Sen. Hatch is ‘Connected’
A California political science professor has named Sen. Orrin Hatch as the second most “best connected” and effective U.S. senator in the country. A recent “Inside the Beltway” column by John McCaslin of the Washington Times referred to a paper presented by James Fowler, UC Davis professor, at the Midwest Political Science Association. Fowler said his method of ranking the best connected members of Congress is a very good predictor of legislative performance. The top five senators on Fowler’s most-connected list are: Republican John McCain of Arizona; Republican Orrin G. Hatch of Utah; Democrat Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico; Republican Charles E. Grassley of Iowa; and Democrat Russell D. Feingold of Wisconsin.
Top 5 congressmen: Republican H. James Saxton of New Jersey; Republican Ron Paul of Texas; Republican Christopher H. Smith of New Jersey; Democrat Juanita Millender-McDonald of California; Democrat Charles B. Rangel of New York.
UTOPIA Rollout Noted by ABC News
ABC News and PC Magazine have published a short article about UTOPIA beginning its rollout out ultra-broadband Internet connectivity in member communities in Utah.
National Politics
Lobbying is Big Business
An interesting New York Times editorial says lobbying has become a $3 billion-a-year business in Washington, D.C. “The influence industry is multiplying so fast that no one really knows how many lobbyists are at work these days.” I’d bet that lobbying is a growth industry in Utah, as well.
A study by the Center for Public Integrity found the federal lobbying industry doubling in size in just the past six years. An estimated 240 former members of Congress and federal agency heads, as well as 2,000 other senior officials, are now lobbyists . . . the some $13 billion spent on lobbying since 1998 is more than twice the amount spent by candidates for federal office. The Wall Street Journal recently did a story noting that many high-tech firms that previously did not hire lobbyists are now becoming players in the lobbying game.
I would argue that the rapid growth in the lobbying industry is not the fault of the lobbyists. They’re simply meeting a demand. The culprit is a pervasive government that keeps getting bigger and that encroaches into every area of business and life. The problem is a Congress that sticks its nose into so many areas that businesses and associations feel they must hire lobbyists for both defensive and offensive purposes, in part because their competitors are players in the political world and they must be involved as well to be competitive.
U.S. Losing Innovation Edge?
Thomas Friedman, in his New York Times column says U.S. is falling behind in technology and innovation and Bush administration is doing little about it.
Casual Friday
Parowan Gap Offers View of Ancient World
Utah has a fascinating, enigmatic prehistory. Archeological treasures are scattered throughout the state -- some in remote, hard to reach canyon alcoves, others in locations just off the road. Especially interesting are Utah's hundreds of petroglyph galleries -- rock art panels consisting of mysterious geomotric symbols and anthropomorphic images of animals, demons, spirits and shamans pecked into exposed cliff walls and rock faces.
The following short article by Jenny Corry highlights the Parowan Gap Petroglyphs, a great sidetrip on the way down to Zion National Park, St. George or Lake Powell.
Best of Late Night Humor
David Letterman.... You know [how] you wake up and you've got that sick feeling in your stomach? You know what it is? It's tax time. ... Are you folks prepared for taxes? I am very proud of myself. I am very organized when it comes to record-keeping. As a matter of fact, I always ask my date for a receipt. And by the way, you cannot deduct this show as entertainment.
Jay Leno.... The United States announced a plan that will tighten all borders by 2008. Mexico announced a plan to have all their people here by 2007. .... Before they went to Rome, President Bush let his father and Bill Clinton sit in on his daily intelligence briefings. And both Bush Sr. and Clinton were surprised it was done in the form of a puppet show. .... Well, under the new [border-crossing] requirements...they say Canadians who, up to this point only need to show a driver's license to cross the border, will now need a passport. Canadians coming into the United States will need to bring a passport, or a bag of cheap prescription drugs. .... As you know, Prince Charles married his longtime girlfriend, Camilla Parker-Bowes, over the weekend. And it's a mixed marriage, did you know that? He's Episcopalian, and she's a Clydesdale. .... John Kerry is on crutches after knee surgery. Doctors say his knees were strained from all those years of trying to go in two directions at the same time. .... The good news -- today he put in for another Purple Heart. … A very scary moment in Washington, D.C. yesterday. Capitol Police tackled - tackled - and dragged away a desperate man with two suitcases. Stationed himself in front of the Capitol building, stayed there for an hour, and demanded to get into the White House. You know, I think John Kerry's starting to lose it.
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Utah
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