Urquhart Announces Candidacy Via Internet
Rep. Steve Urquhart made a non-traditional and relatively low-key entry into the U.S. Senate race Wednesday afternoon by posting his announcement on his blogand linking to his new campaign Web site.
Rather than hold the usual press conference, Urquhart said he wanted to announce over the Internet to signal his intention to make effective use of the tools of advanced technology in his campaign. The announcement received coverage in the Tribune and Spectrum. The Morning News did a story previously.
Urquhart believes he can win strong support among fellow legislators, local officials, and the high-tech community, a group that has clashed with incumbent Sen. Orrin Hatch. The first shot in framing the campaign for the techie crowd was fired Wednesday night by Phil Windley, an Urquhart supporter, BYU computer science professor, entrepreneur and former state CIO. Windley wrote in his blog why the technology industry should support Urquhart and encouraged campaign contributions. Rep. John Dougall
also commented.
Health Care Working Group in SLC Friday
The Citizens' Health Care Working Group will be in SLC tomorrow to hear expert testimony on challenges facing the American health-care system, reports RedNova.com. The group was created in 2003 as part of the Medicare modernization act co-sponsored by Sens. Orrin Hatch and Ron Wyden, D-Ore. Dr. Brent James, IHC VP and professor at the U of U Medical School, serves on the panel as does HHS Sec. Mike Leavitt. RedNova says, “Utah's hearing -- one of only five nationwide -- focuses on health-care technology and issues surrounding health-care quality, as well as worker and employer issues, including what unions are doing.”
Washington Watch
Hatch Meets the Judge
Sen. Hatch will be meeting with Supreme Court nominee Judge John Roberts today at 11:30 a.m. to discuss Roberts’ nomination, says a Hatch press release (not yet posted).
Bennett Consulted
A press release from Sen. Bob Bennett’s office says the senator was one of 70 the White House called seeking input about potential Supreme Court nominees.
Matheson Receives ‘Frontline’ Money
Rep. Jim Matheson and other “Frontline Democrats” received an averaged $339,000 in fundraising money for the 2nd quarter, reports The Hill. The Frontline Democrat program is a fundraising operation for the House’s 10 most vulnerable Democrats.
$62.2M for Utah Military Installations
Sen. Bob Bennett says the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee has included his requests for $62.2 million to make improvements and upgrades at Utah’s military installations. Hill AFB will receive $33.9M for upgraded facilities.
National Politics
Clinton Breaking Fundraising Records
Sen. Hillary Clinton raised $6 million in second quarter of 2005, meaning she could have somewhere between $30 million and $50 million to transfer to her presidential campaign if she announces in January 2007, as expected. Washington insiders are convinced she’s running and they’re excited about it. Here’s a paragraph from a column by Chuck Todd, editor in chief of National Journal’s Hotline:
“The Clinton campaign is going to be one for the history books no matter what happens. It's going to break every known fund-raising record, probably set an all-time high in voter turnout and likely set an all-time high in voter interest. We can't wait. It's going to be the single most fascinating campaign to follow and analyze in our lifetime; frankly, we have no idea what will make for an interesting encore following '08.”
Real Estate Data
Utah’s real estate sector is booming, helping bolster the state’s overall economy. Commerce CRG has posted its mid-year report online. It is full of detailed real estate and economic data. All sectors of the real estate industry are doing well.
Now You Know
(From National Journal’s Almanac of American Politics)
-- Utah has the strictest anti-abortion law in the nation
-- Utah was the first state to ban cigarette vending machines
-- Polls show that Utahns are more conservative than Americans generally on
every cultural issue except school prayer
-- In 1940 Utah was represented by staunch New Dealers in Congress and cast
62% of its votes for Franklin D. Roosevelt
-- Utah has the youngest and most productive workforce of any state in the
nation
-- Work weeks average 48 hours in Utah, more than Japan and far more than
anywhere else in America
James Taranto’s News Headline Commentary
(Source: The Federalist Patriot)
-- Diagram This Sentence: "LAPD Chief Backs Baby Shoot Cops" --CBSNews.com
-- Dear Disease, We're Thinking of You. Love, Experts: "Experts to Discuss Dear Disease in Wis." --Associated Press
-- World Ends, Poor Hardest Hit: "Death Less Painful for the Rich" --LiveScience.com
-- Eminent Domain Goes Mad: "Judge Condemns Interior Department" --Associated Press
-- Faulty Thought Is Most Dangerous of All: "Fault May Be More Dangerous Than Thought" --Associated Press
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