News Highlights

Jim Matheson is out front on nuke test issue (Deseret Morning News). Outdoor retailers staying at least 5 years in Utah (Salt Lake Tribune) and (Morning News). Newspapers report Centerville rejects Wal-Mart (Morning News) and (Tribune)

Quote of the Day

"Shurtleff, Skordas and McCullough are right: Amendment 3 goes too far. It should be defeated. Continued support for it flies in the face of reason, serving only the agenda of moralists who want to score an unnecessary victory against gay marriage, disallow the possibility of civil unions between same-sex couples, and who want to punish unmarried heterosexuals who live together -- regardless of the legal, social and financial costs."
  -- Standard-Examiner editorial opposing gay marriage amendment.

Register to Vote

Many groups are doing voter registration drives. An AgendaUtah reader recommended a voter registration web site sponsored by the Child Welfare League of America. Believing that participation in the political process in this country is too low, the organization has launched a national non-partisan voter registration drive.

CWLA's Voter Registration Resource Center provides a link to Working Assets' simple, web-based registration process that can be completed in minutes. This offers an easy way for anyone to either register to vote for the first time or update your registration (if you have moved or changed your name since the last time you voted). In addition, visitors can sign up to receive a reminder to vote on election day. You can also use the site to encourage others to register.

"A Cheap, Dishonest Shot"?

In our Monday AgendaUtah edition, we linked to and commented on a package of stories published by the Salt Lake Tribune juxtaposing a Huntsman chemical plant in Texas with Huntsman’s effort to fight cancer in Utah. In a letter to the editor published Wednesday, Jon Huntsman, Sr., minced no words in responding to the articles, harshly criticizing the Tribune coverage.

Commentary
Lies That Lead to Murder
Can systematic lying escalate to murder? Utah has had experience with this in the past. Mark Hofmann was a seemingly smart and capable collector and broker of historic documents, particularly LDS Church documents. But Hofmann built a web of lies far beyond anything dreamed up by Mark Hacking. Hofmann was one of the world’s great deceivers and frauds. He wasn’t just deceiving his family, friends and church leaders, but also the world’s greatest experts on historical documents. Hofmann built an entire business and even a national reputation around his deceit. When it all started to unravel, when the house of cards began to topple, Hofmann murdered two people to cover up his lies.

On his KSL Radio talk show Wednesday, Doug Wright interviewed an interesting guest expert who said that a pathological liar who spins a complex web of deceit can be fully capable of extreme violence if the fraud is in danger of being exposed, even if the liar has never shown any previous inclination toward violence.

According to family and friends, neither Hofmann or Hacking exhibited proclivities for violence. But the fear of being caught in their deceit drove each of them to murder.

In both the Hacking and Hofmann cases, the murders seem not to be acts of impulse, anger or passion, but instead cold, calculated, premeditated attempts to cover up the fraud. If the world believed that Lori Hacking was lost or kidnapped, Mark Hacking’s lies could be perpetuated. He could easily claim to be too distraught to go to medical school.

If it’s true that the murder was coldly calculated to perpetuate the lies, and not a crime of impulse, then prosecutors ought to have a better case for the death penalty.

"All leaders face the challenge of overcoming resistance to change. Some try to do this by the simple exercise of power and control, but effective leaders learn that there are better ways to overcome resistance to change. This involves the achievement of voluntary commitment to shared values. Leadership is the exercise of interpersonal influence, directed through the communication process, toward the attainment of mutual goals."
  -- Warren Bennis

"The leader's job is to help people, not judge them; he is not a leader unless he knows when people need special help and provides it."
  -- W. Edwards Deming

Rep. Scott Daniels, District 25, August 12
Rep. Rosalind J. McGee, District 28, August 16
Rep. Brent H. Goodfellow, District 29, August 16
Entire Birthday List

Agenda Utah is a service
of Utah Policy.com

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

Associated Press
- Outdoor Retailer show staying put
- Utah joins 9 states to create bioterror response plan
- Groups support gay marriage ban

Salt Lake Tribune
- A tie turns into a loss for Wal-Mart
- Ballot officials focus on security, what ifs
- Outdoor retailers to stay in Utah
- Kane County, feds in stalemate over monument access
- BLM says it will work with tribes on artifacts

Daily Herald
- Ophir unhappy about possible EPA cleanup

KSL
- Editorial: Superfund or super flop?
- Editorial: Westside traffic

St. George Spectrum
- Meals get new wheels
- LaVerkin, Virgin seek to increase taxes

Standard-Examiner
- Task force to study Ogden school bond proposal
- Morgan schools seek tax increase
- Meeting in Ogden deals with election reform
- Prayer debate in Clearfield runs into obstacle
- Editorial: Utah's gay-marriage amendment is flawed

Deseret Morning News
- Trade show to stay in Salt Lake
- Rail-line's price stuns council
- Centerville says no to Wal-Mart
- Davis certifies vote on rec district bond
- Is Swallow playing catch-up on nuclear tests?
- Gubernatorial foes back S. Utah projects

Please submit calendar items to AgendaUtah@UtahPolicy.com

- Aug 12: Rep. Rob Bishop town meetings 6-7 pm, Logan High School Little Theatre, 162 W 100 S, Logan; 8-9 pm Richmond Community Center, 6 W Main.
- Aug 12: Sutherland Institute monthly seminar "The Unavoidable Rule of Law," 8:30-11:30 am, 6th Floor 50 E Social Hall Avenue, SLC. Register: 801-355-1272.
- Aug 13: Rep. Rob Bishop town meeting 7-8 pm, Morgan County Courthouse, 48 W Young St, Morgan.
- Aug 13-14: Atlas Economic Research Foundation, the Sutherland Institute, and International Freedom Educational Foundation host "Communicating the Ideal of Liberty," Little America Hotel, SLC. Register: 703-934-6969.
- Aug 14: Davis County Democrats No-Host Breakfast, 8:30 am to 10:00 am, Joanie's Restaurant, 286 North 400 West, Kaysville. Contact: Richard Watson (801) 292-6772.
- Aug 17: Jon Huntsman at Vernal Chamber of Commerce, noon, Vernal Golden Corral, $8.
- Aug 17: Jon Huntsman at Moab Chamber of Commerce dinner, 7 pm, Moab.
- Aug 17: Rep. Rob Bishop town meetings 6-7 pm, Bountiful City Council Chambers, 790 S 100 E; 8-9 pm Clearfield City Council Chambers, 55 S State.
- Aug 17-18: Constitution Party starts 12-week history of Constitution course taught by Jim Brown. Class A is Tuesday nights starting Aug 17. Class B is Wednesday nights starting Aug 18. 7-8:30 pm. 801-557-9225.
- Aug 18: Voice for Moderation Meet the Candidates night. Meet Democratic candidate for Governor Scott Matheson, and Salt Lake County Auditor candidates Sean Thomas and Peter Stevens at 6 pm at the Anderson/Foothill Library located at 1135 So. 2100 East in Salt Lake City.
- Aug 18: Rep. Rob Bishop town meeting 8-9 pm, Tooele County Courthouse, 47 S Main, Tooele.
- Aug 18-21: Davis County Democrats looking for volunteers for their Davis County Fair booth, call Pat Herrera 801-546-0283.
- Aug 19: Rep. Rob Bishop town meetings 6-7 pm, Weber County Commission Chambers, 2380 Washington Blvd, Ogden; 8-9 pm, West Haven City Offices 2440 S 2050 W.
- Aug 20: Matheson for Congress Fundraiser, Open House sponsored by Iron County Democrats, 7-9 pm. Call 435-865-7482 for location.
- Aug 20: Jon Huntsman at Box Elder Republican BBQ, 6 pm, Marble Park, Bothwell. 435-723-7410.
- Aug 24: Greg Skordas for Attorney General Fundraiser, 5:30 pm, Em’s Restaurant, 271 N Center St, SLC, $100 suggested contribution.
- Aug 24: Attorney General debate on KRCL radio, 90.9 FM, Noon - 1 pm, at 1971 W. North Temple, Salt Lake City, UT.
- Aug 24: Green Party of Utah Roots Local Monthly Meeting, 12 pm, Sprague Library, 1100 East, just past 2100 South, Salt Lake City. Contact: 486-2558.
- Aug 26: Jon Huntsman at Park City Sunrise Rotary Club, 7:45 am.
- Aug 26: Jon Huntsman at Utah Mining Association, 11 am, Grand Summit Hotel, The Canyons Resort.
- Aug 26: Davis County Democrats Picnic, 6 pm, Barnes Park, West on 200 N in Kaysville.
- Aug 26: Jon Huntsman Jr. at Utah Republican Hispanic Assembly meeting, Utah Republican Party HQ, 117 E. South Temple
- Aug 26: Salt Lake County Libertarian Party monthly meeting, 7 pm, Bohemian Brewery & Grill, 94 E 7200 S Midvale.
- Aug: 27: Jon Huntsman Jr fundraiser at Delta Center, $100 for single ticket up to $5,000 for platinum table. Call 737-1811.
- Aug 27: Rep. Rob Bishop town meeting 7-8 pm, Brigham City Council Chambers, 20 N Main.
- Aug 28: Rep. Rob Bishop town meetings 11-noon, Salt Lake County Council Chambers, 2100 S State; 2-3 pm Oakley City Bldg, 960 W Center. 7-8 pm Rich County Courthouse, 20 S Main, Randolph.
- Aug 28: Disco Party for Mark Wheatley for Legislature, 7:30 pm, Former Bob Rice Mansion, 4421 Zarahemla Dr, Olympus Cove, SLC. Park at Olympus Hills Mall, shuttle service provided, suggested donation $15, More info call Josie Valdez 801-264-8844.
- Aug 30-Sept 2: Jon Huntsman attends Republican National Convention, New York City.
- Sept 2:Professional Republican Women monthly meeting, 11:45 am, Panini's restaurant, Wells Fargo Building, 299 S Main , SLC, $20 RSVP call 801-270-0802.
- Sept 2: Progressive Democratic Caucus Meeting, 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm, 455 South 300 East, Suite 102, Salt Lake City. Contact: Craig Axford (801) 918-6017.
- Sept 3: Huntsman campaign at Midway Swiss Days.
- Sept 4: Jon Huntsman at Hispanic Fiesta Days, 3 pm, Gallivan Center, SLC.
- Sept 4: Libertarian Party meet/greet/eat fundraiser, 11am-10 pm, Baja Fresh Mexican Grill, 911 East Fort Union Blvd, Midvale. 15% of purchase donated to Libertarian Party if you identify yourself as a Libertarian.
- Sept 3-4: Huntsman campaign at Iron County Fair, Cedar City.
- Sept 7: Utah Log Cabin Republicans Monthly Meeting, 7:30 pm, Room N4010, Salt Lake County Building, 2001 South State Street, Salt Lake.
- Sept 9: Huntsman Campaign at United Way Day of Caring Breakfast, 7:30 am, Lavell Edwards Stadium, BYU; Logan Rotary Club, 12:30pm, Coppermill Restaurant, Logan; also at Vietnam Veterans meet the candidates night, 7 pm, Salt Lake City Library, 4th floor, 210 E 400 S.
- Sept 9: Sutherland Institute seminar "The Rules of the Game-Applications in Boundaries and Procedures," 8:30-11:30 am, 6th Floor 150 E Social Hall Ave, SLC. Register: 801-355-1272.
- Sept 11: Davis County Democrats No-Host Breakfast, 8:30 am to 10:00 am, Joanie's Restaurant, 286 North 400 West, Kaysville. Contact: Richard Watson (801) 292-6772.

- See the entire calendar