News Highlights

The Committee of Consumer Services won't legally challenge Gov. Huntsman's firing of Roger Ball (Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret Morning News).

Minority advocates worry changing NCLB regulations will mean some children are left behind (Tribune).

Growth is so rapid in Davis County that the school district has a hard time keeping up (Standard-Examiner).

You can check out your school on the Web (Morning News , Standard-Examiner, and Tribune)..

Quote of the Day

“Regardless of how one feels about gambling, a state's right to pass its own laws regulating such things, without interference from Washington or — worst of all — some foreign nation, should be obvious.”

-- Morning News editorial arguing that possible WTO ruling could violate states’ rights and result in Internet gambling in Utah.

Spring really is going to bust out one of these days. Trust me. It really is. One more major dose of winter and then spring comes frolicking in for the weekend.

Municipal Elections

Prospective municipal candidates this year have until Aug. 15 to decide if they are running. In Salt Lake City, Council Districts 1 (Carlton Christensen), 3 (Eric Jergensen), 5 (Jill Remington Love) and 7 (Dale Lambert) are up for election this year. All the incumbents are likely to run, although some have not made final decisions. The filing period is July 15 to August 15. Primary election is Oct. 4 and the municipal election is Nov. 8.

Carson Smith Bill Gets National Attention

Utah’s Carson Smith Scholarship Bill, providing vouchers for special needs students, is featured in the March newsletter of All Children Matter, a national school choice organization. The newsletter notes the efforts of Utah-based Parents for Choice in Education PAC. Carson Smith was the first school choice legislation in the nation to become law in 2005.

The article also notes the defeat of the broader tuition tax bill on a vote of 34-40 in the Utah House. “In anticipation of the 2006 legislative session and elections, PCE PAC will redouble its efforts to elect more choice supporters to the state House and to defeat choice opponents,” the article says. Education Week also did a story this month on passage of the Carson Smith bill.

All Children Matter also announced a campaign training school for school choice activists April 20-21 in Orlando, Florida. For more information, go to the organization’s Web site or call 616.776.5440.

Seminars Scheduled on Character, Intellect and Process

The Sutherland Institute will hold a seminar series “designed for political, community and business leaders who are seeking new ways to effectively understand and influence public policy and the community around them.” Called the Transcend Series, the seminars will be held on the 2nd Thursday of each month focusing on three “fundamental dimensions of effective political leadership and public service – Character, Intellect and Process. For information or to register, contact Lisa Montgomery at 801-355-1272, or email si@sutherlandinstitute.org.

Here are the dates and topics of the nine sessions comprising the 2005 Transcend Series:

• April 14: Transcending Politics as Usual – Being an Authentic Self  (a full-day seminar)
• May 12: Limitations, Tradeoffs, and Ideals – Understanding Philosophical Frameworks
• June 9: Government, Civil Society, and the Common Good – Applying Policy Effectively
• July 14: Civility, Integrity, and Politics – Being an Authentic Citizen
• August 11: Contours of the Rule of Law – Understanding Legal Frameworks
• September 8: The Rules of the Game – Applying Processes Effectively
• October 13: Ethical Fitness – Being an Authentic Leader
• November 10: Education, Poverty, and Family – Understanding Policy Framework
• December 8: The Quest for Lasting Solutions – Applying Core Principles
  

From the Web site: “The Sutherland Institute is an independent, nonprofit, public policy group that seeks lasting solutions to community problems by transcending politics as usual. With a primary focus on education, poverty, and family, our work is grounded in the principles of self-reliance, private initiative, and recognition of family as the fundamental unit of society.”

Leavitt’s Top Staff, Minus One

In announcing his senior staff at HHS, (See Tribune story) former Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt did not mention Charlie Johnson, his long-time aide and current chief financial office at EPA.  But Johnson is likely to join Leavitt at some point soon. Johnson’s employment situation is more complicated because the CFO post at EPA is White House-appointed and U.S. Senate-confirmed, so he can’t just bounce around among federal agencies.  

Communications Tip

Interview Dos and Don’ts

Careful preparation is required before granting a news media interview, whether it is on the phone, across a desk, in front of a television camera or on a radio mike:

• Go into every interview knowing the reporter’s story angle and how your key messages can be woven into it.
• Write down each key message and discuss or rehearse your key points with another person, preferably a communications professional.  
• Without a clear understanding of what “off the record” means, don’t go there. The interview begins the moment you are within hearing distance of the reporter and ends when you are out of hearing range.
• Never guess. If you don’t know the precise answer, offer to get back to the reporter once you’ve confirmed it. Then do it.
• Never say “no comment.” If you are asked information that is proprietary, simply say so and bridge to a key message. Example: “I’m not able to release that proprietary information, but what I can tell you is …KEY MESSAGE.”
• Never repeat a negative question in your response, such as: “No, we do not think firing Fred was a huge mistake …” Instead, cut to an affirmative response such as, “All of our personnel decisions are made with the best interests of the individual and firm in mind ...”
• Pause to think before answering. This is especially important for television.
• Other television tips:
  • Assume the mike is always on; it probably is.
• Look at the reporter when responding, not the camera.
• Dress appropriately. Don’t be casual and certainly not sloppy.
• If the TV crew comes to your office for a feature or positive interview, look for a setting that would place the company name in the background of the shot.

Salt Lake Tribune

- Easing No Child raises alarm

- Rocky tries new pitch for 300 S.

- Committee opts to not sue Huntsman

- Site displays snapshots of schools data

- S.L. County wants people to think green

- USU same-sex benefits proposal suffers big setback

- Goshute leadership contender takes plea

- Leavitt names Utahns to top positions

- Editorial: Supply and demand: Council shouldn't demand unattainable standards

Standard-Examiner

- Got schools?

- New Web site launched to compare information

- Same-sex-couples benefits plan at USU faces some roadblocks

- Editorial: Costly online mischief

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St. George Spectrum

- Editorial: Discipline needed first in schools

Daily Herald

- Redevelopment effort kicks off

- Editorial: Change the form of county government

KSL Editorial Board

- E-vote decision

Deseret Morning News

- Panel won't protest firing of Ball

- Go to Web to check out your school

- Goshute admits misuse of tribal funds

- USU drops plan to give gay partners benefits

- Marjorie Cortez: Nuclear storage sounds like substantially risky bet for Utah

- Editorial: An affront to states' rights

Elected Officials Birthday List

Utah Policy Daily is a service
of Utah Policy.com

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