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


 

News Highlights

Utah lawmakers receive high marks in the Sierra Club's 2008 legislative scorecard (KCPW).

Op-ed: Former Utah Congressman James Hansen writes about the need to develop energy on public lands. “…Congress should face up to the problem and repeal many laws and regulations which are currently on the books and do nothing more than harass and bother those who would finance and produce the energy. …it should be obvious to thinking people that it will be extremely difficult to remain a world leader without sufficient energy source” (Standard Examiner).

Quote of the Day

“Ideally, we would like to see lawmakers ban the acceptance of all gifts from lobbyists. ... Barring that, however, lawmakers should at least remove the $50 threshold on reporting.”

-- Deseret News editorial


Monday Buzz
Written by LaVarr Webb & Associates

The Week Ahead

Wow! Already the middle of April. What a nice weekend we had. Jolt of reality: Taxes are due tomorrow.  The Legislature gets back in action this week with a full schedule of interim committee meetings on Wednesday.  (See calendar of all meetings. Click on a meeting for agenda.) The Public Utilities and Technology Interim Committee will discuss identifying areas economically feasible for generation of renewable and traditional power, and creation of a Renewable Energy Zone Task Force. The much-awaited Health System Reform Task Force gets underway on Thursday (see agenda). Live audio of the meeting will be available at this page.  

 

Lots of other political events this week with county nominating conventions and 3rd District GOP congressional candidates holding a lot of delegate meetings. For all the week’s political activities, see the Utah Policy.com calendar.

Downtown Rising

Another Big Pour

The foundation for the 21-story high-rise office building at 222 S. Main was partially poured on Saturday, with hundreds of concrete trucks dumping their loads into four massive concrete pumps. The pour went on for some 12 hours, with at least 15 concrete trucks on-site at all times, arriving, waiting, dumping, and leaving, and some 60 workers finishing concrete and working at the site.  

Meanwhile, you can take a tour of the City Creek Development with a cool animated video posted on the Downtown Rising web site

Today in Political History

April 14, 1614:  Pocahontas, daughter of chief Powhatan, marries planter John Rolfe

April 14, 1775:  First American society for the abolition of slavery is organized by Benjamin Franklin and Benjamin Rush in Philadelphia.  (Source:  NCBuy

Wise Words

“The principle of the Constitution is that of a separation of legislative, Executive and Judiciary functions, except in cases specified. If this principle be not expressed in direct terms, it is clearly the spirit of the Constitution, and it ought to be so commented and acted on by every friend of free government.” 

-- Thomas Jefferson (Source:  Patriot Post

Leadership Tip

Tactical Management: Adapt, Adopt, Improve

By  Richard A Reda & Jean B. Lenderking

With the ever changing economy and political upheaval that we go through at times it becomes critical for leaders to be flexible and adapt.  Maintaining a high level of flexibility will give the tactical manager an edge. 

Part of being flexible is being able to adopt, or take advantage of different points of view, approaches and interests.  It is healthy to have differing points of view that are not only welcomed but encouraged.  This allows managers to see things as they really are. Lastly, change will bring about opportunities to improve.  If the leader is able to adapt and adopt ideas that are beneficial then improvement will be the result. (Source:  Gov Leaders

National Politics

Best Stories From . . .

-- Politico: "A Clinton comeback was looking far-fetched. But operatives in both parties were buzzing about that possibility Saturday following the revelation that Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) told wealthy San Franciscans that small-town Pennsylvanians and Midwesterners 'cling to guns or religion' because they are 'bitter' about their economic status."

-- Associated Press: Obama's remarks have given Clinton "a new opening to court working class Democrats 10 days before Pennsylvanians hold a primary that she must win to keep her presidential campaign alive."

-- Newsweek: Columnist Eleanor Clift says Bill Clinton "is working harder on the road to get Hillary elected than he did in 1996 to get himself re-elected" because he knows that an Obama victory will diminish his legacy.

-- Bloomberg: Obama "will likely overwhelm John McCain in campaign spending, if the Illinois senator wins his party's presidential nomination, in what would be the first time in four decades a Democrat will enjoy such an advantage."

Blog Watch

-- At Out of Context, Dan Harrie reports: "Democrats worried about the drawn-out nominating battle aren't the only ones frustrated that Utah Congressman Jim Matheson, a superdelegate, won't pick sides between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton already. Now Republicans are calling on Matheson to get off the fence and say whom he supports so they can get down to the business of pummeling him for whichever choice he makes. In a press release this weekend, the National Republican Congressional Committee got a few licks in on Matheson over Obama's recent controversial remarks about how small-town Americans are bitter over the sucky economy and their distrust of Washington. And that's before Matheson has said who he supports. The press release first calls on Matheson to stop 'playing coy' and announce his pick. Then it immediately shifts gears and calls on him to denounce Obama's rhetoric and 'defend traditional American values.' The only way Matheson is going to sidestep the NRCC's jibes, apparently, is to name John McCain as his guy."

Lighter Side

“Politics is the only business where doing nothing other than making the other guy look bad is an acceptable outcome.”

-- Mark Warner, former Virginia governor (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 14, 2008



Local Headlines

Salt Lake Tribune

- Skyscrapers sprouting in the suburbs?

- College faculty pay weakening in Utah, nation

- Panel tackles quake-safety study project

- Forests play a vital climate role

- Rolly: Is a voucher plot afoot on the Hill?

- Editorial: A disturbing security breach

Standard-Examiner

- Editorial: Bring Cyber Command to Hill

- Op-ed: Extremists hinder energy independence

KCPW

- Sierra Club Gives 2008 Legislature Good Marks

Daily Herald

- County challengers question 'superdelegates'

Deseret News

- Editorial: Ethics reform badly needed

- Op-ed: Same-state sponsors are best for bills


Political Calendar

Please submit calendar items to Daily@UtahPolicy.com

- Apr 14: Midday Metro at 10 a.m. on NPR Utah, KCPW 88.3FM: The Salt Lake Valley is expected to grow by another 1 million people over the next 20 years. Boomburbs expert Robert Lang will talk about smart ways to manage growth. Plus living the life of an inventor. Call 801-355-TALK during the show to participate.
- Apr 14: Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee Meeting, 11 a.m., room W025.

- Apr 14: RadioWest on KUER FM 90: Sick Around the World, 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Veteran Washington Post journalist TR Reid has investigated health care in five other countries - the UK, Germany, Japan, Taiwan and Switzerland. Reid joins Doug to talk about what we can learn from both the failures and success of these systems.
- Apr 14: Jason Chaffetz delegate meeting, 11:30 a.m., Scera, 745 S. State Street, Orem.

- Apr 14: Governor Huntsman to attend the UBridge Conference, 6:45 p.m., University of Utah Marriott, 480 Wakara Way, SLC
- Apr 15: Piute County Republican Party Convention, for more info contact McVoy Barben
435-326-4314.

- Apr 15: Governor Huntsman to attend the 100th Anniversary Celebration of the Captive Insurance Company, 11 a.m., Capitol Board Room.

- Apr 15: Governor’s Scholars Luncheon, 11:30 a.m., Governor’s Mansion
- Apr 15: Executive Appropriations Committee Meeting, 1 p.m. room C445.

- Apr 15: Jason Chaffetz delegate meeting, 7:30 p.m., Home of Deidre Henderson, 462 Rivercross Road, Spanish Fork.

- Apr 16: Legislative meetings scheduled throughout day. See Legislative calendar for details.

- Apr 16: Wayne County Republican Party Convention, for more info contact Harry Brian
435-836-2884 or email hrjbri@yahoo.com.

- Apr 16: Merrill Cook for Congress "America, Again" event, come between 6:30 and 9:30 a.m., Einstein Bagel Co., 4764 South Highland Dr., Holladay.
- Apr 16: Hinckley Forum “Why Both Big and Small States Need an Effective UN,” 3 p.m., Hinckley Caucus Room, Orson Spencer Hall, room 255, University of Utah. His Excellency Lars Faaborg-Andersen, Deputy Permanent Representative of Denmark to the United Nations, and during 2005-2006 to the Security Council.

- Apr 16: Jason Chaffetz delegate meeting, 7 p.m., Park Library, 4870 S 2700 W, Taylorsville.
- Apr 17: Garfield County Republican Party Convention, for more info contact Toni Lacy, Chair 435-678-2609, mtlacy@frontier.net.

- Apr 17: Merrill Cook for Congress "America, Again" event, come between 7 and 9 a.m., The Midvale Mining Company, 7200 South 390 West, Midvale.
- Apr 17: Hinckley Forum “The Rule of Law,” 10:45 a.m., Hinckley Caucus Room, Orson Spencer Hall, room 255, University of Utah. The Honorable Christine M. Durham, Chief Justice, Utah Supreme Court Dean Hiram Chodosh, J.S. Quinney College of Law, University of Utah.

- Apr 17: Jason Chaffetz delegate meeting, 1 p.m., Home of Stacey Darais, 30 East Center Street, Pleasant Grove.
- Apr 17: Emery County Democratic Party Convention, 6 p.m., Museum of the San Rafael, 96 N 100 E, Castle Dale.

- Apr 17: Boomburbs: a discussion of suburban growth, national and local trends with Dr. Robert Lang, author of Boomburbs: The Rise of America’s Accidental Cities,” 7 to 8:30 p.m., Salt Lake City Main Library Auditorium. Sponsored by the Utah League of Cities and Towns. For more info click here.

- Apr 17: Jason Chaffetz delegate meeting, 7:30 p.m., Home of Christy Garner, 13911 S. 1950 W., Bluffdale.

- Apr 17: UTA Bus Drivers Charity Concert to benefit No More Hit and Runs of Utah, 7:30 p.m., Murray Super Theater, 4961 South State Street, Murray. Comedy Hypnotist Vincent Lords will be performing, along with the bands Our Dark Horse and Jamestown. Tickets $12.50 per person up to four people per group. Over four people will be $10 each.
- Apr 18: Hinckley Forum “Hierarchy in International Relations: Rebuilding America's Legitimacy after the Iraq War,” 11:50 a.m., Hinckley Caucus Room, Orson Spencer Hall, room 255, University of Utah. David Lake, Professor, Political Science, University of California, San Diego.

- Apr 18: Jason Chaffetz delegate meeting, 1 p.m., West Jordan Library, 1970 W. 7800 S., West Jordan.

- 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 18: Tooele County Republican Party Convention, 6 p.m. Lincoln Day Dinner; 7 p.m call to order, Tooele High School, 301 W Vine Street, Tooele.

- Apr 18: Kane County Democratic Party Convention, 7 p.m.

- Apr 18: Jason Chaffetz delegate meeting, 7:30 p.m., at the Scera, 745 S. State Street, Orem.

- Apr 19: Washington County Republican Party Convention, 7:30 a.m. credentials, 9 a.m. call to order, Gardner Center-Dixie State College.
- 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.

- See the entire calendar