News Highlights

Former Utah guv Mike Leavitt, now HHS Sec., playing key role in Katrina relief efforts (Salt Lake Tribune).

LDS Church lobbying selected members of Tax Reform Task Force to retain charitable deductions on state income taxes (Deseret Morning News)

Sen. Chris Buttars still may push the teaching of "intelligent design" in schools; doesn't support, however, the "Flying Spaghetti Monster" theory of creation (Tribune).

LDS Church leader disputes Tribune count of LDS population percentage in Utah (Tribune).

Quote of the Day

"We provide jobs. We pay taxes . . . We're not just a truck in a dark alley delivering beer."

-- Bill Christofferson, director of the beer wholesalers association in Utah, describing the economic impact of beer (Tribune).

Hatch in National Limelight Next Week

Check out the very interesting Wall Street Journal opinion column by Manuel Miranda that contrasts Sen. Orrin Hatch and Sen. Joseph Biden, two key figures who will be in the national spotlight as the Senate Judiciary Committee begins hearings next week on the John Roberts nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court. Miranda speculates that if Hatch wins a 6th term he may become president pro tem of the Senate, “…three breaths from the presidency. (By tradition the president pro tem is the most senior member of the majority party; currently, three Republicans are ahead of Mr. Hatch.)”

The column mentions and takes quite seriously Rep. Steve Urquhart’s bid for the GOP Senate nomination against Hatch.  The senator’s re-election in 2006 “is no longer certain,” says the column, adding that “conservatives from all over the country are flocking” to Urquhart after Hatch has disappointed them.  

Blog Watch

Robin Riggs of the Salt Lake Chamber sends along a link to an interesting blog called the Hedgehog Blog, written by a former Utahn named Lowell Brown, an attorney in Los Angeles. His views are moderate to conservative. You should definitely check out the Hedgehog’s link to the "Greatest Political Movie Line Ever."

Political Spotlight:  Enid Greene

Former member of Congress Enid Greene has been making a comeback in Utah politics. She was unsuccessful in last year’s gubernatorial contest as running mate to Nolan Karras. But she won re-election last Saturday as vice chair of the state Republican Party.

Occupation:  Radio host for AM820; President of The D. Forrest and Gerda M. Greene Foundation

Education:  U of U, B.S. in Political Science; BYU Juris doctorate 

Growing up:  I grew up in San Francisco until the age of 12 when my family moved to Utah. I attended East High School and was active in everything from Pep Club to the Yearbook staff to the Debate Club.

Family:  I am blessed to be the mother of nine-year-old Elizabeth, my daughter, companion, and fashion critic. We lost my father last year to the ravages of Alzheimer,s disease, but am proud to report that my 86-year-old mother has mended from a serious fall and is back to spoiling her grandchildren.

Why political involvement:  I idolized my grandmother, Alice Greene, who always reminded her posterity to support the Constitution and protect the United States of America. I feel deeply about fundamental issues regarding governmental power v. individual rights and responsibilities, and the duties of the elected officials who are granted the public trust of that power. 

Hobbies:  Lizzie and I love to spend time throughout the state, whether visiting Zions and Canyonlands, the Shakespeare festival, or skiing our mountains.  I have a huge fabric stash (quilters will understand) that I always mean to use more, a horse I always mean to ride more, and shelves of books I mean to read more, but I'm working on it!

Motivations and ambitions: Like most people, I like to feel useful.  I feel that I have been given extraordinary opportunities and experiences, and I believe strongly that I should put them to good use.  My ambition is to continue to find ways to use my abilities to contribute to a better community, whether through politics, community involvement, good parenting, or any other means I encounter.  

Hottest issue I'm watching:  I am increasingly concerned about fundamental budget issues of the deficit, social security reform, funding health care, etc. If we don't deal with this correctly, and soon, other issues will seem of relative unimportance later.

Proudest moment:  I find that pride and gratitude should go together.  While I was certainly proud -- and grateful -- to serve in Congress, my greatest source of pride is seeing my daughter's already-strong spirit grow.

Most embarrassing moment:  Of course, my most embarrassing moment was to have marriage fail and realize that I had given my love and trust to someone who did not deserve it.  But since most of you know that one, I'll give you another:  One snowy morning, hurrying down Main Street to a hearing in federal court, I stopped in front of Lamb's Cafe and looked down to realize that my half-slip had fallen down to my knees and was swishing around my feet.  I stepped out of it, threw it in my briefcase, and noticed a very full UTA bus with passengers staring at me.  At least in those days, the court didn't make me open my briefcase when I went through security.

Favorite book:  Old favorite – Les Miserables by Victor Hugo; Current favorite – Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis. Both deal with mistakes, loss, love, and redemption.

Favorite mentor:  LaDonna Lee, who has given me an example of a woman in politics who conducts herself with strength, integrity, and compassion whatever the obstacle.

A small insight into my psyche:  I feel a bit like John Bolton:  no one accuses me of being overly diplomatic, but I will speak hard truths and do my duty as I see it.

Energy Watch

Alberta Energy Minister in Utah

Alberta Energy Minister Greg Melchin was in Utah this week promoting Alberta’s oil sands and natural gas resources, says the Canadian newspaper Airdrie Echo. He met with Sens. Bob Bennett and Orrin Hatch, and Rep. Chris Cannon, as well as county commissioners.  “Senators Hatch and Bennett have been strong supporters of a partnership with Alberta and were key proponents of including a section in the U.S. Energy Policy Act 2005 that specifically calls for initiating a partnership with the province ‘for the purposes of sharing information relating to the development of production of oil from the tar sands.’"

New Study on Oil Shale Reserves
The Washington Post reports on a western oil shale study released yesterday, which says “the United States has an oil reserve at least three times that of Saudi Arabia locked in oil shale deposits beneath federal land in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming.”  The study estimates that federal, state and local governments “would rake in about $10 billion a year from lease payments, royalties and taxes if the industry produced 3 million barrels a day.”  Furthermore, production would likely cause oil prices to fall “by as much as 5 percent, saving American oil consumers up to $20 billion a year and creating hundreds of thousands of jobs.”  But the report says risks are high and urges cautious development.

Now You Know

The city of Springville was founded in September 16, 1850, by eight Mormon pioneer families.  Springville was first called Hobble Creek, named after a mare which lost her hobbles in the creek.  The city started as a small fort and is now a thriving suburban community. Springville is home to a number of artists and the Springville Art Museum.  It is this heritage of art that has given Springville its sobriquet of Art City.

(Source: Local Government Directory, Utah League of Cities & Towns)

Local Headlines

City Weekly

- Darth Mayor

- The Seedy Deed

Davis County Clipper

- BRAC: ‘We came out pretty good'

Salt Lake Tribune

- Sandy defends gravel-pit ballot question in court

- Taxpayers may get stuck with donor shrine's tab

- Leavitt playing key role in Katrina relief efforts

- Governor appoints new judge

- Governor's summit envisions better Utah education

- Emotions cool down in Holladay center talks

- Amid cosmic belief, comic relief

- Upkeep costs for roads stall task force

- Regents pick vice chairman

- Lots of Utah jobs flow from beer

- LDS Church disputes Tribune numbers on membership

Standard-Examiner

- State board to discuss evolution

- Harrisville mayor living in stuffy hotel ballroom

St. George Spectrum

- Voting changes set for 2006

Daily Herald

- Gas prices hurting Utah schools

- Editorial: Nuclear waste and terrorism

Deseret Morning News

- LDS Church lobbying on taxes

- U. officially files appeal on Utes nickname

- County reluctantly picks voting vendor

KCPW Radio 1010AM · 88.3FM · 105.3FM

Please submit calendar items to Daily@UtahPolicy.com

- 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).
- Sep 8: 2005 Sutherland Transcend Series,"The Rules of the Game - Applying Processes Effectively," Breakfast Keynote from 8:30 to 9:30 am, Morning Seminar from 9:40 to 11:30 am, Lunch from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm, Afternoon Workshop from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm.  For more information contact Stan Rasmussen at 801-355-1272, email si@sutherlandinstitute.org, or view brochure here.
- Sep 8: Privately Owned Health Care Organization Task Force, 1 pm, room W135.
- Sep 8: Davis County Libertarian Party meeting, 7 pm, 1617 North 350 East, Layton.
- Sep 9-10: Lt. Gov. Herbert to lead a delegation of Utah Legislators to Texas to discuss opportunities in transportation for public/private partnerships and to tour various forward-thinking transportation projects underway in Texas. The Utah delegation will be joined by the Texas Lt. Gov, as well as key Texas Legislators and policy makers.

- Sep 9: Tax Review Commission, 1 pm, room W125.
- Sep 9: Salt Lake County Republican Party Constitution Day Celebration Family BBQ Night, 6:30 pm, Murray City Park, 5125 S. State Street, Pavilion #5. For more information contact Wanda I. Carrasquillo at 801- 879-7340 or wcarrasq@qwest.net
- Sep 10: Davis County Democrats Monthly Breakfast, 8:30 am, Grannie Annie's Restaurant, 286 N. 400 West, Kaysville. Held the 2nd Saturday every month. Bring an item of food (non-perishable) for the Davis County Food Bank.

- Sep 10: Constitution Party of Utah State Convention, 8 am to 2 pm, 2001 S. State Street, North building, Salt Lake City. Keynote speakers will be Steve Pratt and Jim Norlander.
- Sep 12: Lt. Gov. Herbert will keynote the Annual Meeting of the Western States Association of Tax Administrators, 7:45 am, Downtown Marriott, 75 West South Temple.

- Sep 12: Child Welfare Legislative Oversight Panel, 10 am, room W020.
- Sep 13: Special Districts Subcommittee of the Political Subdivisions Interim Committee, 9 am, room W110.
- Sep 13: Administrative Rules Review Committee, 9 am, room W135.
- Sep 13: Retirement and Independent Entities Interim Committee, 1 pm, room W135.

- Sep 13: Sage Greens Local Meeting, 7 pm, Coffee Club, 4879 South Redwood Road.
- Sep 13: Utah Citizens Alliance Monthly Meeting, 7 pm, Utah State Bar (Law and Justice Center), 645 S 200 E, Salt Lake City.  Speaker: Jared Horne from Sterling Financial Group. Topic: Planning financially for the future and how to wisely invest a settlement.  For more information contact LaRee Miller at 801-521-1749 or laree@utahcitizensalliance.org.
- Sep 14: Lt. Gov. Herbert to speak to the State Fire Chiefs Association, 10:30 am, Sheraton City Center, 150 W 500 S, Salt Lake City.

- Sep 14: Utah Petroleum Association Annual Meeting "Refining the Future," 12 pm, Little America Hotel. Keynote Speaker is Mr. Bill Haywood, Senior V.P. of Refining for Tesoro Refining & Marketing Company.  For more information contact Lee Peacock at 801-364-1510 or lpeacock@utahpetroleum.org. 
- Sep 14: Lt. Gov. Herbert to meet with the 5-County AOG in Beaver to discuss transportation issues, 1 pm, 105 E Center Street, Beaver.
- Sep 15: Lt. Gov. Herbert to participate in the Department of Public Safety's "Statewide Continuity and Emergency Preparedness" conference, 8am, Radisson, 215 W South Temple, Salt Lake City.
- Sep 15: Lt. Gov. Herbert to meet with the Southeastern Utah AOG in Price to discuss transportation issues, 1 pm, 375 S. Carbon Avenue, Price.

- Sep 15: Weber County Libertarian Party meeting, 6 pm, Etched in Stone Design, 2031 Lincoln Avenue, Ogden.
- Sep 15: Republican Party Executive Committee Meeting, 6 pm.
- Sep 19-23: Utah Legislators Back to School Program "Kick-off Week."
- Sep 19: Democrats of Southern Utah Monthly Meeting, 11:30 am, Dixie Center, 1835 Convention Center Drive.  The speaker is Dr. Joseph Jarvis, co-founder Utah Health Alliance and the topic is "New Health Care Plan."   For reservations call Jan Patrick by September 15th at 435-652-2096.
- Sep 19: Tourism Task Force, 1 pm, room W110.

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