News Highlights

After a trip to Colombia, Rep. Jim Matheson says he supports Pres. Bush's efforts to establish a free trade agreement with that country (Deseret Morning News and Salt Lake Tribune).

45 Utah House members are seeking detailed financial records from the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance after two people associated with the group are convicted of securities fraud charges (Tribune).

Measure extending $42 million loan to St. George City is flying through the Legislature so the city can begin work on a new airport while waiting to sell its old airport to a development firm (Tribune, Spectrum and Morning News.

Quote of the Day

"I love him. He’s my buddy."

-- Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan, endorsing Salt Lake County Council member Randy Horiuchi for re-election (Morning News).

Wednesday Musing

The Cookie Dilemma
I know the Legislature ends tonight with our dedicated lawmakers grappling with all manner of life-and-death issues (see links to the right). I know the presidential race is entering a crucial phase with Clinton and Obama locked in a fight to the finish. I know the economy is weakening and tough times could lie ahead.

But I have other things to think about. This is a good time in the Webb household. My six boxes of Girl Scout cookies (Thin Mints, Samoas, and Tagalongs -- two boxes each) have arrived, courtesy of Marla Kennedy’s young niece Adrian, a fine Girl Scout and a stellar seller of Girl Scout delicacies!

With no children around, I only have to hide the cookies from my wife to preserve my stash for myself. Clearly, this is what being an empty-nester is all about. But the problem is, I can’t decide whether to eat one box at a time (which would keep the remaining boxes fresh) or whether to take turns eating the different kinds of cookies (which I would prefer, but would necessitate having three open boxes of cookies, risking staleness). Nothing worse than staleness. This is a serious dilemma I’ve never faced before because we’ve always had ample children around to scarf down Girl Scout cookies in an eruption of grasping fingers, ripping boxes, and mouths bulging with Thin Mints.

So I’m soliciting advice from willing UPD readers experienced in the art of Girl Scout cookie-eating, especially those who have enjoyed the rare luxury of having a box or two all to yourself. One box at a time? Or rotate among flavors?

Legislative Wrap-Up

The University of Utah's Hinckley Institute of Politics will host a legislative wrap-up Thursday at 10:45 a.m. with Sens. John Valentine and Patricia Jones and Reps. Greg Curtis and Brad King. Dan Jones will moderate.

Washington Watch

Hatch: Modernize Patent Law

Sens. Orrin Hatch and Patrick Leahy pen op-ed on "how modernizing our patent law would stimulate our economy" (The Hill).

Today in Political History

Mar. 5, 1946: Winston Churchill delivers his famous "Iron Curtain Speech" in Fulton, Mo.

Wise Words

The foundation of national morality must be laid in private families. . . . How is it possible that Children can have any just Sense of the sacred Obligations of Morality or Religion if, from their earliest Infancy, they learn their Mothers live in habitual Infidelity to their fathers, and their fathers in as constant Infidelity to their Mothers?

-- John Adams (Patriot Post)

Campaign Tip

Save on Campaign Printing Costs
Small campaigns that only print a few thousand pieces of mail or literature at a time have always had to pay a premium because of the high setup fees charged for jobs done on traditional off-set printing presses. That’s no longer the case with digital off-set printing. Digital off-set presses are basically big color laser printers designed specifically to print high-quality pieces in small quantities. Be sure to shop around for a printer who has one. The cost savings will be significant. (Source: Campaign Tips)

National Politics

Best Stories From . . .
-- Washington Post: "Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton won critically important victories in Ohio and Texas last night, defying predictions of an imminent end to her presidential candidacy and extending the remarkable contest for the Democratic nomination to Pennsylvania's April primary and perhaps well into the summer."

-- ABC News: "Latinos, working-class voters, women and late deciders" fueled Clinton's Ohio and Texas victories.

-- New York Times: For Clinton, "the battle ahead is not so much against [Barack] Obama as it is against a Democratic Party establishment that had once been ready to coalesce behind her but has been drifting toward Mr. Obama. The party wants a standard-bearer now to wage the war against the newly minted leader of the Republicans, Senator John McCain, who enjoys a head start with every day that the Democrats lack a nominee of their own."

-- Politico: McCain "capped one of the most remarkable political comebacks in American history by seizing the Republican nomination [last night]. With decisive victories in Texas, Ohio, Vermont and Rhode Island, McCain surged past the needed 1,191 delegates to win the GOP nod. Mike Huckabee, the last remaining obstacle in McCain's path, withdrew from the race and offered his support to McCain."

SUWA: Help Protect Roadless Areas

The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, noting that the BLM will soon finalize six Resource Management Plans encompassing nearly three million acres of wilderness quality land on Utah's Colorado Plateau, is encouraging its supporters to ask their congressional representatives "to sign onto a letter to Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne & BLM Director Jim Caswell asking that the BLM protect these three million acres by adopting the provisions prescribed in each plan's 'conservation alternative' for BLM roadless areas." For more info, click here.

Blog Watch

-- Paul Rolly reports: "I'm not sure if any campaign reporting laws have been violated, but apparently God may be intervening in a Republican legislative race. Former Rep. LaVar Christensen, who gave up his seat two years ago to run against Congressman Jim Matheson, recently had a meeting at the Capitol with his Republican replacement, Sylvia Andersen, and reportedly indicated that God wanted him to take back the seat in District 48, which mostly covers Draper. When I called Andersen about what I had heard, she said she would be more comfortable if I got the confirmation from Christensen, but she added, 'you are extremely warm.' Christensen remembered no such thing and suggested it was a vicious rumor being spread by someone trying to undermine him. He said that during the meeting, 'I talked about things that were in my heart and she talked about things that were in her heart, so you could ascribe the same kind of statement to her. It was just a very cordial conversation.' He also refused to say whether he will run against Andersen for the GOP nomination to retain his old seat. The candidate filing period begins Friday and runs through March 17." (For more on the Legislature, see SLCSpin, Salt Lake Crawler http://blogs.sltrib.com/slcrawler/, Out of Context, Jeremy's Jeremiad, Utah State Democratic Party, and Salt Blog.)

Lighter Side

Favorite Headlines
(Compiled by Jeri Cartwright, a media relations advisor and blogger from local reporters and the Columbia Journalism Review.

-- "Literarcy week observed" (Brandenburg, Ky., Messenger)
-- "Some lie to have sex, study says" (Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, Pa.)
-- "Vatican Unveils Procreation Position" (Corland, N.Y., Standard)
-- "Man executed after long speech" (Boston Globe)
-- "Tahoe-area man sentenced to 28 years in Calif." (Reno, Nevada, Gazette-Journal)
-- "Hunter Dies; Deer Count Holds Steady" (Daily News-Record, Harrisonburg, Va.)
-- "U.S., allies demand N. Korea drop nukes" (Stars and Stripes, Pacific Edition)
-- "Link between science-fiction, Mormons found" (St. George Spectrum)

Elected Officials Birthday List

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

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Local Headlines

Salt Lake Tribune

- St. George airport: In waning hours, House backs $42 million loan

- Environmental group's funds on legislators' radar

- Renewable energy bill passes, but HEAL wants more

- Importing Italy's nuke junk? Regulators extend comment period

- Kennecott may give up wetlands

- Draper council kills immigration proposal

- Powder Mountain plan delayed

- SLC and Sandy fight for spotlight

- Paul Rolly: Guns OK, but hats on the Hill? Out you go

- Demo takes on Crockett, S.L. County councilman

- Trip sways Matheson about free trade

- U.S. House OKs land swap between Bountiful, feds

- Horiuchi announces bid for re-election

- Education funding to be front and center

- No deal for state to buy facility

- Senate brings back earthquake bill

- I-15 reconstruction: Lawmakers trim plans

- House OKs state execs' pay hikes

- House approves assets-split bill

- Employee COLA gets House nod

- Cedar City lawmaker is back in game

- House qualifies $156M in bonds

- Credit union bill heads to guv

- Animal torture measure passes House

- House OKs alcopops bill; governor likely to sign

- Tax bill that includes rate raise advances

- Northrop win stirs discontent

- Editorial: Omnibus bait: Massive bill hides unpopular education measures

- Editorial: Waiting game: WVC needs to improve police response times

- Op-ed: Renewable energy a must for Utah, but without steep price hikes

Standard-Examiner

- Clearfield Midtown project still on track

- Editorial: Finally, some voucher payback

- Op-ed: We need to shed this bubble mentality which creates Ponzi schemes

St. George Spectrum

- Buyer found for airport

- Forum to discuss future of economy

- Editorial: Reform Medicare

- Op-ed: Constituents are my priority

KCPW

- Animal Torture Now A Third Degree Felony

- Education Omnibus Moves Forward

- School Board Policies on Hazing May Soon Be Required

- Senate Passes Performance Pay Measure

- State and County Hold Off on Oxbow Deal

- Brick Building Inventory Revisited

Daily Herald

- I-15 improvement scope shrinks

- Massive education bill rolls through Senate

- Animal cruelty measure passes House

- Senate agrees with House on town incorporation amendments

- Utah government an object of envy

- Editorial: Immigration reform waits

Tooele Transcript Bulletin

- Tooele police disciplinary records show few complaints

- Editorial: Depot must hurry up on groundwater cleanup

- Op-ed: Immigration: We must keep opportunity for all

Davis County Clipper

- Fisher's bill will enable transfers at any time

- UTA service to continue as talks stall

- Matthews: Economy not yet in recession

- Business Expo receives large turnout

KUER

- Spending Bills "Bundled" in Final Days

Deseret Morning News

- Conflict sidelines Curtis on loan talks

- Smaller rebuild of I-15 is likely

- 'Tax shift' includes breaks

- Salt Lake County prosecutor is fired

- Jordan board reaches out to Draper

- Salt Lake Council pledges $1 million to center

- Horiuchi to run for re-election

- U.S. House OKs bill benefiting club's rifle range

- Senate OKs teacher-pay bill

- Omnibus ed bill draws flak

- 'Alcohol-pops' measure gains final OK

- Illegals measures advance

- Matheson supports trade agreement with Colombia

- Loophole is closed on town incorporation

- School-split changes approved by House

- Senate signs off on health-care reform

- Logan attorney named to 1st District bench

- Voucher fight nets Utah PTA a top award

- Limits on suing builders OK'd

- Credit-union bill passes in House

- Provo meetings set on downtown plans

- Editorial: Further restrict teen driving

- Op-ed: Tax reform will cause woes as economy sours

Please submit calendar items to Daily@UtahPolicy.com

- Mar 5: U.S. Ambassadors free trade agreement presentation at Salt Lake Chamber, 9 to 10:30 a.m., Salt Lake Chamber, Suite 600, 175 East University Blvd. (400 South). Validated parking available immediately West of the Chamber of Commerce Bldg.

- Mar 5: Midday Metro at 10 a.m. on NPR Utah, KCPW 88.3 FM: A live report from Utah’s Capitol Hill with KCPW reporter Elizabeth Ziegler. Plus the politics of women’s bodies with Rose Weitz, professor of women and gender studies at Arizona State University. Call 801-355-TALK to participate.

- Mar 6: Hinckley Forum: Legislative Wrap-Up, 10:45 a.m., Hinckley Caucus Room, Orson Spencer Hall Room 255, University of Utah. President John Valentine, President of the Senate, Senator Patricia Jones, Assistant Minority Whip, Speaker Greg Curtis, Speaker of the House, Representative Brad King, Minority Leader.

- Mar 6: Professional Republican Women monthly meeting, 11:45 a.m., Utah State Capitol Beehive Room, East Building, South of Cafeteria. Legislative Wrap-Up featuring John Nixon, director of the Governor's Office of Planning and Budget. $20 per person, RSVP to Kelly Bennett or 801-246-1447.

- Mar 6: Mayor Ralph Becker KCPW Interview with Jeff Robinson about the legislative session, 1 p.m., KCPW Studios.

- Mar 6: Hinckley Forum: Careers in State Department, 1 p.m., Hinckley Caucus Room, Orson Spencer Hall Room 255, University of Utah. Robert Laing, Diplomat in Residence, Arizona State University.

- Mar 6: Governor Huntsman to give remarks at Lifetime Hero Lunch, 11:30 a.m., Energy Solutions Arena.

- Mar 6: Non-partisan public meeting on the Utah caucus process, 6 to 7:30 p.m., South Jordan Library, 10300 Beckstead Lane, South Jordan. Hosted by Utahns for Public Schools.

- Mar 6: Lt. Governor Herbert to attend the Beaver County Lincoln Day Dinner, 6 p.m., Beaver High School, 197 East Center Street, Beaver.

- Mar 6: Governor Huntsman to give remarks at JPMorgan Chase Conference, 7:15 p.m., Deer Valley Resort.

- 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: Governor Huntsman to attend the Rocky Mountain Special Needs Hockey Game, 4:15 p.m., E-Center, West Valley City.

- 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: Premier viewing of the movie A Soldiers Peace: One Veteran's 500-mile Journey Into Activism, 4:30 p.m., Wildcat Theater, Ogden. For more info email info@soldierspeace.com.

- Mar 8: Wyoming Democratic Presidential Caucus

- Mar 10: American Samoa Democratic Presidential Caucus

- Mar 10: Lt. Governor Herbert to speak at the BYU Gerontology Health Conference, 8:45 a.m., BYU Harmen Building, Provo.

- Mar 10: Lt. Governor Herbert to participate in the Spanish Fork City Marshall Delegation Program, 9:30 a.m., Spanish Fork City Council Chambers, 40 South Main Street, Spanish Fork.

- Mar 10: Hinckley Forum: ASUU Presidential Debate, 12 p.m., Hinckley Caucus Room, Orson Spencer Hall Room 255, University of Utah. Patrick Reimherr and Jonathan Hayes (Focus Party) and Graham Anderson and John Bowers (Spork Party).

- Mar 11: Help organize an April 5 demonstration calling for: U.S. out of Iraq; No more war for oil; Carbon use reduction with justice; No nukes! Money for single-payer healthcare, not warfare; A healthy planet for healthy lives for all of us. Meet at 6:30, 2nd floor conference room, downtown SLC Library, every Tuesday evening in March.

- See the entire calendar