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Pre-Session Fundraising
This week’s three Republican fundraisers have all seemed to be
highly successful events with large crowds in attendance and plenty
of opportunity for interaction. The Democrats have their big bash,
the Legislative Ball, Saturday from 6-11 pm at the Marriott Hotel
Downtown, 75 S West Temple, and then fundraising is over until the
legislative session concludes.
Are Mormons Turning to Democratic Party?
Thanks to Quin Monson of the BYU political science faculty,
for sending along a very interesting article published Monday, Jan.
10, in The New Republic
on-line. You will need to scroll down to Jan. 10 and click on the
article “Leap of Faith,” By Amy Sullivan, an editor
at The Washington Monthly. Registration is required, but
it’s worth the effort.
I don’t agree with some of Ms. Sullivan’s conclusions, but the
fact that Mormons are being written about in a national publication
as a political force is something of a breakthrough.
She starts off the article wondering why political commentators
aren’t talking more about the impact of Harry Reid, a pro-life
Mormon from Nevada, on the political affiliation of Mormons. As
the new Senate Democratic Leader, Reid is now the most powerful
Democrat in Washington and should have an influence on how Mormons
view Democrats.
She said Mormons have considerable political clout because they
make up a sizable portion of the population in key swing states
like Nevada, New Mexico and Colorado. “. . . the president might
well have lost had it not been for the solid support of the LDS
community,” she writes.
Ms. Sullivan seems to detect cracks in Mormons’ strong support
of President Bush and the Republican Party over such issues as stem
cell research, national security, Bush’s faith-based initiative,
and even the war in Iraq. She has taken a few statements (sometimes
out of context) of prominent LDS political and religious leaders
and assumed that most other Mormons agree. I believe Mormons are
as solid as ever with Bush and the Republican Party. But it’s an
interesting article, well worth reading.
Find Efficiencies, Watch Spending
(The following is excerpted from a newsletter published by House
Majority Leader Jeff Alexander.)
A Balancing Act. During the economic downturns of
the last few years, the legislature needed to cut appropriations
in order to balance the budget (Utah’s constitution thankfully does
not allow deficit spending). Because the previous administration
did not want us cutting programs they had developed, and we were
not able to cut the budgets deep enough, we were forced to take
funding away from highway construction in order to balance.
Trying to decide where to best use tax revenues is always the most
difficult assignment the Legislature faces. One of the topics stressed
during the campaign season was looking at government efficiencies;
where they might exist and how to create more. Since the campaign,
Governor Huntsman has said he would like to cut the state budget
by one percent. This money could then be used to fund new programs,
transportation projects or be given back to the people.
Dollars and ‘Common Cents’. This year’s legislature
will face a two-edged sword. Edge One -- we have the highest revenue
projections in four years, and we have plenty of people and departments
who want to spend it. Edge Two – Many of us still remember the recent
economic downturn and are striving to make smart business decisions
to avoid another shortfall in the near future.
We are all happy that the economy is doing better, and government
agencies have experienced lean years. The problem is we still need
to watch our spending. The economies of the 2000s are not experiencing
the consistency of the 1990s. Government, just as the business community,
will have to be more flexible and able to react to economic changes.
Planning for a successful future requires that we accurately account
for realistic projected revenues along the way.
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