|
Transportation Survey
Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert wants to know your opinions about transportation issues in Utah. In advance of the Oct. 14 Transportation Summit, he wants Utahns to take a quick on-line survey measuring opinions on a variety of transportation topics. The survey takes only a few moments and can be accessed by clicking here. Herbert will announce the survey results at the Summit, which begins at 8:30 a.m. in the Davis Conference Center, 800 West Heritage Park Boulevard, Layton.
Gov. Jon Huntsman will present his vision for the future of Utah transportation during the summit and four informative panel discussions will be featured. RSVP by sending an email to tylerallen@utah.gov or by calling Tyler Allen at 801-538-1041.
Those Darn Computer Gremlins
If you received a nice invitation in the mail to the Republican Women’s PAC fundraising event on Oct. 20, but someone else’s name was on the invitation, don’t be confused. It really was meant for you. A computer glitch with the mailing list caused the names to be matched with the wrong addresses.
Sen. Carlene Walker said everyone is invited to the fundraiser, called the "Utah Winning Women Inaugural Gala." It starts at 6:30 pm in the Wells Fargo Building, 23rd Floor, 299 South Main. For more information contact Paige Marriott at 202-549-2558 or paige@marriottgroup.com or Karen Hammond at 801-201-0859 or karen.hammond@juno.com.
Blog Watch
Senate President John Valentine writes about freedom of the press in China in his second posting about his trip to China on Senate Site.com.
Podcast Watch
The lineup on Jennifer Napier-Pearce’s Friday InsideUtah.com Podcast includes State Sen. Al Mansell on a Utah housing bubble and the effects of Katrina on real estate (:54); U of U Professor Tom Huckin on conservative Paul Mero’s controversial op-ed pieces in the Salt Lake Tribune (6:09); ATK Thiokol’s Bryce Hallowell (13:55) and Clark Planetarium director Seth Jarvis (18:45) on Utah’s role in a new moon mission; and U2 and a philanthropic venture by local artist Nathan Florence (23:38).
Washington Watch
Cannon: DOJ Adds Privacy Officer Position
The Department of Justice Appropriations Act passed by the House includes language drafted by Rep. Chris Cannon requiring the DOJ “to create a privacy officer position to safeguard Americans’ personally identifiable information.” A Cannon press release says the language strengthens Congress’ role in privacy oversight.
Hatch: Opposition to Roberts Purely Political
Sen. Orrin Hatch issued a statement following the Senate’s 78-22 confirmation of Judge John Roberts to be Chief Justice of the Supreme Court saying, “The opposition to Judge Roberts has been purely political.”
More Money for Utah
Hatch’s office has announced new grant monies coming to Utah (press release not yet posted):
- A U. S. Department of Labor grant of $12,947,000 to the Clearfield Job Corps Center for new construction.
- HUD Housing Choice Voucher-Family Self Sufficiency Grants to seven Utah city and county housing authorities totaling $447,314. The money will be used to hire staff in key positions to better administer housing ownership programs.
- A Rural Development grant of $1,231,880 to the Neighborhood Nonprofit Housing Corporation in Logan to help fund new construction of 65 homes in Box Elder and Cache Counties.
Feds Study Health of America’s Children
A syndicated Knight Ridder story says Salt Lake County will be one of six communities participating in the first phase of what is billed as “the most ambitious” federal government study of the health of America's children. The National Children’s Study will follow more than 100,000 children from womb to adulthood at cost of $2.7 billion over about 25 years, if the plan is fully implemented.
Utah and 17 Other States Want Online Sales Tax
Wall Street Journal online has an interesting article about the push by cash-hungry states to collect sales taxes from online stores. Utah is one of 18 states that have banded together to “simplify their myriad tax rules, regulations and quirks,” thus making it easier for online stores to collect sales taxes. The article cites a University of Tennessee study, which estimates that states and local governments will lose $18 billion in online sales tax in 2005.
Casual Friday
Best Fishing of the Year
The weather is cooling, especially in the high country, and that means self-respecting fish want to fatten up for the winter. From now until cold weather hits is the best fishing of the year at Utah’s streams, lakes and reservoirs. Go to the DWR’s main fishing page for the latest fishing reports, fishing forum discussions, and all the information you need to plan an autumn fishing trip.
Best of Late Night Humor
David Letterman... "Top Signs Your Kid Is Working With al-Qa'ida": Greets you every day with, "Good morning, infidel"; Spent weekend at mall looking for back-to-school turbans; His paper route includes the mountainous Tora Bora region; Keeps mocking you for only having the one wife; Blind Sheik always coming over to play "Grand Theft Auto" on Xbox; You're getting gas for 12 cents a gallon; He's saving his allowance to buy a camel; Find yourself saying, "No Al Jazeera 'til you finish your homework."
Jay Leno... We had a huge rain storm here in Los Angeles. Lightening, thunder—it's tough living in Beverly Hills when it rains. Nobody from FEMA shows up. You know, I think George Bush doesn't care about rich, white people. ... Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton has announced that she has decided to vote against the nomination of John Roberts for the Supreme Court. She said it was a matter of conscience. And when she explained this to Bill he said, "A matter of what?" ... John Kerry said he was never clear about where John Roberts stood on the issues and for that reason he's not voting for him. That's the same reason Roberts didn't vote for Kerry. ... In an announcement today President Bush said all federal workers should travel less to save fuel. He decided on this in Texas, right before he flew to Colorado then back to Washington to prepare for tomorrow's trip back to Texas. ... Barbara Streisand told Diane Sawyer that we're in a global warming crisis, and we can expect more and more intense storms, droughts and dust bowls. But before they act, weather experts say they're still waiting to hear from Celine Dion.
Wise Words
"We may not imagine how our lives could be more frustrating and complex—but Congress can." —Cullen Hightower |
Utah Policy Daily
is a service