Today's political briefing: Key developments
and analysis for Utah policymakers
Subscribe or Unsubscribe


 

News Highlights

Retiring legislators can do what they want with leftover campaign funds (Salt Lake Tribune).

According to new figures released by the U.S. Census Bureau, Utah still ranks last in the nation in per student spending (Deseret Morning News). Tribune editorial says writing test scores for eighth-graders, especially minority and male students, are reason for concern.

Quote of the Day

“The overall goal of the recent tax changes is to reduce income taxes for the people of Utah. Experts calculated that more than 90 percent of the taxpayers should see some degree of tax relief.”

-- Sen. Wayne Neiderhauser, writing in a Tribune op-ed essay, clarifying the impact of tax law changes.


Monday Buzz
Written by LaVarr Webb & Associates

The Week Ahead

County nominating conventions continue this week, including in a couple of large counties where candidates facing intra-party challenges will square off.  On Saturday, Davis (9 a.m., Woods Cross High School) and Weber (10:30 a.m., Orion Jr. High School) Republicans will meet. The Salt Lake County Democratic convention planned for Saturday has been re-scheduled for April 26. Congressional candidates Jason Chaffetz (3rd District) and Merrill Cook (2nd District) will be holding delegate meetings during the week. For all the week’s political events, see the Utah Policy.com calendar.

Monday Musing

Global Warming: What’s Your Position?

Global warming continues to emerge as a major political issue, in addition to being an economic and environmental issue. The Los Angeles Times recently published a story saying that the Interior West, including Utah, is warming faster than the rest of the nation.

Candidates for offices at all levels are likely to be asked for their position on global warming. So what’s your position? Here’s how I answer the global warming question: I don’t doubt that the earth is warming. That’s what the preponderance of scientific evidence tells us. However, I don’t know if climate change is actually human-caused, or if the earth is going through one of its natural cycles that have occurred for eons. And if earth is warming naturally, I’m not sure humankind can do much about it.

However, having said that, I think it makes sense to support activities that reduce global warming for two reasons: 1. If the doomsayers are right we need to do everything we can; and, 2. We need to improve air quality and keep our water and land clean, whether or not global warming is occurring. We need to use less energy and reduce dependence on foreign energy. Most activities undertaken to reduce global warming have benefits in their own right.

I believe we can make a difference. With oil prices above $100 a barrel, an incredible amount of money and scientific research are being invested in clean and renewable energy solutions like solar, wind, hydrogen, fuel cell, biomass, ocean currents, nuclear, etc. With so much capital and innovation being directed at the problems, I believe we’ll see some major breakthroughs. Meanwhile, there’s no reason each of us couldn’t reduce our carbon footprints and energy consumption by 10%, which would make an enormous difference

The reality is that we’ve reached a tipping point in society and citizens want political leaders who will take care of the environment, clean up polluted air, protect wildlife and open space, and reduce energy consumption.  Smart candidates will show leadership on conservation issues. 

Washington Watch

Hatch: $$ for HAFB
Sen. Orrin Hatch confirms that Hill Air Force Base "will receive $29.4 million to purchase equipment needed to perform depot maintenance on the F-22A Raptor, the Air Force's newest and most advanced jet fighter" (see press release).

Today in Political History

April 7, 1862: Union forces led by Gen. Ulysses S. Grant defeat the Confederates at the battle of Shiloh in Tennessee. (New York Times)

April 7, 1933:  Prohibition ends.

April 7, 1948:  The U.N. establishes the World Health Organization.  (Source:  Perspicuity

April 7, 1998:  Mary Bono, widow of entertainer-turned-politician Sonny
Bono, wins a special election and serves the remainder of her late husband’s congressional term.  (Source:  NBC5

Wise Words

“Don't cling to fame. You're just borrowing it. It's like money. You're going to die, and somebody else is going to get it.” 

-- Sonny Bono  (Source:  Brainy Quote

Leadership Tip

"Fit no stereotypes. Don't chase the latest management fads. The situation dictates which approach best accomplishes the team's mission."  General Colin Powell (Ret)

Flitting from fad to fad creates team confusion, reduces the leader's credibility, and drains organizational coffers. Blindly following a particular fad generates rigidity in thought and action. Sometimes speed to market is more important than total quality. Sometimes an unapologetic directive is more appropriate than participatory discussion. Some situations require the leader to hover closely; others require long, loose leashes. Leaders honor their core values, but they are flexible in how they execute them. They understand that management techniques are not magic mantras but simply tools to be reached for at the right times.  (Source:  Coach Thee

National Politics

Best Stories From . . .

-- New York Times: "Mark Penn, the architect of much of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential campaign, has been replaced as the campaign's chief strategist in the wake of revelations that he lobbied on behalf of a trade treaty with Colombia that Mrs. Clinton opposes."

-- ABC News: "Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is actively courting the vice presidential nomination, Republican strategist Dan Senor said. 'Condi Rice has been actively, actually in recent weeks, campaigning for this,' Senor said this morning on 'This Week with George Stephanopoulos.'"

-- Politico: "Howard Dean warned on Sunday that a Democratic Party that's still divided come convention time could hand the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, Arizona Sen. John McCain, the presidency."
 
-- Reuters: Former Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan endorses McCain, says there's more than a 50 percent chance the U.S. could go into recession.

Sierra Club Newsletter
The Utah Chapter of the Sierra Club has posted its Spring newsletter, which analyzes the results of the 2008 Legislature, among other things.

Lighter Side

Fred’s wife devotes a lot of time to nursing sick birds, and Fred is tired of it. One evening, he comes home to find an oil-soaked seagull in his favorite chair while a duck on the ottoman pecks listlessly at an aspirin. He strides into the kitchen, where his wife is comforting a shivering little wren.

“I can’t take it!” he yells. “You’ve got to get rid of these—“

“Please dear,” she interrupts. “Not in front of the chilled wren.” (Reader’s Digest

 

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.


 

Monday
April 7, 2008


Utah in the National News

New York Times editorial blames the Crandall Canyon Mine disaster on the Bush administration's "patronage-driven penchant for appointing industry executives to regulate their own industry...."


Local Headlines

Deseret Morning News

- Capitol protest rules reviewed

- Utah still ranks last in student spending

- Panel maps unified Davis future

- Utah No. 2 in U.S. livability rankings

- Homeless, disabled could lose welfare

- GOP candidates set to speak in N. Utah County

- John Florez: Legislators have duty to 'oversee' not 'overlook'

KCPW

- Jordan School District Negotiations Hit a Wall

- Hall of Famer Merlin Olsen Speaks Out Against Bear Lake Hydroelectric Project

Salt Lake Tribune

- Campaign funds: Law lets leaders hold on to dough

- Wolf's death stirs fears for species' fate

- U. seeks to turn west lot into an active hub

- For stadium exec, Miley saved the day

- Speaker urges Utahns to rethink nuclear power

- City-sponsored poll finds most want better sidewalks and upkeep on rental

- States disagree on uranium mining

- Editorial: Reason for concern: Writing test scores in Utah are worrisome

- Editorial: Contributors Inc.: State needs to cross-check disclosure reports

- Op-ed: Here's the deal on the recent changes to Utah's tax system


Political Calendar

Please submit calendar items to Daily@UtahPolicy.com

- Apr 7: 19th Annual Conference of the International Society “Meet the Mormons: Public Perception and the Global Church,” 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Assembly Hall, Hinckley Alumni and Visitors Center, BYU, Provo. Conference open to public, reservations required for luncheon at $14 pp. RSVP by Apr 2nd to 801-422-3377. For more info click here.

- Apr 7: Midday Metro at 10 a.m. on NPR Utah, KCPW 88.3 FM, features Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker. Plus, water and energy issues for Utah’s 243 cities. Call 801-355-TALK during the show to participate.

- Apr 7: RadioWest on KUER FM 90: The Lost Ark of the Covenant, 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. The Ark of the Covenant disappeared from the Temple in Jerusalem more than 2500 years ago, but still it's the subject of speculation, fiction and myth. The scholar Tudor Parfitt's life work has been tracking down the lost tribes of Israel, and in his new book, he takes on the great mystery of the ark.
- 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 8: Hinckley Forum “Turkey: A Force of Stability in a Challenging Region,”10:45 a.m., Hinckley Caucus Room, Orson Spencer Hall, room 255, University of Utah. Hakan Tekin, Turkish Consul General in Los Angeles.

- Apr 8: Ceremonial Bill Signing Event with Governor Huntsman, 2 p.m., Humane Society of Utah, 4242 South 300 West, Murray.
- Apr 8: Hinckley Forum “A Nonviolent Solution to Terrorism,” 3 p.m., Hinckley Caucus Room, Orson Spencer Hall, room 255, University of Utah. Bart Gruzalski, Author, The Eradication of Terrorism: Why Nonviolent Policy Works and Military Action Fails, On the Buddha and On Gandhi; Professor Emeritus, Northeastern University.
- Apr 8: Discuss the issues with Third District Congressional candidate Jason Chaffetz, 7 p.m., Kearns Library, 5350 South 4220 West, Kearns.

- Apr 8: Lt. Governor Herbert to speak at the Rich County Convention, 7 p.m., Senior Citizens Center, Randolph.

- Apr 8: Merrill Cook for Congress "America, Again” event, 7:30 p.m., Conference Room of the American Fork City Library, 64 S. 100 E., American Fork.
- Apr 9: Morgan County Republican Party Convention

- Apr 9: Discuss the issues with Third District Congressional candidate Jason Chaffetz, 1 p.m., West Valley City, Hunter Library, 4740 West 4100 South, West Valley City.

- Apr 9: Lt. Governor Herbert to attend the Utah Business Magazine, Executive Roundtable, 1 p.m., Zions Banks, One South Main Street.
- Apr 9: Davis County Republican’s Meet the Candidate night for all newly elected county delegates, sponsored by the Davis County Republican Women, 6 p.m., Davis County Events Center, 151 South 1100 West, Farmington, Building #2. All Republican candidates have been invited to set up tables to answer questions and pass out literature. For info contact DCRW President Trudie Biggers or 801-546-6835.

- Apr 9: Ethics: Gone to Extinction? A Panel Discussion on Business, Politics, and Ethical Behavior, 6 to 8 p.m., WSU Davis Campus, Barnes Banking Company Lecture Hall, 110-111 2750 N. University Park Blvd., Layton. Are ethics a consideration in business and politics anymore? Discussion among business professionals and public officials on ethical behavior and its role in business and politics today. Free to public, for more info call 801-626-6694.

- Apr 9: Governor Huntsman to attend the Globalization Course Lecture, 6 p.m., University of Utah, Warnock Engineering Building
- Apr 9: An evening with Provo Legislators, 7 p.m., Wasatch Elementary, 1080 North 900 East, Provo. Tree Streets Neighborhood and P.A.W.S (Patrons at Wasatch School) sponsored Legislative Wrap-up night to discuss the activities of the last legislative session. Sen. Dayton, Sen. Bramble, Rep. Lockhart, Rep. Clark, Rep. Herrod and Rep. Grover will attend.

- Apr 9: Meeting for people who want to help the Ralph Nader/Matt Gonzalez campaign, 7 p.m., Sprague Library, 2131 S. 1100 East, Salt Lake City.
- Apr 9: Discuss the issues with Third District Congressional candidate Jason Chaffetz, 7:30 p.m., Springville Art Museum, Springville.

- Apr 9: Merrill Cook for Congress “America, Again” event, 7:30 p.m., Sandy Library, 10100 South Petunia Way (1405 E.)
- Apr 10: Box Elder County Republican Party Convention

- Apr 10: Hinckley Forum “The Primacy of Power: Realism & U.S. Grand Strategies, 1940-present,” 10:45 a.m., Hinckley Caucus Room, Orson Spencer Hall, room 255, University of Utah. Jeffery Taliaferro, Associate Professor, International Relations, Security Studies, Tufts University; author, Balancing Risks: Great Power Intervention in the Periphery.

- Apr 10: Lt. Governor Herbert to address Access Salt Lake, a leadership program through the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce, 2:30 p.m., Utah State Capitol.
- Apr 10: Discuss the issues with Third District Congressional candidate Jason Chaffetz, 7 p.m., South Jordan Library, 10673 S Redwood Rd, South Jordan

- Apr 10: Merrill Cook for Congress “American, Again” event, 7 p.m., Corinne and Jack Sweet Branch Library, 455 F Street (9th Ave), SLC
- Apr 11: Cache County Republican Party Convention, Mt. Logan Middle School, 875 North 200 East, Logan. Governor Huntsman to be in attendance.
- Apr 11: Hinckley Forum “Congressional Update,” 10:45 a.m., Hinckley Caucus Room, Orson Spencer Hall, room 255, University of Utah. Congressman Jim Matheson (D-UT).

- Apr 11: Lt. Governor Herbert to speak at the Former Prisoner of War Recognition Luncheon, 11:45 a.m., Hilton Salt Lake City 5151 Wiley Post Way.
- Apr 11: Women’s Republican Club of Salt Lake City Third Annual Military Honor Event, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Utah National Guard Air Base.

- See the entire calendar