News Highlights

Josh Romney, son of Mitt, is considering a run for Congress against 2nd District incumbent Rep. Jim Matheson (Deseret Morning News).

Sen. Chris Buttars attends the Calvary Baptist Church and asks to be forgiven for his "terrible remarks"; the Rev. France Davis, on behalf of the congregation, accepts his apology (Salt Lake Tribune).

Quote of the Day

"I'm not sure you can live to be 100 and be robust, but if you can it's going to be antioxidants that make the difference. … Man, there is a lot of junk out there, yet within that junk there is some pretty interesting stuff."

-- Congressman Chris Cannon, who takes 21 dietary supplement pills and defends the natural products industry in Congress (Tribune).

The Week Ahead

Week 6, the last full week of the 2008 legislative session, kicks off today with floor time increasing as the week progresses. Standing committees end their work on Wednesday. See House and Senate schedules and the legislative calendar.   Many big decisions have yet to be made with eight working days to go, but that’s normal for a Utah legislative session. For all the week’s political events, including SL County Mayor Peter Corroon’s re-election campaign kickoff, see the UtahPolicy.com calendar.

Monday Musing

Fiscal Responsibility Pays Off

Utah’s economy is not immune from the national and international forces that are turning economies sluggish all over the world. Nevertheless, Utah government should be able to navigate the slowdown in reasonably good shape without significant reductions in basic services.

The reason is that Utah’s governors and legislators have been fiscally prudent, avoiding the temptation to be profligate even in good times when money has been plentiful. Despite a slowing economy, Utah has a $600 million-plus budget surplus, and the state’s needs are being met reasonably well. Instead of spending every dime of tax revenue on on-going programs, legislators have spent surplus dollars on one-time projects like transportation, have filled up rainy day funds, and have reduced taxes. With the exception of education and mandated programs like Medicaid, Utah government has grown very little. 

Contrast that with the situation in New Jersey, as reported in a Wall Street Journal editorial. Despite having the nation’s second highest overall tax burden, New Jersey faces a “serious structural financial problem,” in the words of its governor, Jon Corzine. The state is $32 billion in debt, and faces additional debt of $81 billion in unfunded pensions and health benefits for retirees. To begin to pay off the debt, Corzine wants to borrow $38 billion and pay off the bonds by dramatically increasing tolls on the state’s major roads and highways.

Utah citizens can thank their lawmakers and governors for wise fiscal discipline, resulting in Utah being consistently ranked as one of the nation’s best-managed states. 

Personal Financial Prudence

This is Utah Saves Week and the United Way of Salt Lake is encouraging all Utahns to become savers. United Way's Impact Matters newsletter says most Americans use their income to purchase products rather than build assets and encourages Utahns to join the Utah Saves Campaign.

Utah Sister Cities Program

World Trade Center Utah's latest newsletter features the Utah Sister Cities program. Sandi Marler, Sister Cities coordinator for Salt Lake City tells WTCUtah the Sister Cities program is about peace through people: “You don’t bomb friends."

Today in Political History

Feb. 25, 1870:  Hiram R. Revels, R-Miss., becomes the first black member of the U.S. Senate as he was sworn in to serve out the unexpired term of secessionist Jefferson Davis.  (Source:  NBC5) 

Feb. 25, 1913:  The 16th Amendment, creating the Income Tax, is ratified by the states. (Source:  Perspicuity)

Wise Words

“The battles that count aren't the ones for gold medals. The struggles within yourself—the invisible, inevitable battles inside all of us—that's where it's at.”

-- Jesse Owens  (Source:  History Quote)

Leadership Tip

Delegate, Don’t Dump

Staffers can view delegation as being “dumped on” if the tasks are mundane and the “big picture” is not given to or explained to the employee.  Granted every job has it fair share of mundane tasks that need to be done.  However, “whenever possible, when delegating work, give the person a whole task to do.  If you can't give the staff member a whole task, make sure they understand the overall purpose of the project or task. If possible, connect them to the group that is managing or planning the work. Staff members contribute most effectively when they are aware of the big picture.” (Source:  Human Resources)

National Politics

Best Stories From . . .

-- Reuters: Ralph Nader enters the presidential race.
 
-- Politico: Nader's candidacy could "provide a huge boon to Republicans. ... Democrats and bloggers are already reacting with fury, fearing a rerun of 2000, when Nader drained crucial votes from Al Gore. '"Loathe" isn't a strong enough word,' said a senior adviser to the Clinton campaign."

-- Washington Post: Columnist David Ignatius explains why Barack Obama's lack of experience could be an asset, not a liability, in a contest with John McCain. 

-- New York Times: Columnist Maureen Dowd: "If this is truly the Decline and Fall of the Clinton Empire, it is marked by one freaky stroke of bad luck and one striking historical irony. How likely is it that a woman who finally unfetters herself from one superstar then finds herself eclipsed by another? And when historians trace how her inevitability dissolved, they will surely note this paradox: The first serious female candidate for president was rejected by voters drawn to the more feminine management style of her male rival."

SUWA Opposes Draft Plan
The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance is urging its members to voice their opposition to the BLM's draft plan for commercial oil shale and tar sands development in Utah by attending one of a series of BLM public meetings on the plan this week or by submitting a comment online. For more info, click here.

Blog Watch

-- Glen Warchol notes: "Deseret News political editor Bob Bernick opened up on two senators who wrote a column last week on the DNews editorial page criticizing Bernick and Lee Davidson's article that alleged rampant lawmaker conflicts of interest in sponsoring bills that would affect their professions. Majority Leader Curt Bramble and Minority Leader Mike Dmitrich's column accused Bernick of shoddy journalism and worse ethics: 'This is not the first time he has reported his opinion as fact. He knows better. Or he should know better.' Besides being an editor and reporter, Bernick writes a weekly opinion column on politics -- which requires a shifting between objective reporting and opinion that has been criticized by some law makers in the past. In this case, the column gave Bernick a unique opportunity to mix it up -- and he got personal: 'The two fine public servants accused me, among other things, of having poor journalistic ethics. I'll put my journalistic ethics up against these two public servants' political ethics any day. ... guess who was the top dog in taking lobbyists' gifts in 2007? Yep, that fine public servant Dmitrich. A man who has never seen a free golf game or Jazz ticket he didn't like. ... Guess who was third in the overall gift-taking list? Right again, that fine public servant Bramble, who was just slightly in less need of freebies than Dmitrich. Oh, and how much in gifts did I take from individuals or groups trying to influence my reporting in 2007? Zero. Nada. Nothing.' You might be thinking it will be uncomfortable for Bernick, sometimes called the 'Dyspeptic Dean' of political reporting, to cover the Senate for the rest of the session. Though he has oversight of all DNews political coverage, Bernick only reports on the House." (For more on the Legislature, see The Senate Site, Simple Utah Mormon Politics, and The Utah Amicus.)

Lighter Side

Things You Don’t Know About Me

Author and liberal New York Times columnist Nora Ephron has written a light, humorous, non-political essay that will bring a smile to your face. (New York Times).

Elected Officials Birthday List

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Local Headlines

Deseret Morning News

- Josh Romney mulling politics

- Progress on appraising homes

- CEU, USU merger talks put on hold

- Science targets coal impact

- Pleasant Grove creates advisory board

- Mining taxes may aid infrastructure

- Salt Lake school districts decry equalization plan

- Gay-adoption bill stuck in committee

- Privatization a possibility for recreation centers?

- Use of airport revenues for TRAX blocked

- Legal defense funding advances

- Senate OKs bill aiding non-parents seeking visitation

- Davis County Demos will meet Thursday

- John Florez: Inaction in Buttars flap reflects poorly on Utah

- Editorial: Censuring councilman petty

Standard-Examiner

- Hispanic leaders call for appeal to Utah governor

- Attorney, lawmakers: Get used to seeing guns in the open

- Editorial: Managing campaign/slush funds

KCPW

- Funding for TRAX Expansion to Airport Up in the Air

- Donnelson Wants to Run Doomed Immigration Bills Next Year

- Economic Development Director Says Oil Shale Mining Needed In Uintah County

- Matheson Introduces Bill to Fight Drug Resistant Bacteria

- Slamming Buttars: Activists Hold Poetry Slam Against Racism, Homophobia

Salt Lake Tribune

- Buttars: 'If it's possible, forgive me'

- Cannon backs the industry - and takes a bunch of pills, too

- County wheels: Techs log big miles

- Polygamy-outreach bill is moving fast

- Education bills need state's OK?

- House to decide on class flags bill

- Oil shale and tar sands: BLM meeting today

- Rolly: House floor looks like a schoolyard

- Adam Aircraft: Despite setback, many are upbeat

- Editorial: Soft mandate: Bill would do little to boost renewable energy

- Editorial: Grandma's keys: Mandatory testing would make highways safe

- Op-ed: Harsh immigration laws echo 19th century anti-Mormon legislation

Please submit calendar items to Daily@UtahPolicy.com

- Feb 25: Legislative meetings scheduled throughout day. See Legislative calendar for details.

- Feb 25: Midday Metro at 10 a.m. on NPR Utah, KCPW 88.3 FM: Building bridges between Utah and Chile. Plus it’s Utah Saves Week. Ann House, statewide coordinator for Utah Saves, and saver Mandy Ward offer ways to safeguard your financial future. Call 801-355-TALK during the show to participate.

- Feb 25: Lt. Governor Herbert to congratulate winners of the High School All-Star Art Show, 12 p.m., Utah State Capitol.

- Feb 26: Legislative meetings scheduled throughout day. See Legislative calendar for details.

- 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: Governor Huntsman to attend the farewell for 142nd Military Intelligence Battalion, 7:15 a.m., Air National Guard Base, 765 N. 2200 W. Salt Lake City.

- 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 27: Governor Huntsman to attend the Ribbon Cutting for Grace Mary Manor, 11:30 a.m., 19 W. Gregson Ave., Salt Lake City.

- Feb 27: "Bringing Back America's Promise," an evening with David Leavitt, Republican candidate for U.S. Congress, 7 p.m., Springville Art Museum, 126 E 400 S, Springville. Light refreshments served. RSVP not necessary but appreciated. Email lin@davidleavitt2008.com or call 801-649-5346.

- Feb 28: Mayor Peter Corroon Campaign Kickoff, 2 p.m., Cultural Celebration Center, 1355 West 3100 South (enter 3100 South at Redwood Road and go west) , West Valley City. Light refreshments served. RSVP by calling 801-467-1221 or email mrscorroon@hotmail.com

- Feb 28: Lt. Governor Herbert to attend the Utah Valley Leadership Conference, 3:30 p.m., Utah State Capitol.

- Feb 28: Mayor Peter Corroon Campaign Open House, 5 to 8 p.m., Campaign Headquarters, 1063 East 3300 South, Salt Lake. RSVP by calling 801-467-1221 or email mrscorroon@hotmail.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.

- Feb 28: Davis County Democrats Meeting, 7 p.m., Commission Chambers, Davis County Courthouse, 28 East State Street, Farmington. Precinct officers, delegates and the general public are invited.

- 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: "Education and the Media:  Finding Common Ground," 2 to 3 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn Hotel, 1731 Convention Center Drive, St. George. The event is a free workshop with Utah's newspaper publishers and editors. Sponsored by Utah Press and Utah Journalism Education Team (UJET).

- 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

- See the entire calendar