News Highlights

LDS Church lobbying on flat tax issue is not something most legislators want to discuss, says political columnist Bob Bernick (Deseret Morning News).

Slam group need not identify members or where funding comes from, says AG’s office (Salt Lake Tribune).

Farmington and Brigham City to serve as electronic-vote test sites (Tribune and Morning News); Salt Lake County delaying adoption of Diebold voting machines (Morning News).

President Bush's 110-minute visit to Utah cost Salt Lake City $8,491.26 (Tribune).

Quote of the Day

“Contrary to what (Rep. Paul) Ray seems to think, women are capable of deciding what is best for them without the unsolicited interference of people who believe they or the state have a duty to get involved.”

-- Tribune editorial saying Ray is attempting to legislate his personal beliefs in proposed abortion counseling legislation.

Enjoy the long holiday weekend ahead with football and family. One feels almost guilty enjoying life as usual while such havoc and horror beset the victims of hurricane Katrina. Those of us at the Exoro Group and Utah Policy Daily express our condolences and concern for the victims and we encourage everyone to contribute what they can to the disaster relief efforts. There are a number of ways to contribute, including making a donation directly to the International Red Cross using this link.

Sen. Orrin Hatch urged Utahns to assist the hurricane victims and suggested these Web sites for potential donors and volunteers to visit:

• Federal Emergency Management Agency
• American Red Cross
• Salvation Army
• National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster

Hatch, Bennett Vote for Emergency Funding

The Senate acted quickly to vote by unanimous consent for a $10.5B emergency supplemental bill for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.  Sen. Bob Bennett said, “Like all Utahns, my heart goes out to the people of Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida and Alabama who are in desperate need of this aid.”

Bennett Supports Romney

Sen. Bob Bennett supports Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for president in 2008, and he thinks Romney has a decent shot at winning the GOP nomination. In a discussion with Utah Policy Daily on Thursday, Bennett said the clear frontrunner for the nomination is maverick/populist Arizona Sen. John McCain, who has become a media darling, even though he doesn’t have much support among his fellow GOP senators.

Bennett ticked through the other GOP presidential hopefuls, and told why he doesn’t think any of them will catch fire and derail McCain. But Romney has a shot, Bennett thinks, particularly because he could potentially do well in New Hampshire, which shares the Massachusetts media market. McCain is expected to “own” New Hampshire, and if Romney could defeat him there, or even come close, it could provide Romney a big impetus.

Romney is not yet a fully polished and proficient candidate, Bennett said, but the potential is there. As for evangelical Christian Republicans being unwilling to vote for a Mormon, Bennett said Romney has a reasonable chance to win their votes because they may dislike McCain even more than a Mormon like Romney.

Utah Leads in Smoking Cessation

A Utah Dept. of Health report released yesterday

says Utah’s smoking rate has dropped 14% since 1999, and that Utah is first in the nation to reach the “Healthy People 2010” goal of decreasing adult smoking to less than 12 percent of the population   See online annual report.

Podcast Watch

Check out InsideUtah.com for interviews with U.S. Sen. Bob Bennett on Mayor Rocky Anderson and Iraq; the state’s school curriculum director, Brett Moulding, on teaching evolution; and thoughts on the intelligent design debate from citizen watchdog Claire Geddes and political consultant LaVarr Webb.

Casual Friday

 (I don’t recall who sent this, but some real truths exist in these thoughts.)

The most destructive habit.......................................Worry
The greatest Joy....................................................... Giving
The greatest loss.............................Loss of self-respect
The most satisfying work.........................Helping others

The ugliest personality trait...................... . .Selfishness
The most endangered species......................Dedicated leaders
Our greatest natural resource.........................Our youth

The greatest" shot in the arm"..............Encouragement
The greatest problem to overcome.........................Fear
The most effective sleeping pill...............Peace of mind

The most crippling failure disease....................Excuses
The most powerful force in life.................................Love
The most dangerous pariah...........................A gossiper

The world's most incredible computer............The brain

The worst thing to be without... ............. .............. Hope
The deadliest weapon..................................The tongue

The two most power-filled words........................"I Can"
The greatest asset....................................................Faith
The most worthless emotion..............................Self-pity
The most beautiful attire...................... .................SMILE!
The most prized possession............................. Integrity
The most powerful channel of communication........................................................Prayer

The most contagious spirit..........................Enthusiasm

National Headlines

Former chief of staff to Rep. Chris Cannon was a gambling industry lobbyist, according to Internet news site Raw Story, which appears to be the on-line equivalent of a supermarket tabloid.

Local Headlines

Deseret Morning News

- Voters to test machines

- State's ed deputy post is still empty

- Pleasant Grove fights on for 10 Commandments

- Salt Lake County delays OK of Diebold voting machines

- Huntsman picks former member for pardons board

- Huntsman names nominating panel

- Chris Cannon to speak at UVSC about ethics

- Bob Bernick Jr.: Flat tax issue puts LDS legislators in a bind

- Editorial: Herding cats in the West

- Op-ed: Needy families must be top priority

Standard-Examiner

- Layton to fall back on 1997 sign ordinance

- Editorial: BRAC dodged, for now

Salt Lake Tribune

- Slam tactics by mystery group broke no Utah laws

- Ogden works on financing to repay money to depot

- EPA awards grants for environmental education projects; three in Utah are selected

- OT bill for the president's SLC visit works out to about $77 a minute

- Two cities chosen as electric-vote test sites

- Did Fruit Heights' flier about campaign break the law?

- Judge nominating panel picked for 7th District

- Income tax still school-bound

- Editorial: Abortion Counseling: Ray is wrong to try to legislate his beliefs

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Please submit calendar items to Daily@UtahPolicy.com

- 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.

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