News Highlights

Utah candidates more and more using Internet (Salt Lake Tribune).

Deseret Morning News profiles 1st District race between Rob Bishop and Steve Thompson.

Initiative 1 pros and cons (Tribune).

Ex-Hill commander recommended to BRAC position (Standard-Examiner).

Quote of the Day

“First, the state should examine ways to allow for private-market efficiencies. Then, lawmakers need to examine whether there is a better way to tax people for education and all other public needs.”

- Deseret Morning News editorial on Utah’s education funding challenges.

The Week Ahead

Three weeks until election day. It’s surprising how many people walk into the voting booth and see unfamiliar names on the ballot in legislative, county and school board races. In many instances, they’ve never received a flyer, a letter, a phone call or anything else from these candidates in down-ballot races. So they just guess on the race or pass over it. If you’re in one of those low-profile contests, voters need to be hearing from you. Just a little contact makes a big difference. Now is the time.

Week highlights:

- Tonight: Sean Hannity speaks at UVSC, 7 p.m. (Michael Moore appears next week on the 20th.)

- Wednesday, October 13: Gubernatorial debate, 10 am KSL Radio 1160 with Doug Wright.

- Wednesday night: third presidential debate, 7 pm.; moderator is Bob Schieffer.

Van Dam Would Beat Bennett – In a Bike Race

Paul Van Dam isn’t going to win a U.S. Senate seat, but he clearly wins the award for being in the best physical shape of all the candidates. Van Dam will participate in three cycling events at the Utah Senior Games this week. His wife, Mary Dawn, will also participate in cycling competitions. The pair has been touring Utah the past 6 months on a tandem recumbent bicycle, with the goal of traveling one thousand miles, and is now within 50 miles of that goal. “The highlight of the tour has been all the people we’ve met with. It has been an inspiring and eye-opening experience to talk with them face to face and hear their concerns in person,” said Van Dam.

Huntsman Highlights Positive Campaign

Jon Huntsman is running a radio ad saying he appreciates the positive nature of the campaign so far, and pledging a continued positive campaign. He’s obviously attempting to inoculate a bit, make it harder for Scott Matheson to air any tough contrast ads critical of Huntsman.

Citizens Education Project

A Utah group promoting “social and economic justice” now has a web site. The group, led by Steve Erickson, is fighting nuclear testing, disposal of high-level nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, and the Goshute Reservation in Utah. It also monitors activities at Dugway Proving Ground, among other things.

Create a Media List

A good relationship with the news media begins with the media list. Create one by researching local and regional media and identifying key reporters and editors. Be accurate and comprehensive. Reporters and their editors want sources to be familiar with their programs or publications, their news beats-—even the correct spelling of their names. This process takes effort, but it’s worth it.

First you’ll need to know how media outlets are staffed and organized. Today we’ll look at the staff of a television newsroom:

News Director—The news director manages all aspects of the news operations. At the larger stations, your primary contact will be someone who works under the news director, like an “assignment editor.”

Executive Producer—The executive producer gives final approval to the contents of a program.

Producer—The producer weaves the program together—-deciding content and length, determining which anchors introduce which stories, reacting to breaking news, and in some cases selecting interviewees for stories.

Assignment Editor—The assignment editor follows developing news, “screens” story ideas, and selects and assigns stories to reporters. Newsrooms are stressful environments; the assignment editor doesn’t have time for pleasantries. Introduce yourself, be courteous and get straight to the point!

Anchor—The anchor communicates the news in a credible and sincere way. Depending on the size of the station, anchors will generally write all or part of their copy or have their scripts written for them.

News Writers—News writers work in the studio, writing introductions or “teasers” to field reports and 15- to 30-second complete news stories read by the anchors.

Reporter—The reporter writes and reports the story, which is often reduced down to a few blurbs or one-liners; it’s essential that the reporter be given the straight facts.

Special Interest Reporters—Some reporters are assigned a specific “beat” or area of interest like health and consumer affairs. Get to know these reporters and send them materials directly.

Camera Operator—The camera operator operates the equipment and the live-shot, determining your “look” onscreen and offering suggestions on the visuals.

Videotape Editor—The videotape editor works with reporters in the studio, matching their sound bites with pictures.

- Source: Basic Media Relations Handbook

(This advocacy essay is sponsored by the Council for Sound Tax Policy. Writer is LaVarr Webb.)

The controversy over the tax subsidization of Utah 's billion-dollar credit unions is taking an interesting turn. It is evolving from an insider food-fight among financial institution lobbyists to a broad, policy-based battle between the mega-credit unions on one side, and Utah taxpayers, educators, local government officials and advocates for low-income groups on the other.

Most Utahns, including credit unions members (80% of them, in fact) believe that the mega-credit unions should be taxed on the profits they retain, beyond amounts required for reserves, that they do not return to members in the form of dividends or better rates on loans and savings. And even officials of some small credit unions are questioning why these giant competitors (that long ago abandoned any semblance of the original role of credit unions) deserve a tax subsidy to fund their growth, their expansion into other states, their heavy advertising and their political war chests.

The Utah Taxpayers Association has long been a voice (see report) asking tough questions about what taxpayers are getting in return for the tax exemption on net income generated from loans to upper-middle income people to buy cars, boats, and exotic vacations. What charitable purpose do those transactions serve? More recently, organizations such as The Council for Sound Tax Policy and Tax Policy Clearinghouse are finding allies among a wide variety of individuals and groups whose concerns about tax-base erosion are growing as the giant credit unions continue to take larger chunks of economic activity off the tax rolls. While seed funding for the CSTP and TPC has been provided by the banking industry, these groups are being joined by a broad range of tax-paying and tax-using individuals and organizations who see no logical reason the tax base should continue to be eroded by wealthy credit unions that have none of the characteristics of deserving tax-exempt, non-profit organizations.

On the other hand, members of these concerned citizen groups believe that small credit unions that continue to honor the original requirement that members share a "common bond" and provide credit for "provident purposes," are fully deserving of their tax break.

The position of the Taxpayers Association, CSTP, and TPC, is consistent with current state law, passed in the 2003 legislative session by an overwhelming vote. Utah law recognizes two classes of credit unions in Utah . The first class is the smaller credit unions that deserve their tax exemption, and the second class is the mega-credit unions that no longer resemble credit unions and do not deserve a tax break.

The 2003 law did not establish tax rates, and to escape paying state income taxes (on profits not returned to members) and also to avoid paying sales taxes, the biggest credit unions fled to a federal charter so they are no longer regulated by Utah . Thus, some of Utah 's largest businesses pay NO income or sales taxes while tiny businesses and average Utahns pay their fair share for education and local government services.

To add insult to injury, Utah 's biggest credit unions are now supporting federal legislation that would dramatically expand commercial lending authority and allow easier expansion into more geographic areas. That could result in a completely absurd, but very real, scenario such as this: A tax-subsidized billion dollar credit union could provide a tax-subsidized $10 million loan to a wealthy developer to build and sell million-dollar homes to rich people. That defies all rational tax policy. It would be difficult to devise a greater tax-policy travesty, but that's what the mega-credit unions are demanding.

And, unfortunately, two Utah congressmen, Rob Bishop and Chris Cannon , have been taken in by the mega-credit union sophistry. Amazingly, they are supporting the federal credit union legislation, in direct opposition to the interests of Utah taxpayers and our school children.

As these large credit unions make more and larger tax-subsidized commercial loans to wealthy individuals, more economic activity is removed from the tax rolls. Every loan means less money for textbooks, teacher salaries, and ultimately higher taxes for the rest of us. The loss is already millions of dollars a year, and growing.

A Utah legislative tax force charged with reviewing policy set in 2003 is considering supporting a resolution (see story) suggesting that Congress follow Utah's lead and recognize two classes of credit unions, with the small credit unions deserving of their tax exemption. Legislators are concerned about federal preemption of states' rights, particularly the fact that Utah governments can't even charge sales taxes to the federally-chartered mega-credit unions. State credit unions and both state and federal banks pay sales taxes, but the gigantic federal credit unions pay neither income taxes or sales taxes. Legislators noted that state and local governments still have to provide police and fire protection, and roads and water services to hundreds of large credit union branches, but the big credit unions use their profits to expand, advertise and lobby instead of paying their fair share of taxes.

Upon the suggestion that the legislative task force might consider sending a resolution to Congress, credit union lobbyists immediately attacked members of the task force in a press release, calling them "hopelessly out of step." The truth is that Utah legislators are looking out for the interests of taxpayers, education, municipal services and a broad tax base, while the credit union executives and their lobbyists are looking out for profits.

Thankfully, a broad coalition of policymakers, concerned citizens and credit union members are starting to recognize the seriousness of this problem. Market forces being what they are, a great amount of retail and commercial financial services is poised to leave the tax base, hurting education and local government and leaving the rest of us with higher taxes. Members of this coalition are standing up to say no. If you have concerns, would like to join the coalition, or receive more information, send an e-mail to info@soundtax.org or visit www.soundtax.org .

Rep. Ben C. Ferry, District 2, October 11
Rep Gregory Hughes, District 51, Oct 13
Sen Gregory S Bell, District 22, Oct 16
Rep Michael E Noel, District 73, Oct 17
Sen Curtis S Bramble, District 16, Oct 18
Rep Ann W Hardy, District 20, Oct 18
Rep Greg J Curtis, District 49, Oct 18

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

Deseret Morning News
- Duo have deep political roots: Rob Bishop
- Duo have deep political roots: Steve Thompson
- Rob Bishop answers Deseret Morning News questionnaire
- Steve Thompson answers Deseret Morning News questionnaire
- Rob Bishop
- Steve Thompson
- Wilson-Harmsen gap narrows
- 4 appointed to help guide land-use decisions
- Editorial: Utah's education paradox
- Editorial: Keep nuke waste out

Standard-Examiner
- Ogden ranks 6th in property taxes
- Ex-Hill commander may get BRAC
- Utah task force's work due soon on credit unions
- Editorial: Davis voters should approve jail expansion

Salt Lake Tribune
- Class strikes a political balance
- Rolly and Wells: Golden parachute in Sandy?
- Land-use initiative is still up for grabs
- Officials monitor polls for accessibility
- School-choice group fires new salvo at UEA
- Spinning on the Web: Campaigns rely on Internet
- Editorial: County should pay up
- Editorial: District 2

Sunday, October 10

Salt Lake Tribune
- N-waste protesters rally at Skull Valley
- Tight Senate District 8 race hinges on views of balance
- An environmental battleground
- WordPerfect co-founder now champions gay rights
- Utah pols used by accused scammers
- Rolly Report: Workman's fair-weather friends
- Editorial: Amendment 3: No

Standard-Examiner
- Pay & perks: Davis commissioners highest in area at $92,513

Daily Herald
- Much ado about Moore
- District 16 candidates focus on transportation, nuclear waste

Deseret Morning News
- Cannon leaning on brother in time of difficulty — again
- Compassion helps Babka as cop, dad, political candidate
- Rep. Chris Cannon
- Beau Babka
- Chris Cannon answers Deseret Morning News questionnaire
- Beau Babka answers Deseret Morning News questionnaire
- County residents OK with ZAP tax
- Gathering opposes nuclear waste storage
- Get tough on armed juveniles, Rocky says
- Looming decision gives cities pause
- Hatch defending U.S. sentencing guidelines
- Jay Evensen: Mayor's options for race are nuts
- Pignanelli & Webb: Voter, beware of polls disguised as the truth

Saturday, October 9

Associated Press
- Walker urges voters to pass Amendment 3
- Controversial filmmaker heading to Republican lion's den
- Salt Lake County mayoral race may tangle election results statewide

Tooele Transcript Bulletin
- Candidates air varied platforms at county event

Deseret Morning News
- Incumbents sit pretty in races for Congress
- No speech evolves into a free speech
- Base closures won't be delayed
- Elections office clears UEA's e-mails
- Sugar House trolley? Support is growing
- A lost cause in county?
- Bennett optimistic about jobs
- Debate is closer this time around
- Absentee balloting is surging in Davis County
- Swallow ad ties Matheson to top Demos
- 13 of 18 candidates meet with residents
- Amendment 1 receives backing of Huntsman
- Ex-chief of Utah Demos may get regents seat

Standard-Examiner
- Behind the Headlines: Story offends some by showing who's affected by Amendment 3
- Huntsman, Hale talk economy and Hill over lunch in Ogden

Daily Herald
- Candidates want to be advocates for education

Salt Lake Tribune
- Downwinder fund patched
- Mayoral mandate might be fleeting
- State agency creates air quality action plan
- Goshute group to hold weekend nuke protest
- Wendover merger may happen after all if debt can be resolved
- Reader Advocate: The candidates who get coverage are the ones who run
- New invite has writer Florida-bound
- Swallow ads attack Matheson's abortion votes
- Editorial: S.L. County auditor

Please submit calendar items to AgendaUtah@UtahPolicy.com

- Oct 11: Mark Shurtleff attends Meet the Candidate event, Northwest Senior Center, 11 am.
- Oct 11: Jon Huntsman at Primary Children's Medical Center Meet the Candidate Luncheon, noon.
- Oct 11: Utah Foundation & Hinckley Institute of Politics lecture on Utah‘s Economy-The Challenges and Benefits of Growth, Noon, U of U Spencer Hall Rm 255. Free to Public. Also broadcast on KUER-FM 90.1.
- Oct 11: Sean Hannity at UVSC, 7 pm
- Oct 11: Meet the Cache County and School Board Candidates Night, 7-9 pm, Whittier Community Center, 290 N. 400 E, Logan. Sponsored by the League of Women Voters and the PTA.
- Oct 11-16: Steve Thompson for Congress Neighborhood Walk in Weber County. Call 435-753-3979 to schedule a visit.
- Oct 12: Jon Huntsman at the Business Expo, 9 am, South Towne Exposition Center; Murray Chamber of Commerce Luncheon, 12:30 pm, Desert Star Playhouse; Salt Lake Convention Visitor's Bureau Conference, 2:30 pm, Salt Palace; Ogden Chamber of Commerce Open Town Meeting, 6 pm, Eccles Conference Center, Ogden.
- Oct 12: Mark Shurtleff attends Meet the Candidate event with Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, 6 pm.
- Oct 12: Beau Babka and Mark Shurtleff attend Meet the Candidate Night with Cyprus HS PTA, 7 pm.
- Oct 12: Open Forum with the Gubernatorial Candidates, 7:30 pm, New Davis Conference Center in Layton, 801-510-1221.
- Oct 12: Elections reform training by he Utah State Elections Office, 1 pm, State Capitol East Building, Conference Room 2.
- Oct 13: Gubernatorial Debate, KSL Radio 1160 with Doug Wright, 10 am, KSL studios.
- Oct 13: Third presidential debate, 7 pm. Moderator: Bob Schieffer
- Oct 13: Mark Shurtleff attends Meet the Candidate events: Magna Senior Center at 11 am, Bonneville JHS at 7 pm.
- Oct 13: Mark Shurtleff, Beau Babka, and Jon Huntsman attend UVSC Meet the Candidate event, noon, and Hunter Lions Club at 7 pm, Hunter Library, WVC.
- Oct 14: Sutherland Institute seminar "Ethical Fitness--Being an Authentic Leader," 8:30-11:30 am, 6th Floor 150 E Social Hall Ave, SLC. Register: 801-355-1272.
- Oct 14: Mark Shurtleff speaks at the Minority Community Event, 9 am, SLC. 801-910-9463.
- Oct 14: Radio West "Vote 2004: The Race for Utah Governor", 11 am, KUER-FM 90.1, featuring Scott Matheson.
- Oct 14: Mark Shurtleff visits American Fork Chamber of Commerce, GOP Unity event, 12 noon; State Farm Meet the Candidate Night, 7 pm.
- Oct 14: Hinckley Institute of Politics "Vote 2004: The Race for House District 28", 1 pm, KUER-FM 90.1, featuring Roz McGee and Richard Snelgrove.
- Oct 14: Jon Huntsman attends Gov. Cal Rampton Gubernatorial Forum, 2:30 pm, Highland Care Center, SLC.
- Oct 14: Congregation KolAmi Meet the Candidate Night, 7 pm.
- Oct 15: Mark Shurtleff visits Temple Har Shalom, 7:30 pm.
- Oct 15: Public forum with former Congressman Bill Orton, 12:30 pm, University of Phoenix, 5373 S Green St, Murray.
- Oct 16: Peter Corroon will walk the precincts in Midvale and WVC. 801-328-2208.
- Oct 16: Jim Matheson at the U of U Football Rally.
- Oct 17: Civic Dialogue presents a moderated debate on the Open Space Initiative, 5:30 pm, KUED Channel 7.
- Oct 18: Mark Shurtleff attends Columbus Senior Center Meet the Candidate event, 11 am.
- Oct 18: Jon Huntsman Jr. at Tooele Valley Rotary Club luncheon, 12 pm, Best Western Inn Tooele.
- Oct 18: Gubernatorial Debate, KUTV Take Two with Rod Decker, 6:30 pm, airs live outside KUTV studios on Main Street.
- Oct 18: Daffodil Day of Remebrance with Gun Violence Prevention Center, SLC Mayor Anderson, YWCA, 9:30 am, Sorenson Multi-Cultural Center, 855 W California Ave, SLC. RSVP Marla Kennedy 801-487-5987.
- Oct 19: Hinkley Institute of Politics "The New Government Perspective on Homeless", 10 am, KUER-FM 90.1, a discussion with Mark Johnston, Deputy Director, HUD and Nan Roman, National Coalition for the Homeless.
- Oct 19: Gubernatorial Debate at Salt Lake Rotary Club, 12 noon, Marriott Hotel 75 S W Temple, SLC.
- Oct 19: First District Candidates Rob Bishop and Steve Thompson debate, 7 pm, KUED Channel 7.
- Oct. 20: Controversial filmmaker Michael Moore speaks at UVSC
- Oct 20: Jon Huntsman visits Ogden Rotary Club, Tooele Chamber of Commerce Meet the Candidate Luncheon, noon, Ivy Garden; Box Elder Meet the Candidates Night, 6:15 pm, Brigham City Community Center; and Weber PTA Meet the Candidate Night, 7:45 pm, Weber High.
- Oct 20: Salt Lake Chamber’s Business Friendly Legislators Breakfast, 7:30 a.m., Little America
- Oct 20: Attorney General Candidates debate, 12:30 pm, Sutherland Moot Court Room, S.J. Quinney College of Law, Univ. of Utah.
- Oct 20: Mark Shurtleff attends Kearns PTA Meet the Candidate Night, 6 pm.
- Oct 20: Public Interest Law Organization debate on same-sex marriage, moderated by Phil Riesen, 7 pm, Sutherland Moot Courtroom.
- Oct 21: Radio West "Vote 2004: The Race for Utah Governor", 11 am, KUER-FM 90.1, featuring Jon Huntsman.
- Oct 21: Hinckley Institute of Politics, "Vote 2004: The Race for House District 25", 1 pm, KUER-FM 90.1, featuring Ross Romero and Martine Smith.
- Oct 21: Mark Shurtleff attends Midvale Senior Center Meet the Candidate, 10:45 am; Chamber West Meet the Candidate, 11:45 am; PTA Legislative Forum, 1 pm.
- Oct 21: Jon Huntsman Interview on Radio West, 11 am, KUER FM 90. Oct 21: 3rd Congressional District featured on Bruce Lindsay's Conversation with the Candidates, 6:10 pm, KSL TV.
- Oct 21: Gubernatorial Debate, On the Record with ABC 4 News Reporter Chris Vanocur, 7 pm.
- Oct 22: Radio West "Vote 2004: The Race for Utah's 2nd Congressional District", 11 am, KUER-FM 90.1, with Jim Matheson and John Swallow.
- Oct 22: Mark Shurtleff attends Meet the Candidate at South Jordan Senior Center, 11 am.
- Oct 23: Mark Shurtleff attends Meet the Candidate in Lehi, 6 pm.
- Oct 23: Jim Matheson at the U of U Football Rally.
- Oct 24: Civic Dialogue presents Salt Lake County Mayoral Race Debate, 5:30 pm, KUED Channel 7.
- Oct 24: Third District Candidates Chris Cannon and Beau Babka debate, 7 pm, KUED Channel 7.
- Oct 25: Utah Foundation & Hinckley Institute of Politics lecture on Education-The Debate Over School Choice and Tuition Tax Credits, Noon, U of U Spencer Hall Rm 255. Free to Public. Also broadcast on KUER-FM 90.1.
- Oct 25: Attorney General Debate, 3 pm, KBYU.
- Oct 25: Gubernatorial Debate, KSL-TV, KSL Radio and the Deseret Morning News, Rose Wagner Theatre, 7 pm.
- Oct 25: Meet the State and National Candidates Night, 7-9 pm, Whittier Community Center, 290 N. 400 E, Logan. Sponsored by the League of Women Voters and the PTA.
- Oct 26: Salt Lake Chamber Board of Governors, 7:30 a.m., Chamber Board Room, featuring candidates Jon Huntsman, Nancy Workman, Mark Shurtleff.
- Oct 26: Hinckley Institute of Politics presents "Iraq" a talk by: Jim Mayfield, Professor Emeritus, Political Science Department, U of U, 9:10 am, KUER-FM 90.1.
- Oct 26: Radio West presents "Open Space", 11 am, KUER-FM 90.1
- Oct 26: Mark Shurtleff attends Meet the Candidate events: Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce at 7:30 am, Mt. Olympus Senior Center at 11:30 am.
- Oct 26: Green Party of Utah Roots Local Monthly Meeting, 12 pm, Sprague Library, 1100 East, just past 2100 South, Salt Lake City. Contact: 486-2558.
- Oct 26: Utah Attorney General Candidates debate, 7 pm, KUED Channel 7.
- Oct 27: Mark Shurtleff attends Meet the Candidate events: Taylorsville Senior Center at 11 am, Weber County PTA at 7 pm.
- Oct 28: Radio West "Vote 2004: The Race for Utah State Senator", 11 am, KUER-FM 90.1, featuring Robert Bennett and Paul Van Dam.
- Oct 28: Hinckley Institute of Politics presents "Vote 2004: The Race for Salt Lake County Council", 1 pm, Steve Harmsen and Jenny Wilson featured.
- Oct 28: Second District Candidates Jim Matheson and John Swallow debate, 7 pm, KUED Channel 7.
- Oct 28-29: UEA Convention.
- Oct 29: Gubernatorial Debate, KUED Studios, 7 pm, U of U, airs Nov. 1.
- Oct 31: Civic Dialogue presents a moderated debate on the Utah Constitutional Revision of Marriage, 5 pm, KUED Channel 7.
- Oct 31: US Senate Candidates Bob Bennett and Paul Van Dam scheduled to debate, 7 pm, KUED Channel 7.
- Nov 1: Utah Candidates for Governor scheduled to debate, 7 pm, KUED Channel 7.
- Nov 2: General Election, 7 am to 8 pm

- See the entire calendar