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News Highlights

Gov.-elect Jon Huntsman is searching for spot to give state-of-state address (Deseret Morning News) and faces filling more than 650 appointed positions in state government (Morning News).

John Schaff is ready to take on the job of legislative auditor general (Salt Lake Tribune).

Gary Herbert bids farewell to the Utah County Commission (Daily Herald).


Quote of the Day

“. . .  It is naive to believe any campaign finance reform law, short of mandating total public funding for campaigns, could make things any different. The only credible way to guard the public's interests is to require everyone to fully and completely disclose all contributions and expenditures.”

-- Deseret Morning News editorial on legislative campaign finance reform.


Monday Buzz
Compiled and Written by LaVarr Webb

The Week Ahead

It’s Christmas week, with lots of people taking vacations. All things politics should slow down considerably. The East Capitol Building will be bustling, however, as the Huntsman Administration transition committees begin reporting their findings and recommendations today and tomorrow to Gov.-elect Jon Huntsman and his senior staff. Soon thereafter Huntsman will likely begin making decisions on department heads. We can expect plenty of new faces in Cabinet posts, but a few leaders from the Leavitt/Walker era are likely to survive.

Legislative Ethics

The Legislature is under constant pressure from newspaper reporters, editorial cartoonists, editorial writers (See recent KSL Editorial) and do-gooder groups to adopt stricter ethical standards. Here’s my advice: Just do it. Look at what is being done in other states and adopt the best, most reasonable standards.

I understand why many lawmakers don’t want to subject themselves to a lot of red tape, paperwork and hassle. It certainly isn’t a lot of fun to go to dinner with friends, or play golf with business associates, and have to worry about what you need to report or disclose. Serving in the Legislature is already a significant sacrifice for most lawmakers, both financially and in terms of time and convenience. Adding to the hassle factor makes public service less attractive for many honest, busy people who just don’t want to be bothered with the red tape. They resent even the insinuation that their vote can be purchased if they attend an event sponsored by a lobbyist or accept a small gift from a business association.

Lawmakers don’t have staff to help them keep track of things and many of them dislike anything that adds to the hassle factor of serving. I sympathize with all of that and would defend lawmakers as highly honest and ethical people who don’t need rules and laws to be honest. But what may be reality for most lawmakers still doesn’t square with the expectations of the news media and most citizens today. By declining to act on ethics reforms, the Legislature subjects itself to a lot of unnecessary criticism and damage in public perception. The Legislature must have the confidence of the people to be successful and the lack of ethical standards harms that confidence.

With a new governor who has endorsed ethics reform, and with new leadership in the House and Senate, now is the time to act. It may not be fair, and substantively may not really be needed. But in politics perception is reality and now is the time to move public perception more in line with the reality that the Utah Legislature is honest and ethical.

Reader Response

Flat Tax & Consumption Tax

From Gordon Jones: “The usual alternatives proposed to the current federal income tax are (1) a flat tax) and (2) a national sales tax. Stephen Barker perpetrates a very common false dichotomy when he contrasts income taxes with a national sales tax, implying that the NST is a consumption tax without noting that there are other ways to get to a consumption tax.

“In fact, a properly constructed flat tax is a consumption tax.  All the major flat tax proposals modeled on the theoretical work of Robert Hall and Alvin Rabushka (Dick Armey's, Steve Forbes, etc.) advocate a flat tax on consumed income. If the goal is a consumption tax (which it ought to be), one could get there by removing the various taxes on investment in the current code (corporate taxes, taxes on dividends and interest, estate and gift taxes, etc.).

“To my mind, the flat tax offers other advantages (fairness and simplicity) without the risks inherent in an NST.  A national sales tax seems to lead inexorably to a Value Added Tax, and I can't think of a country with one that does not also have an income tax.”


Life is Tough for Bush-Dodgers

By Joe Blundo, Columbus Dispatch

The flood of American liberals sneaking across the border into Canada has intensified in the past week, sparking calls for increased patrols to stop the illegal immigration.  The re-election of President Bush is prompting the exodus among left-leaning citizens who fear they'll soon be required to hunt, pray and agree with Bill O'Reilly.

Canadian border farmers say it's not uncommon to see dozens of sociology professors, animal-rights activists and Unitarians crossing their fields at night.

"I went out to milk the cows the other day, and there was a Hollywood producer huddled in the barn", said Manitoba farmer Red Greenfield, whose acreage borders North Dakota. The producer was cold, exhausted and hungry.  "He asked me if I could spare a latte and some free-range chicken.  When I said I didn't have any, he left. Didn't even get a chance to show him my screenplay, eh?"

In an effort to stop the illegal aliens, Greenfield erected higher fences, but the liberals scaled them. So he tried installing speakers that blare Rush Limbaugh across the fields.  "Not real effective", he said.  "The liberals still got through, and Rush annoyed the cows so much they wouldn't give milk."

Officials are particularly concerned about smugglers who meet liberals near the Canadian border, pack them into Volvo station wagons, drive them across the border and leave them to fend for themselves. "A lot of these people are not prepared for rugged conditions", an Ontario border patrolman said.  "I found one carload without a drop of drinking water. They did have a nice little Napa Valley cabernet, though."

When liberals are caught, they're sent back across the border, often wailing loudly that they fear retribution from conservatives.  Rumors have been circulating about the Bush administration establishing re-education camps in which liberals will be forced to drink domestic beer and watch NASCAR.

In the days since the election, liberals have turned to sometimes- ingenious ways of crossing the border.  Some have taken to posing as senior citizens on bus trips to buy cheap Canadian prescription drugs.  After catching a half-dozen young vegans disguised in powdered wigs, Canadian immigration authorities began stopping buses and quizzing the supposed senior-citizen passengers. "If they can't identify the accordion player on 'The Lawrence Welk Show', we get suspicious about their age", an official said.

Canadian citizens have complained that the illegal immigrants are creating an organic-broccoli shortage and renting all the good Susan Sarandon movies. "I feel sorry for American liberals, but the Canadian economy just can't support them", an Ottawa resident said.  "How many art-history majors does one country need?"

In an effort to ease tensions between the United States and Canada, Vice President Dick Cheney met with the Canadian ambassador and pledged that the administration would take steps to reassure liberals, a source close to Cheney said.  "We're going to have some Peter, Paul & Mary concerts. And we might put some endangered species on postage stamps. The president is determined to reach out."


Monday
December 20, 2004

Associated Press
- Huntsman to sell off chemical holdings before taking office

Deseret Morning News
- Huntsman searching for spot to give state address
-
Plethora of hirings awaiting Huntsman
- Editorial: More safety laws needed
- Editorial: Full disclosure is important

Daily Herald
- After more than a decade in office, Herbert bids farewell

Salt Lake Tribune
- New auditor ready to step in
- Editorial: Put up the money

Sunday, December 19

Salt Lake Tribune
- Colorado Compact: Ageless or dried up?
- Pro-marriage effort renews
- Ogden officials may condemn properties for a Wal-Mart

Deseret Morning News
- Jobs well done
-
Huntsman maps out his finances
-
Money talks on the Hill
-
Pignanelli & Webb: A Christmas wish list for the who's who in news
-
Editorial: A new twist on the state budget surplus

Saturday, December 18

Tooele Trancript Bulletin
- County officials give themselves a raise

St. George Spectrum
- County to hear public on budget

Deseret Morning News
- Credit unions are limiting membership
- Target: smoking, drinking
-
Rocky wants Huntsman to back change in liquor laws
-
Rocky helps craft environmental pact
-
Davis OKs budget without a tax hike
-
Utah, county sued over sodomy law

Standard-Examiner
- Editorial: Keep government change on front burner

KSL
-
Editorial: Legislature ethics reform

Salt Lake Tribune
- Hatch's 'Soul' music a Hollywood hit
- Water users urged to consider 'worst-case scenarios'
- Cronyism is hinted in sealed sex probe
- Davis passes new budget at $87.4 M
- New boss at Envirocare
- Corroon retains top PR officer
- Bill would make it easier for counties to fund charities
- Tribune sues to open Utah Association of Counties' books
- Editorial: Rocky, meet Arnold


Political Calendar

Please submit calendar items to Daily@UtahPolicy.com

- Dec 28: Green Party of Utah Roots Local Monthly Meeting, 12 pm, Sprague Library, 1100 E, just past 2100 S, Salt Lake City. Contact: 801-486-2558.
- Jan 2:  Inuaguration Interfaith Music Service, 6 pm to 7 pm, First Presbyterian Church, 12 C Street and South Temple, Salt Lake City.  Open to the public.
- Jan 3: Gubernatorial Inauguration, doors open to ticketholders at 10 am and Inauguration begins at 12 noon, Abravanel Hall, 123 W South Temple, Salt Lake City.
- Jan 4: Utah Statehood Day Celebration, 6 pm, E Center, 3200 S Decker Lake Drive, West Valley City.  No charge for admittance, open house for all citizens of Utah.
- Jan 10: Leadership breakfast hosted by Senate Republicans. 7:30 am, Grand America's Imperial Ballroom B, 550 South Main Street, Salt Lake City. Cost is $125 per person or $1000 per table. RSVP to a member of Senate Republican Leadership or Ric Cantrell: 801-673-1603.
- Jan 12: 8th Annual Washington County Economic Summit with Governor-Elect Jon Huntsman as key-note speaker, 7 am to 2 pm, Dixie Center, St. George City.  For information see www.whatsupdownsouth.com.
- Jan 15: Utah Democratic Party Legislative Ball 2005, 6 pm to 11 pm, Marriott Hotel Downtown, 75 S West Temple, Salt Lake City.
- Jan 17: 2005 legislative session begins.
- Jan 20: Presidential Inauguration.
- Jan 27: Last day to request bills (by noon).
- Jan 27: Last day to approve bills for numbering (by noon).
- Jan 29:Central Committee Meeting.
- Feb 5: Annual Green Party of Utah Convention, 10 am to 2 pm, Anderson-Foothill Library, 1135 E 2100 S, Salt Lake City.
- Feb 12: Morgan County Lincoln Day Dinner.
- Feb 12: Utah County Lincoln Day Dinner.
- Feb 18: Last day for legislators to prioritize bills and other programs with fiscal impact.
- Feb 23: Final meeting for the Executive Appropriations Committee on all budget matters.
- Feb 25:  Salt Lake County Lincoln Day Dinner.
- Feb 25: Bonding bill available to legislators by noon and final action taken on it by calendared closing time.
- Feb 25: Last day to pass bills with fiscal note of $10,000 or more.
- Feb 26: Republican Women Federation Fundraiser.
- Feb 27: Last day to consider bills from own house.
- Feb 27: Last day for a motion to reconsider.
- Feb 28:General appropriations bill, supplemental appropriations bill, and school finance bill available to legislators by calendared floor time and final action taken on each bill by calendared closing time.

- See the entire calendar

Elected Officials Birthday List


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Editor: Bart Barker
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