News Highlights

Utah, Arizona and N.M. may be only 3 states to participate in 2008 regional presidential primary proposed by Gov. Huntsman (Deseret Morning News).

Utah's income, poverty, health insurance figures remain steady in latest census report (Morning News, Standard-Examiner, and Salt Lake Tribune).

Utah’s poverty rate stays flat (Tribune).

Quote of the Day

"The public (and Legislature aren't) going to buy into significant funding increases for public education unless they feel confident it's not going to be the same ol' thing. The question is, what kind of reforms are going to excite both legislators and the public."

-- State senator and taxpayer advocate Howard Stephenson at Gov. Huntsman’s education summit (Morning News and Standard Examiner).

Random Observations

Welcome to the last day of August. It’s feeling a little autumnish out there this morning. But we will yet have many warm and glorious Indian summer days ahead, with cool nights that send a shiver down your spine. It is a great time of year. . .  

. . . The immensity of the disaster on the Gulf Coast is almost beyond comprehension. Whatever small or large burdens, problems or challenges we face in life ought to seem a lot lighter and more bearable in the perspective of the tens of thousands of people who have lost everything.

New Day for Utah Rail Transit

Tuesday was an exciting beginning for rail transit in Utah, with groundbreaking for construction of the 44-mile commuter rail line from Weber County to Salt Lake City. (See coverage by Tribune, Morning News, and Standard Examiner).

Sen. Bob Bennett praised the “first-class” work of Utah Transit Authority officials that made it possible to obtain federal funds for the project. Noting the “tremendous competition” for those funds, Bennett said UTA has a national reputation for running an excellent transit operation with use by commuters exceeding all expectations. UTA’s success and record allowed it to be grandfathered in under new regulations for commuter rail, saving a year’s time and $40 million on the project, Bennett said.

Corroon Supports Living Wage

Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon makes the case for “Living Wage” ordinances in an essay published in Policy Perspectives, an e-mail newsletter produced by the Center for Public Policy & Administration at the U. of U. The newsletter also contains a report by researcher Janice Houston on the impacts on Utah of an increase in the minimum wage and other valuable information.

Emerson vs. Sierra Club

UPD reader and political consultant Dave Hansen said he liked the quote in Tuesday’s UPD by early conservationist Ralph Waldo Emerson (“Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”), but he doesn’t think the Sierra Club would like it one bit.

Correction

Thanks to a brain cramp at 4:30 a.m., the Tuesday UPD item about John Jacob mistakenly referred to the 2nd Congressional District instead of the 3rd District. Jacob lives in the 3rd District and would run there should he decide to seek office.

Now You Know

Americans spend on average more than 100 hours commuting to work each year, according to American

Longest Average Commute Times:

New York                         30.4 minutes

Maryland                          30.2 minutes

New Jersey                     28.5 minutes

District of Columbia      28.4 minutes

Illinois                              27.0 minutes

(Utah ranks 40th with an average commute time of 19.7 minutes)

(Source)

National Headlines

Yet another lengthy Mitt Romney/Mormonism story (Boston Globe).

Columnist John Derbyshire argues against teaching "intelligent design" in schools, which Sen. Chris Buttars may try to push in Utah (National Review Online).

Local Headlines

Deseret Morning News

- Utah is above the curve in rankings

- Only 3 states likely to be part of a Western primary

- Lee Benson: Use of 'Utes' by U. sits well in Ute country

- County slows fleet rotation

- Reluctant Salt Lake County OKs voting machines

- Is tax hike needed to lift test scores?

- UTA breaks ground for commuter rail line

- Pitcher elected as regents vice chairman

- Jim Matheson and wife expecting their 2nd child

Standard-Examiner

- Commuter rail now more than a dream

- Utah holds education summit

- State poverty level holds, while more are uninsured

Salt Lake Tribune

- Huntsman names new member to pardons board

- SUWA can intervene in lawsuit

- Ceremony signals commuter rail start

- Colorado River states agree on principles of managing waterway

- Landowner demands ouster of officials

- Improved economy is not helping poor

- Voting machines: Elections officer doesn't want to write a blank check

- Corroon shares ZAP priorities, hopes to avoid pandemonium

- Editorial: Jim Hansen's Conflict: Hard to find ex-congressmen without one

- Custody case spotlights couples' parental rights

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Please submit calendar items to Daily@UtahPolicy.com

- Aug 31: Gov. Huntsman meets with FEMA officials.
- Aug 31: US Senate Candidate Steve Urquhart (R-St. George) to spend the day in Davis County. Public cottage meetings will be held at Bountiful Public Library from 5 to 6pm, Clearfield Public Library from 6:30 to 7:30pm, and Fruit Heights City Hall from 8 to 9pm.
- Sep 1: Lt. Gov. Herbert to host the State of Utah's "Voting Equipment Kickoff"
with Commissioners and Clerks from all over the state, all-day event, State Capitol.

- Sep 1: Davis Chamber Legislative Affairs Committee Meeting, 7:30 am, DATC, 550 E 300 S Kaysville.
- Sep 1: Washington County Republican Women Luncheon, 12 pm, Bloomington Country Club.
- Sep 1: Utah Constitutional Revision Commission, 1 pm, room W125.
- Sep 1: Town Hall Meeting with Jim Matheson, Whitmore Library, 2197 E Fort Union Blvd., Salt Lake City.
- Sep 3: Utah County Libertarian Party meeting, 10 am, Golden Corral, 225 West University Parkway, Orem.
- Sep 5: Summit County Democrats in the Miner's Day Parade in Park City, 10 am. Lots of fun activities in the park following the parade. Free T-shirt to the first 200.  Contact Laura Bonham at clbonham@allwest.net or 435-336-2123 for more information.
- Sep 6: Senate Republican Golf Tournament at Thanksgiving Point. Registration will begin at 6:30 a.m. with a pre-game contest at 7:00 a.m. and tee-off at 7:30 a.m.  Those wishing to participate should call Ric Cantrell at 801-673-1603 or Kaci Ogier at 801-268-4747 ext. 3. 
- Sep 6: Water Issues Task Force, 3 pm, room W135.
- Sep 7: Lt. Gov. Herbert will participate in the Utah Energy Forum during the Wasatch Environmental Breakfast, 8 am, University of Utah's Panorama Room.
- Sep 7: Utah Technology Commission, 9 am, Novell Campus in Provo.
- Sep 7: Lt. Gov. Herbert to Chair the quarterly Capitol Preservation Board Meeting, 3 pm, State Capitol.

- Sep 8: Utah Intergovernmental Roundtable Annual Summit, 8 am-1:30 pm, at the Delta Center in SLC. An overview of RDA's and Tax Increment Financing, plus a stakeholder panel on the pros and cons of RDA's, moderated by a professional mediator. Speakers include Lane Beattie, Salt Lake Chamber, Robyn Bagley, Citizens Coalition for RDA Reform, Randy Sant, Sandy City, Larry Newton, Utah State Office of Education, Larry Ellertson, Utah County, Howard Stephenson, Utah State Senate (invited), Curtis Bramble, Utah State Senate, Lincoln Shurtz, Utah League of Cities and Towns. For more information: www.cppa.utah.edu/uir/, or send email to Jolaine (jrandall@cppa.utah.edu).

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