Washington Watch
(By Gaylen Webb)
Leavitt: US to Help India
HHS Sec. Mike Leavitt and acting FDA Commissioner Dr. Lester
M. Crawford have assured India’s visiting Health and Family
Welfare Minister Ambumani Ramadoss that the US would help
enable Indian drugs to reach FDA standards so they could be sold
in the US. In an India
Post report, Ramadoss said: "FDA has promised to help set
American standards in a host of fields, including the drug industry,
cosmetics, medical equipment, medical diagnostics and so on."
Orrin Hatch Skeptical
Senate Finance Committee member Orrin Hatch is skeptical
that private accounts will be part of Social Security reform legislation,
says
MarketWatch.com, which quotes from a Hatch statement
in the New York Times: "I don't think we're going to get
it. We can't get even one Democrat, and some Republicans won't go
along either."
Confirmmcconnell.com
A post yesterday on Civilrights.org
says conservative talk radio host Hugh Hewitt has registered
the domain confirmmcconnell.com just in case Federal Appeals Court
Judge Michael McConnell, a Utahn, is nominated by Bush for
a Supreme Court vacancy. Hewitt tried to register domain names for
other possible nominees, but they had already been taken.
New Taxpayer Information
Mike Jerman of The Utah Taxpayers Association (UTA), asked
UPD to mention that UTA has published two new reports that are available
on-line at www.utahtaxpayers.org
under Annual Reports. Hard copies can be obtained by sending address
information to taxwatch@utahtaxpayers.org.
1. Utah Tax Summary is a reference that summarizes major
Utah state and local taxes, including individual and corporate income,
property, state and local sales, severance, and many other. The
summary includes information on each tax, including revenue history,
statutory reference, rates, bases, exemptions, procedures, and disposition
of revenues. The law firm of Parsons Behle & Latimer paid for the
printing costs of the Utah Tax Summary.
2. Utah Property Tax Rates is a reference that lists property
tax rates for all tax entities in Utah. Tax rates are organized
so that a taxpayer can select a city and see a list of tax entities
(county, school district, special service districts, city, etc.)
that impose property taxes on property owners in that city and a
total rate for all entities combined. Also included is a history
of property tax revenue distribution between school districts, cities,
counties, and special service districts as well as a summary of
how Utah property taxes compare to other states. The Utah Association
of Realtors paid for the printing costs of this reference.
Municipal Broadband Targeted
(By LaVarr Webb, whose firm does work for UTOPIA)
Federal Communications Commission Chair Kevin Martin says
broadband deployment is the agency’s top priority.
However, municipal broadband projects like Utah’s UTOPIA and iProvo
are increasingly being targeted in laws and lawsuits by the phone
and cable companies. Here is an editorial
by the San Jose Mercury News on why such moves are bad for
consumers:
”Ever since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2004 that states can
bar cities from offering high-speed Internet services, lobbyists
for telephone and cable companies have descended on state capitals
across the nation. Their mission: to take cities out of the broadband
business by state dictum. It has been alarmingly successful. More
than a dozen states have agreed to do their bidding.
”The telecom lobbyists have now set their sights on Congress, where
Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Texas, introduced a bill late last month that
would extend the ban on municipal broadband services to every city
in the country. It's an outrageous attempt by cable and telephone
firms to protect their duopoly over broadband from competition.
It's bad for consumers, bad for technology and bad for America's
hopes of catching up to other countries in broadband deployment.
(Read
More)
Reader Response
More on Talk Radio
Rep. Margaret Dayton: “For those interested in political
news and other current events, talk radio makes a significant contribution.
Like the print media, there is plenty of tabloid talk and uninformed
emotionalism. There are, however, options that are beneficial and
worth the time taken to be tuned in. Personally, I like Rush Limbaugh
about 85% of the time – and also Sean Hannidy. Michael Reagan has
some good shows as well. Most other talk radio does not hold my
attention.”
Free Market Beats Government Meddling
Scott Hinrichs: “I strongly disagree with Mr. Axford
and Ms. Bonham's article promoting public election funding.
Politics is a business and the laws of economics that apply to business
simply cannot be circumvented. As Adam Smith noted, government intervention
in any free market causes shortages, black markets, and lower quality
goods.
“Axford and Bonham suggest public funding for "qualified candidates
able to demonstrate a reasonable level of public support." Who will
control what constitutes a qualified candidate if not the electorate?
What is a reasonable level of public support? How will prospective
candidates achieve it without spending money?
(Read
More)
Group Wants to Split Utah
Patrick Montgomery: “A grassroots group is looking into how
to split up Utah. With Mormon teachings dominating Utah government
and life, those who are a bit more left wing are looking into making
eastern Utah near Morgan area, south of Payson, North of Ogden and
west from Tooele another state called Wahsatch. Meetings are being
held throughout the state of Utah in the effected areas. With big
money and big mouths the growth of Utah is being thwarted by The
LDS Church with rules on public beer sales, and other issues, that
make outside concerns leary of coming to Utah, and go to areas like
Boise that have a more liberal point of thought. I attended one
of these public meetings and the group called The Other Utah, makes
good points. Once enough information is gathered to make a move,
the group will be talking to state legislative concerns including
Bob Bennett and others on how to proceed.”
(Read
More)
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