Huntsman Has Support Entities
Gov. Jon Huntsman, like most governors, has some political/policy infrastructure outside of state government. Almost all governors have a political organization that properly operates separately from government. The purpose of the organization is usually to raise money for the next campaign and also to pay for a whole variety of things expected of the governor (like hosting receptions for legislators and sending out Christmas cards), activities that wouldn’t be appropriate expenditures of taxpayer money.
So the political organization looks out for the governor’s political interests, raises money, and prepares for the next campaign. Huntsman has such a political organization called the Governor’s Special Initiatives Office. It is run mostly by Max Farbman and Greg Hopkins.
Closely associated with the political operation is another organization that assists Gov. Huntsman in the policy arena called the Utah Policy Partnership. It is sort of a think tank/advocacy organization that promotes the governor’s top policy priorities. The UPP is an outgrowth of the Transition Team that scrutinized each state department and made policy recommendations to the governor.
The UPP gives the governor some policy firepower and support without having to use state resources. It has continued Transition Team priorities like developing performance measures in state government to improve accountability and efficiency. The UPP has also helped organize economic development meetings and is assisting Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert with the logistics of a transportation summit later this year.
Over time, the UPP plans to focus on four policy priorities Huntsman outlined in his state-of-the-state address: governance, economic revitalization, education and quality of life.
The UPP is chaired by Larry Miller, and board members include Scott Anderson, Dinesh Patel, Jake Garn and Pamela Atkinson. Executive director is David Patton; Steve Starks is managing director; Layne Palmer is a consultant to UPP, and Tara Tanner is project manager.
The UPP also has a new Web site, www.utahpolicy.org.
Blog Watch
Rep. John Dougall is seeking citizen comment on the rumored settlement between UDOT and the Sierra Club regarding the Legacy Highway. He also posts about receiving a call from Sen. Orrin Hatch and a variety of other topics.
House Majority Leader Jeff Alexander weighs in on Utah County transportation issues, questioning the value of a higher transit tax in Utah County.
Democracy for Utah provides links to Howard Dean quotes on his western tour and also a note that the documentary on Michael Moore’s visit to UVSC, “This Divided State,” will be shown at the Tower theater starting Friday.
Lucy Burningham wonders why we have to put big block letters on the foothills above our towns.
Washington Watch
Cracking Down on Gang Violence
Sen. Orrin Hatch has joined a bipartisan group backing a bill to crack down on gang violence, says a syndicated Washington Post story. The Gang Prevention and Effective Deterrence Act mirrors legislation passed by the House on May 11 and seeks to combat Mafia-style gangs. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, (D-CA) is chief sponsor.
Drug Export Relief
Last week the Senate passed S. 1395, sponsored by Sens. Orrin Hatch and Joe Biden (D-Del), which will help level the playing field for drug manufacturers in Utah and throughout the nation that compete in the global market. “A number of Utah companies have had significant difficulties exporting their prescription drugs because they are operating under laws written more than 30 years ago. The global economy has changed dramatically since then, and it is time that we modernize our laws,” say a Hatch press release. We previously reported that Rep. Chris Cannon introduced similar legislation in the House (H.R. 184).
BLM Ponders Processing Fee
The BLM is proposing to charge $4,000 to handle applications for permits to drill for oil and natural gas, according to an AP report in the San Diego Union-Tribune.
In Utah the BLM processed about 725 applications for permits to drill last year, more than any past year, while the Vernal BLM field office received three times the number of applications as it did 10 years ago, according to the report. The fee would raise $23.5 million each year and help BLM offices in western states keep up with the increasing number of applications.
Now You Know
How Hurricane Got its Name
The city of Hurricane is at the base of the Hurricane Ridge. President Erastus Snow (the Mormon Church official in charge of the Dixie Cotton Mission) and others were returning to St. George after a visit to the colonies along the upper Virgin River. As they worked their way down the lava ridge a powerful whirlwind developed, blowing the top off Snow’s buggy. He made a comment that it was like a hurricane and it might be a good name for the hill. After the incident, the hill, fault, bench, town and canal were all named Hurricane.(Source: Local Government Directory, Utah League of Cities & Towns)
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