News Highlights
The Boston Globe is accused of playing the 'Mormon card' in its coverage of Mitt Romney (Weekly Standard).

Former Congressman Jim Hansen says the Legacy Highway could influence whether HAFB is closed (Deseret Morning News).

Thousands of Latinos march against SB227 (Morning News and Salt Lake Tribune).

Daily Herald editorial says raise the sales tax to fund highways.

The ACLU may fight LDS Church’s Martin Cove lease (Tribune).

Quote of the Day

"This is tough stuff. This is a decades-long enterprise with his family. And this is sometimes the price you pay for public service."

-- Rich McKeown, Mike Leavitt’s chief of staff at HHS, commenting on Leavitt’s sale of more than $5 million in family business holdings to avoid any conflicts of interest with his new job (Tribune).

Keep Fighting Federal Mandates
Utah continues to receive national publicity for leading the fight against the federal No Child Left Behind law (See the latest New York Times story.

I was talking several weeks ago to former Gov. Norm Bangerter and the subject turned to education. “You know the worst thing to happen to public education?” Gov. Bangerter asked. He then answered his own question with a smile: “Governors and presidents.”

There is a great deal of truth to the wise old governor’s only half-joking observation. Presidents and governors love to tinker with public education, but education happens best when it is controlled and operated at local levels by parents and teachers (not teachers’ unions) who are empowered and motivated.

That’s why I support Utah’s legislators who are challenging No Child Left Behind. I am one of President Bush’s greatest fans, but he’s just plain wrong on NCLB, which is the greatest federalization of public education in a half-century. When he was Texas governor he put together a set of detailed standards and testing and required all Texas schools to comply. That’s great for Texas. But when Bush got to Washington he decided the whole country needed the same treatment, and if states don’t comply they lose big chunks of federal money.

So far, Utah is the state most willing to challenge the administration on NCLB and a showdown is looming in an April special legislative session. Utah would probably already be at odds with the federal mandates, but Gov. Jon Huntsman convinced the Legislature to hold off passing an anti-NCLB law until he could negotiate further with the feds. Huntsman has not been a fan of NCLB.

Because Utah is among the reddest of the red states, it is embarrassing to the Bush administration to be having this conflict with Utah. But legislators ought not to give in. NCLB is an enormous violation of the principles of federalism. If states as “laboratories of democracy” are to be meaningful at all in our federal system, gigantic federal intrusions like NCLB must be opposed.

Romney’s LDS Affiliation Becomes an Issue
The Weekly Standard is the first national publication to write an article directly addressing Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney’s religion. We can expect many more in the future. The Standard article isn’t negative; in fact, it defends Romney from what the author views as inappropriate references to his religion.

With 20 months or so to go before the presidential race really heats up, Romney is already attracting a lot of national attention, and his Mormon religion is absolutely going to become an object of high interest. It was an issue in his gubernatorial race in 2002, his earlier race for the U.S. Senate against Ted Kennedy, and it was an issue for Sen. Orrin Hatch when he ran for president a few years ago.

Several matters will be under the media microscope: African-Americans and the LDS Church; women and the LDS Church; whether the LDS Church is mainstream enough for a devout member to be elected president; and whether a Mormon can attract support among all-important evangelicals and conservative Christians, some of whom don’t believe Mormons are Christians.

It will be an interesting time for Romney, and also an interesting time for the LDS Church. Romney’s church affiliation could also provide some benefits to his campaign. Mormons are scattered across the country and they comprise significant minorities in some western states. Mormons vote in high numbers and are politically active. Romney could have a built-in network of supporters if enough Mormons decide to support him. Any effort on behalf of Romney would have to be completely independent of the church itself, of course, but LDS members could volunteer along with other Romney supporters.

Weekly Standard

- The "M" Word: The Boston Globe makes an issue of Mitt Romney's religion

New York Times

- Education law finds few fans in Utah

Boston Globe

- Romney gets campaign boost from out of state

- Father's path not lost on Romney

Los Angeles Times

- EPA fights waste site near river

Associated Press

- State wants say in road lawsuit

Deseret Morning News

- No Legacy, no HAFB?

- Davis leaders are tiring of efforts to thwart Legacy

- Details about the Legacy Parkway dispute

- Driver-card foes stage huge S.L. protest, vigil

- 1 or 2 more TRAX stops?

- Doug Robinson: If you mess with soccer fans, watch your back

- Vandalism at senator's home spurs apology by soccer team

Standard-Examiner

- Bills passed in 2005

- Legislature did little to help USU

- Veterans leader upset at nursing home loss

- Editorial: Legislative bright spots

Daily Herald

- Attendance issues hold up Elk Ridge Planning Commission meetings

- Editorial: Raise sales tax for roads

Salt Lake Tribune

- Latinos urge veto of license bill

- Utah road projects on the verge of $68 million in federal funding

- Utah road projects in transportation bill

- Red flag raised over bill on child welfare

- S.L. Co. councilman calls for open Cabinet meetings

- Leavitt sells over $5M in holdings to avoid conflict with new post

- ACLU may fight Martin's Cove lease

- Editorial: LEGISLATIVE FAILURE: Public education reading programs lose vital funding

- Editorial: MEDICAID PRESCRIPTIONS: States should dicker with drug makers over price

Please submit calendar items to Daily@UtahPolicy.com

- Mar 12:  Davis County Democrats “No Host” breakfast/monthly food drive, 8:30 am, Grannie Annie’s restaurant, 286 N 400 W, Kaysville.  The public is invited and everyone is asked to bring a non-perishable food item to benefit the food banks in Davis County.
- Mar 22:  Last day governor may sign or veto bills.
- Mar 22: Green Party of Utah Roots Local Monthly Meeting, 12 pm, Sprague Library, 1100 E 2100 S.
- Mar 24: Libertarian Party Salt Lake County Meeting, 7 pm, Bohemian Brewery & Grill, 94 E 7200 South, Midvale. 
- Mar 26:  Republican Women Federation Fundraiser and Auction, "Heroes of the Heart,"  5:30 pm, McKay Events Center, UVSC, Provo.  Speakers: First Lady Mary Kaye Huntsman and Sen. Orrin Hatch.  For more information, please contact Suzanne Merrill - 801-796-0831.
- Apr 2:   Libertarian Party Utah County Meeting, 10 am to 12 pm, Golden Corral, 225 West University Pkwy, Orem. 
- Apr 9:  Davis County Democratic Party Organizing Convention, 11 am, Farmington Jr. High School,150 S. 200 West, Farmington.
- Apr 13: Garfield County Republican Convention, 4 pm Teenage Republicans Convention, 6 pm County Convention and Dinner featuring former Gov. Olene Walker, Escalante High School.
- Apr 19:  Tooele County Republican Convention, 7 pm, Tooele Health Department, 151 N Main St. 
- Apr 23:  Davis County Convention, Davis County Conference Center
- Apr 23:  Morgan County Convention
- Apr 23:  Washington County Convention, Gardner Conference Center
- Apr 26:  Green Party of Utah Roots Local Monthly Meeting, 12 pm, Sprague Library, 1100 E 2100 S.
- Apr 26:  Salt Lake County Republican Party Lincoln Club Awards Banquet, Little America Hotel. 
- Apr 28:  Constitution Party National Executive Meeting, Best Western Garden Inn, 154 West 600 South, Salt Lake City.  Open to the public for observation - seating very limited. 
- Apr 30:  Libertarian Party of Utah Convention and Annual Memorial/Awards Dinner.

- Apr 30:  Salt Lake County Republican Convention
- Apr 30:  Utah County Republican Party Organizing Convention, 7 pm, Canyon View Junior High, 950 N 700 E, Orem.
- May 1: Last day a veto-override session may begin.
- May 2: Normal effective date for bills.
- May 2: First day to file bills for the 2006 General Session.
- May 14:  Davis County Democrats “No Host” breakfast/monthly food drive, 8:30 am, Grannie Annie’s restaurant, 286 N 400 W, Kaysville.  The public is invited and everyone is asked to bring a non-perishable food item to benefit the food banks in Davis County.

- May 21:  Republican Central Committee Meeting, 9 am, Gardner Center, St. George. 
- May 24:  Green Party of Utah Roots Local Monthly Meeting, 12 pm, Sprague Library, 1100 E 2100 S.
- June 11:  Davis County Democrats “No Host” breakfast/monthly food drive, 8:30 am, Grannie Annie’s restaurant, 286 N 400 W, Kaysville.  The public is invited and everyone is asked to bring a non-perishable food item to benefit the food banks in Davis County.

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Editor: Paul Hollingshead
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