Pay Your Taxes Today

Deseret News editorial has an interesting thought about the federal income tax: “What if, instead of making all income taxes due today, the deadline was always the day before Election Day? Would that change the dynamics of the current presidential and congressional races? Perhaps it would make tax reform a topic of discussion, which it certainly is not at the moment.” See related Daily Herald editorial. Happy tax day.

The Fundraising Race

Want to know who’s ahead in the presidential election fundraising race? Check out the Washington Post’s campaign finance tracking page. You can search in a variety of ways, including by candidate, reporting period, or state. The site includes fundraising summaries, contribution summaries, and spending data. 

Washington Watch

Hatch Act Reauthorized
Sen. Orrin Hatch hails the Congressional passage of his Traumatic Brain Injury Act Reauthorization (see press release); in a speech on the Senate floor, Hatch decries "the Congressional practice of adopting temporary tax provisions and allowing them to expire" (press release).

New Sutherland Study Released
Today, The Sutherland Institute will release the findings of its analysis of "the costs that family fragmentation imposes on Utah taxpayers." Says Sutherland's William C. Duncan: "We have been working with the nation's leading social scientists who examine the economic costs of family breakdown, to show why strengthening marriage can mitigate these growing costs. Up until now, public debate has focused on the well-documented 'social costs' of divorce and unwed childbearing. But this new research underscores the fact that marriage is more than a moral or social institution, it is also an economic one" (see press release).

Today in Political History

April 15, 1865:  Pres Lincoln dies after being shot by John Wilkes Booth at Ford's Theater the day before. 

April 15, 1896:  First Olympic games close at Athens, Greece. 

April 15, 1910:  William Howard Taft is first president to throw out a first ball at a baseball game. (Source:  NCBuy).

 April 15, 1912: The British luxury liner Titanic sinks in the North Atlantic off Newfoundland, less than three hours after striking an iceberg. About 1,500 people die.  (New York Times)

Wise Words

"No man is good enough to govern another man without that other's consent."

-- Abraham Lincoln, (Source:  George Mason University) 

Communications Tip

Attitude Drives Behavior

Your body language is a result of your mental attitude. By choosing your attitude you get in that mood and send out a message that everyone understands, consciously or unconsciously.

"Almost always, you have a choice as to what attitude to adopt. There is nothing in any normal work situation that dictates you must react one way or another. If you feel angry about something that happens, for instance, that's how you choose to feel. Nothing in the event itself makes it absolutely necessary for you to feel that way. It is your choice. And since you do have a choice, most of the time you'll be better off if you choose to react in a positive rather than a negative way."  (Source:  1000Ventures) 

National Politics

Best Stories From . . .

-- ABC News: At The Note, Rick Klein says of Barack Obama's comments about "bitter" working class Pennsylvania voters: "With just a few sentences that emerged Friday and marinated over the weekend, Obama made himself into Mike Dukakis, Al Gore, and Kerry, all rolled into one effete, aloof, unelectable package. Or, at least, that's how the denizens of Camp Clinton are playing it -- and when they grab hold of a message frame, it's hard to make them give it back."

-- National Review: Columnist Peter Wehner says Obama's comments "are significant because they were said off-the-record, meaning they provided a more authentic glimpse into the attitudes of Obama than a carefully scripted event. Nonetheless, his words were not merely careless; his comments were based on a carefully constructed, if deeply condescending, explanation."

-- CBS News: "Pennsylvania continues to enjoy its unexpected early spring in the political spotlight, but don't expect the campaign circus to leave town for very long after the April 22 primary. As it has for the past two general elections, the Keystone State figures to play a pivotal role as a highly contested battleground this November."

-- Bloomberg: Columnist Al Hunt: "The Republican Party's success in five of the last seven U.S. presidential elections has flowed from the enthusiastic support of a diverse collection of economic, social and national security conservatives. That coalition is fraying. John McCain, the only Republican who would have a shot at winning the presidency, faces a challenge in keeping this three-legged stool intact for the November election."

Blog Watch

-- Scott Hinrichs says: "Most Utahns are completely unaware of the state health care task force that is currently ramping up. The task force's prime directive is to figure out how to ensure that all Utahns get health care coverage. The task force will not and cannot address the real problems in health care because it starts from the wrong premise and is stacked with people representing those groups that stand to gain the most from expanding the existing protection racket. Unless the task force ultimately decides to do nothing, which is highly unlikely, any decision it makes will ultimately exacerbate the problems." (For a different view on the task force, see Senate Site post.)

Lighter Side

Favorite Headlines

(From James Taranto’s Best of the Web at OpinionJournal.com)

A Break for Obama: "Clinton Woman Jailed for Allegedly Using Stolen Credit Card to Pay Court Costs"--headline, Des Moines Register, April 13

We Blame Global Warming: "Israel Cools to Visit by Carter"--headline, Washington Times, April 13

This Relationship Is Progressing Nicely: "Truck Driver Takes Out Traffic Light"--headline, Times (Trenton, N.J.), Feb. 29
Sounds as if He Needs to Get One: "Chronic NYC Subway Groper Could Get Life"--headline, Associated Press, April 14

Bill Is None Too Pleased Either: " 'Spanking' Bill Is Government Intrusion, Conservatives Warn"--headline, CNSNews.com, April 11

As Are People With Insurance: "People Without Insurance Are Dying"--headline, Knoxville (Tenn.) News Sentinel, April 11

Everyone's a Critic, Mate: "Australian Man Critical After Swallowing Hashish-Filled Condoms"--headline, FoxNews.com, April 12

News You Can Use: "A Visual Guide to the Yahoo Mating Dance"--headline, CNET.com, April 10