Mar 29: Grand & San Juan Republican Party Lincoln Day Dinners

- Apr 1: Beaver County Republican Party Convention

- Apr 2: Millard & Juab County Republican Party Conventions

- Apr 3: District of Columbia Democratic Presidential Caucus

- Apr 3: Tooele County Republican Party Convention

- Apr 4: Wasatch & Summit County Republican Party Conventions

- Apr 5: Virgin Islands Republican Presidential Primary

- Apr 7: Desert Greens meeting, 7 p.m., Coffee Club, just south of 4800 S. Redwood Road (east side of the road). Desert Greens is Utah's national affiliate of the Green Party of the U.S. and meets on the first Monday of the month. For more info call Eileen at 801-201-0219.

- Apr 8: Rich County Republican Party Convention

- Apr 9: Morgan County Republican Party Convention

- Apr 10: Box Elder County Republican Party Convention

- Apr 11: Cache County Republican Party Convention

- Apr 12: Davis & Weber County Republican Party Conventions

- Apr 15: Piute County Republican Party Convention

- Apr 16: Wayne County Republican Party Convention

- Apr 17: Garfield County Republican Party Convention

- Apr 17: Utah Republican Party Executive Committee Meeting, 7:30 a.m., Party Headquarters.

- Apr 18: Kane County Republican Party Convention
- Apr 18: Jefferson/ Jackson Dinner sponsored by the Washington County Democrats, 6 p.m. dinner and 7 p.m. silent auction, Kenneth N. Gardner Ballroom, Dixie State College. Keynote speaker Vik Arnold, U.E.A. Director of Government Relation and Political Action.

The cost is $35 per person. Contact Cyril Noble at (435) 229-1281.

- Apr 19: Washington & Iron County Republican Party Conventions
- Apr 19: Washington County Democrat Party Annual Convention, 9 a.m. registration, convention at 10 a.m., Dixie Convention Center, 1835 Convention Center Drive, St. George. Free and open to the public. Contact Cyril Noble at 435- 229-1281.

- Apr 19: Libertarian Party of Utah convention, 11 a.m., Sandy Library, 10100 South Petunia Way, Sandy, Utah. For more information, visit LPUtah.org.

- Apr 22: Pennsylvania Democratic Presidential Caucus

- Apr 22: Daggett County Republican Party Convention

- Apr 23:Uintah & Duchesne County Republican Party Conventions

- Apr 24: Grand & San Juan County Republican Party Conventions

- Apr 25: Emery & Carbon County Republican Party Conventions

- Apr 26: Utah County Republican Party Convention

- Apr 29: Sevier & Sanpete County Republican Party Conventions

- May 1: BYU Executive Master of Public Administration application deadline. For details call 801-422-4516, email, or click here.

- May 3: Salt Lake County Republican Party Convention

- May 5: Desert Greens meeting, 7 p.m., Coffee Club, just south of 4800 S. Redwood Road (east side of the road). Desert Greens is Utah's national affiliate of the Green Party of the U.S. and meets on the first Monday of the month. For more info call Eileen at 801-201-0219.

- May 6: Indiana and North Carolina Republican and Democratic Presidential Primaries

- May 10: Utah Republican Party State Convention, Utah Valley State College

- May 13: Nebraska Republican Presidential Caucus

- May 13: West Virginia Democratic Presidential Primary

- May 17: Hawaii Republican Presidential Caucus

- May 20: Kentucky and Oregon Republican and Democratic Presidential Primaries

- May 26: Memorial Day

- May 26: Primary Election walk-in registration deadline

- May 27: Idaho Republican Presidential Primary

- June 2: Desert Greens meeting, 7 p.m., Coffee Club, just south of 4800 S. Redwood Road (east side of the road). Desert Greens is Utah's national affiliate of the Green Party of the U.S. and meets on the first Monday of the month. For more info call Eileen at 801-201-0219.

- June 3: South Dakota Republican Presidential Primary

- June 3: Montana and South Dakota Democratic Presidential Primaries

- June 7: Puerto Rico Democratic Presidential Caucus

- June 24: Primary Election

- July 4: Independence Day

- Aug 25-28: Democratic National Convention, Denver

- Sept 1-4: Republican National Convention, Minneapolis, MN

- Sept 1: Labor Day

- Oct 6: Mail-in Voter Registration (postmark) for General Election

- Oct 13: Columbus Day

- Oct 20: Walk-In Voter Registration deadline for General Election

- Oct 31: Halloween

- Nov 4: General Election

- Nov 11: Veterans Day

- Nov 27: Thanksgiving Day

- Dec 25: Christmas Day

- See the entire calendar