|
Congress Misunderstands Net?
U.S. Senate candidate Pete Ashdown has announced his opposition to HR 4194, the "Internet Anti-Corruption and Free Speech Protection Act of 2005." While understanding the intent, Ashdown “decried the bill as comparable to Senator Orrin Hatch's failed ‘INDUCE Act’ in the way that it circumscribes all non-blog on line political activity,” said an Ashdown press release.
“Ashdown lauded Internet users for working to expand democratic discourse through the net. ‘For the first time in the history of democracy, the Internet presents the opportunity for all to have an equal voice in lobbying congress and political action. What disturbs me about the Congressional and FEC actions is that it appears they are attempting to curb that freedom.’
“For Ashdown, HR 4194 was just another example of a Congress that does not understand today's on line environment. ‘Some staffer thought the only speech that needed to be free was 'web logs' and therefore we have our amendment to protect 'that Internet thing'.” See also Ashdown’s blog posting on the topic.
Downtown Revitalization
Big things are happening in downtown Salt Lake City. In the latest Salt Lake Chamber newsletter, President and CEO Lane Beattie noted the following developments:
- Residential projects will add some 1,500 units downtown
- Education projects will bring some 10,000 students downtown
- Office projects will add 700,000 square feet of new space
- Transportation projects impacting downtown include the Intermodal hub, Exchange Place garage, TRAX extensions, Commuter Rail, a Transportation master plan and better access with the Legacy compromise
- Hospitality projects will being over 300 new hotel rooms
- Renovation, building and expansion projects include the Salt Palace, Rio Grande Plaza, the State Capitol, Frank Moss Courthouse, LDS Church Archives Building, Holy Trinity Cathedral Renovation, Pioneer Park, Salt Lake Tabernacle.
- Arts and cultural projects include Utah Pantages Theater, The Children’s Museum of Utah, The Leonardo Center, Museum of Utah Art and History, Salt Lake Cultural District.
- Retail is also huge with the new Downtown Malls, the Gateway Center expansion, West Capitol Hill Development, Fidelity Investor Center, and Main Street activity.
In all more than 32 new projects totaling more than $2 billion in investment will break ground or be completed downtown in the next few years.
Blog Watch
On the Senate Site blog, Sen. Chris Buttars announces his intention to follow through on a bill concerning the teaching of evolution in Utah schools, while Pres. John Valentine spells out the three options under consideration on dealing with the food tax... Rep. Steve Urquhart posts his take on Valentine's proposal... Wilf Sommerkorn blogs on the legalities of Open Space zones... Jen's Green Journal notes that national media outlets (listed here at Dee's 'Dotes) seem much more interested in the Julian Hatch candidacy than local outlets.
Save the World: Have a Baby
Interesting Wall Street Journal column by Nicholas Eberstadt pointing out how declining birth rates threaten the economies not just of Europe, but also of third world countries, which may be even more at risk. “… over the coming decades a parallel, dramatic ‘graying’ of much of the Third World also lies in store, and it promises to be a far uglier affair than the ‘aging crisis’ facing affluent societies,” writes Eberstadt. So much for the wacky theories of the zero population growth activists who have argued, incorrectly, that the world would be better off with fewer people. The reality is that Utah has an opportunity to continue its strong economic growth, in part, because we have a lot of children and a growing workforce.
Lessons From Katrina
The Utah Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration will hold a luncheon featuring Verdi White, director of the Utah Division of Homeland Security, on Friday, Dec. 9, noon, at the State Office Building Auditorium. White will speak to the topic, “Lessons from Katrina: What should we be doing to prepare for OUR disaster?” Make reservations by Dec. 6 by calling 581-6493 or e-mail: jrandall@cppa.utah.edu.
Utah County Political Report
Gov. Jon Huntsman and Lieutenant Gov. Gary Herbert held a “Thank You” event Tuesday evening for Utah County supporters and leaders who assisted the Huntsman campaign last year. More than 100 people attended the reception at the Riverside Country Club hosted by Marlon Snow. Huntsman gave an “inspiring message” about his vision for Utah, according to one attendee. The governor said Utah’s economic climate is one of the best in the United States, with a job growth rate second only to Nevada. Among the guests were Jeanette Herbert and Mary Kaye Huntsman; Senate Pres. John Valentine, Senators Curt Bramble and Parley Hellewell; House members Jeff Alexander, Margaret Dayton, Becky Lockhart, Mike Morley, Steve Clark and his wife Cindy, (newly elected to the Provo City Council); and Utah County Commissioner Larry Ellertson. Notable business owners were Hal Wing, Wilford Clyde and Dan Campbell. Also attending was former cabinet members Russ Skousen, former BYU athletic directors Rondo Fehlberg and Vale Hale, UVSC President Bill Sederburg, Sandra Covey, Stan Lockhart of Micron, Don Norton of Far West Bank, Thanksgiving Point President and CEO Mike Washburn, and 2006 political candidates John Tinsley (House seat) and John Jacob (3rd Congressional District).
Huntsman joked that he really didn't care who won the BYU-Utah football game this week --although he knew who most in the room were rooting for. He said he looked in his closet and had many red ties and many blue ties -- but only one yellow tie and that is what he wore for the event.
National Politics
In his National Journal column, Charlie Cook says congressional Republicans are in for rough times ahead, lacking leadership to unify them.
Washington Watch
The Ethics Scoreboard revokes Sen. Orrin Hatch's status as an "Ethics Hero" over new revelations about the 2004 Manuel Miranda "Memogate" scandal... Washington Post columnist argues that SCOTUS Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a more consensus nominee than Samuel Alito, citing as evidence Sen. Hatch's autobiography, in which the conservative wrote approvingly of the Ginsburg nomination... Meanwhile, Hatch introduces "bipartisan legislation that would address elder abuse and crimes against seniors" (see press release).
Wise Words
"It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier, who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag."
-- USMC Chaplain Dennis Edward O'Brian
(Source: The Federalist Patriot) |
