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News
Highlights
No, it wasn’t Bob. No more
theories that Sen. Bob Bennett was "Deep Throat" (Salt
Lake Tribune and Deseret
Morning News).
Former Salt Lake County Mayor
Nancy Workman may sue county for legal fees (Morning
News).
Gov. Huntsman decides
state incentives offered to corporations won’t be kept secret (Tribune).
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Quote of the Day
“What a contest that would be: Laura
vs. Hillary. Choose one for first woman president of the
United States. What a campaign Karl Rove would make of that.
Of course, Laura would have to elbow out Bill Frist and John
McCain, maybe even brother-in-law Jeb Bush, as well as
a string of other aspiring males to get the Republican nomination.
But I suspect that beneath that poised and charming exterior there
are nerves of steel and a canny political sense where issues of
great import are involved.”
-- John Hughes, editor and COO of
the Morning News, suggesting Laura Bush as a presidential
candidate in 2008 in his weekly column
syndicated nationally by the Christian Science Monitor.
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Wednesday Buzz
Compiled and
Written by LaVarr Webb |
Jim Down Under
National news outlets were abuzz Tuesday with the belated disclosure
by House members of 198 previously unreported special interest trips.
I particularly liked the headline from the New York Post: “Pols
Finally Bare Free Trips After a Delay”. (It’s all in the eponymy--the
Congressional amnesia disappeared after recent news media scrutiny
of Tom Delay’s travel.) Our own Jim Matheson topped
the list with the single most expensive trip: $24,804 for him and
wife, Amy, to visit Australia last November. The trip was
paid for by the American Australian Association, with meals and
lodging reportedly picked up by the Australian government.
One item that struck me funny: A spokesman for seven-term Rep.
Luis V. Gutierrez, Illinois Democrat, said Gutierrez (who
reported 20 past trips) did not know of his obligation to file the
required travel disclosure reports. Hmmm. Seven terms in Congress
and he still doesn’t know the ethics rules?
Dayton Discusses NCLB in National Forum
Rep. Margaret Dayton, R-Orem, continued her campaign against
the federal No Child Left Behind Act on Tuesday by participating
in a Cato Institute-sponsored policy forum in Washington, D.C. (see
Tribune story).
The press
release about the event stated: "New U.S. Education Secretary
Margaret Spellings has spent her first months coping with
an unprecedented, bipartisan revolt by state education officials
against the requirements of NCLB. Recent events in Utah, Texas,
and Connecticut suggest that some states may be willing to opt out
of NCLB if the law isn't changed . . . .” The event was to have
been broadcast on C-SPAN II. Meanwhile, no determination has apparently
been made whether any of Utah’s federal education funding is in
jeopardy as a result of the Legislature’s action on NCLB.
Blog Watch
- Utah has another blogging state legislator. Rep. John Dougall,
R-American Fork, is publishing Dynamic
Range, where he comments on a variety of topics. Dougall is
an electrical engineer whose legislative interests include transportation
and technology issues. Legislators are busy people and most legislators
who have started Web logs have not updated them frequently. The
exception is Rep.
Steve Urquhart, R-St. George, who posts frequently.
It takes time and effort, but I predict legislators who post regularly
will develop strong followings. The political community wants
to know what legislators are thinking and what their priorities
are.
- Wilf Sommerkorn, in his Utah
Planners Corner, notes the differences in perceptions on economic
development between state legislators and local government leaders.
- The New York Times writes about an interesting blog
where people can post their secret confessions.
- The Wall Street Journal follows blogging closely. A story Tuesday
(paid subscription required for on-line access) notes that more
and more businesses are hiring bloggers to write about issues
related to the business. For example, Stoneyfield Farm, an organic
yogurt company, has hired a writer to publish four different blogs,
including one about the company and one about healthy foods that
promotes the company. Some 4% of major U.S. companies have blogs
available to the public. At Microsoft, 1,500 blogs are published
by employees.
Job Opening: Community Outreach
Education Excellence Utah, which is part of the school choice movement,
wants to hire a community outreach coordinator. Job description:
“Responsible for recruiting schools and families to participate
in the Carson Smith Program and building a strong coalition of support.
The job will involve some public relations work promoting the program,
as well as other outreach projects, including communications to
public school teachers and parents. Must have excellent communication
skills.” Salary estimate: $28,000 to $35,000, based on experience.
Send a resume to Royce Van Tassell: Royce@edexutah.org.
National Politics
Both GOP and Demos Fudge with Truth
Wouldn’t it be great if national politicians told the truth about
government finances? See column
by Matt Miller of the Center for American Progress.
Peace is Breaking Out All Over
Believe it or not, we live in one of the most peaceful times in
world history. Read the fascinating column
by Matt Miller of the Center for American Progress.
Words to Live By
(Dedicated to those of us who work ridiculous hours.)
The heights by great men reached and kept
Were not attained by sudden flight
But they, while their companions slept,
Were toiling upward in the night.
-- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
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Wednesday
June 1, 2005
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Please submit calendar items to Daily@UtahPolicy.com
- June 2: Washington
County Republican Women meeting, 11:30 am, Bloomington Country Club,
St. George. To register call Vicky Heilman at 435-574-0567.
-
June 2: Utah Constitutional Revision Commission
meeting, 1 pm, room W125. See Legislative Calendar
for more details.
-June
3: Legislative Process Committee meeting, 10 am, Room W125.
See Legislative Calendar
for more details.
-June 3:
Tax Review Commission meeting, 1 pm, Room W125. See Legislative
Calendar
for more information.
- June 4: Utah Home Educators Annual Convention,
7:30 am to 7 pm, Salt Palace Convention Center. For more information
contact Kathy Hansen, Convention Director for the UHEA, at (801)
773-4283.
- June 4: Cache Valley Democrats Meeting, 8 am,
Cabin Fever Cafe, 180 West 1200 South, Logan. For more information
contact Joyce Jensen at 435-755-2112.
- June 7: Utah Issues Annual Conference, 8 am to
5 pm, Salt Palace, Salt Lake City. For more information visit
http://www.utahissues.org/.
- June 8-10: Utah Association of Counties 2005
Treasurers Summer Workshop, Davis Conference Center in Layton. Contact
Matt Altom for more information at (801) 451-3243 or marka@co.davis.ut.us.
- June 9: 2005 Sutherland Transcend Series,"Government,
Civil Society, and the Common Good - Applying Policy Effectively,"
breakfast and morning seminar begins at 8:30 am. For more
information contact Lisa Montgomery at 801-355-1272 or email si@sutherlandinstitute.org.
- June 9: Sutherland Institute Community Outreach,
12 pm, Sugarhouse Rotary Club-Forest Dale Golf Course. For
more information, please contact Matt Stephens at (801) 355-1272.
- June 10: Annual Reagan Memorial Picnic sponsored
by the Davis County Republican Party and the Teenage Republicans,
6 pm, Layton Commons Park Bowery, 465 North Wasatch Drive, Layton. Special
guest speaker Doug Wright. For more information email Kathy
Wilson at missionparis@comcast.net.
- 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.
- June 11: Salt
Lake County Democratic Party Central Committee Meeting, 9 am to
11 am, Salt Lake County Council Chambers, 2001 S State Street.
For more information call the Salt Lake County Democratic Party
at 801-220-0122.
- June 12-14: Western Governors’ Association’s
Annual Meeting in Breckenridge, Colorado. Colorado
Gov. Bill Owens, WGA Chairman, will be joined by his colleagues,
the secretaries of the U.S. departments of energy and agriculture,
Western Canadian premiers and economic experts to discuss Western
Leadership in the Global Economy. For more information
visit www.westgov.org.
-June
13: State Water Development Commission meeting, 11 am,
Room W135. See Legislative Calendar
for more information.
-June 14:
Water Issues Task Force meeting, 3 pm, Room W125. See Legislative
Calendar for more information.
- June
14: Sage Greens Local Meeting, 7 pm, Coffee Club,
4879 South Redwood Road.
- June 15: Legislative Interim Committee Day.
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