Guv, Lawmakers Get to Work
What’s the best thing about the Utah Legislature? When it’s over, spring is here! The Legislature gets down to some real business today and Gov. Jon Huntsman delivers his state-of-the-state address at 6:30 p.m. at an elementary school in Bountiful. Local TV will cover it live.
What if Peace Breaks Out?
News reporters and other observers are hyping the supposed friction and competition among the governor, the House and the Senate as the most fascinating game to watch this legislative session. The fight for top doghood is supposed to be a contact sport pitting Gov. Huntsman, Senate Pres. John Valentine, and House Speaker Greg Curtis against each other.
But what if the main characters don’t want to fight? In radio interviews on Monday, Curtis and Valentine both refused to rise to the bait, telling interviewers that the friction is way over-hyped and the three leaders agree a lot more than they disagree. They were clearly trying to downplay the rivalry and reduce expectations of hostility.
It is possible, given the size of the surplus and the fact that it will likely grow even larger, that the House, Senate and governor could have an amicable session and all get pretty much what they want without any rancor or friction. But that’s not likely. That’s not the way legislative bodies with 104 independently-elected individuals, with big egos, work. No doubt, Huntsman, Curtis and Valentine could work things out politely among themselves. But Curtis and Valentine have big caucuses to deal with, and it’s almost inevitable that some serious disagreements will occur. So for all the happy talk as the session gets off the ground, the good feelings aren’t going to last.
Use Legislative Web Site
The average Utah citizen isn’t going to pay a lot of attention, but political news over the next 44 days will be dominated by the Legislature. Utah Policy Daily will provide links to all the legislative news, but we won’t try to list all the committee meetings and other happenings at the session. The legislative Web site provides excellent information services for those wanting committee meeting agendas, copies of legislation, bill tracking, etc.
Need Some Light Reading?
Check out House conflict of interest reports.
Get to Know Your Legislators
Name & District: Lorie Dawn Fowlke, District 59, Orem
Occupation: Attorney/Mediator
Education: B.S. Law Enforcement- BYU; J.D. J. Reuben Clark Law School-BYU
Growing up: San Luis Obispo, California until age 11; then Tonga Islands until high school graduation
Fondest memory: when my oldest child was first laid in my arms after her birth
Childhood ambition: to be a professional hula dancer
Family: Husband, Wil; 6 children: Summer 28, Jeremy 26, Jonathan 23, Lauren 19, Joshua 17, Jesse 16
Why politics: You cannot complain if you are not willing to work
My perfect day: Riding horses on the beach with my husband
Hobbies: horse back riding gaited horses, piano, writing
First job: assistant for my high school history teacher
Motivations/ambitions: I cannot do everything, but I can do something, to make life a little bit better for those around me.
Hottest issue you're watching: use of surplus funds
Biggest challenge: balancing life's demands
Alarm clock: my daughter's cat, Chloe
Proudest moment: Law school graduation with my husband and all 6 children present
Political ideology: limited government; low taxes; generate private enterprise; representative government, which only works when the majority chooses to be involved; pay your people well; reward merit.
Soundtrack: Gladiator
Personal motto/mission statement: Carpe diem [seize the day]; Live well, laugh often, love much
Most embarrassing moment: falling down two flights of the Fieldhouse steps as a BYU freshman during student march to devotional on a Tuesday morning
Inspiration: my mother
Retreat: the ocean, preferably on an island
Favorite book: non-fiction - 1776; fiction - Gone With the Wind
Favorite movie: Sabrina
Indulgence: See's kiwi white chocolate
Mentor: my law partner Thomas Scribner
A small insight into my psyche: I gave up guilt a decade ago and life is good.
Upcoming 2006 Session: Exciting! Everyone wants a piece of the money.
My top priority for the 2006 session: Divorce orientation bill
Hot issue in 2006 session: balance needs of funding transportation, education, and public employees with desire for a meaningful tax cut
The 2006 session will be remembered for: how we spend the surplus
The surplus: everyone wants some
Utah's tax system: easy to complain about, hard to find solutions
Tax cuts: everyone wants it but no one wants their priorities cut to pay for it
Education funding: never enough
Immigration: we inherit the problems from the feds and they won't fix it
Transportation: we must make this a priority
USTAR: This is the key to making everything else work
My district is cool because: Orem is the best place to live
I like serving in the Legislature because: I can make a difference and serve my neighbors
My philosophy of government: only do what private enterprise cannot
Running for political office is: hard fun; it's lots of hard work but a great deal of fun meeting so many of my constituents and talking about issues that are important to them
Anything else you'd like to add: I really appreciate the opportunity working in the legislature has provided to me to learn about our government processes and meet the great people who help make it work.
Garr Judd Seeks GOP Nomination
Orem resident Garr Judd will run for the Legislature in House  District 61, currently held by Rep. Margaret Dayton, who is planning to run for the Senate. Judd has been District 61 legislative chair for six years, and has lived in Orem since 1988 with his wife, Michelle, and their three children. Judd is executive director of the American Red Cross Mountain Valley Chapter, based in Provo, and is a former member of the Orem City Planning Commission, owner of a small business and past president of the BYU Management Society/Utah County Chapter.
Judd said he decided to seek office after encouragement from community leaders, neighbors and delegates. “I love this community and have an understanding of the issues facing us now and in the future. I believe my leadership experience, understanding of the government system and mainstream Utah values, represent the kind of characteristics our community wants in a legislator.”
Blog Watch
Congressional candidates Kris Lounsbury and Joe Tucker have blogs... The Trib's excellent new Planet Legislature blog has several posts on the legislative session goings-on... Stop Me Before I Vote Again says Blue Dog Democrats -- including Rep. Jim Matheson -- should be voted out of office... A Little Bit of Peril says Larry H. Miller has "once again perpetuated the idea that Utah is a state of ignorant, prejudiced jerks"... USU Aggies defends Miller... Slam Smith agrees with Mayor Rocky Anderson that reporters don't deserve special parking privileges... The UAC blog surveys the 2006 legislative scene... YDems says Senate candidate Pete Ashdown's the real deal... The World, According to Me composes a song to celebrate the opening of the legislative session... At the Senate Site blog, Sen. Parley Hellewell explains why he's "hanging up the wrench" (see also here)... Rep. Steve Urquhart has a post on the "legislative training" trend... Utah Politics features an interview with Urquhart... Charley Foster links to a story about polygamy in Chechnya... Wilf Sommerkorn has a post on New Urbanism... SLCSpin's snooping around Capitol Hill... Jennifer Killpack-Knutsen marks the opening of the legislative session by being a "radical cheerleader"... 13th floor has a post on Provo Mayor Lewis Billings' new talk show... Life is a sexually transmitted disease wants somebody to nuke Utah. … The Libertarian Party's Rob Latham compares and contrasts the composition of Utah's Legislature to Martin Luther King's vision of a more inclusive society.
Washington Watch
Hatch Regrets MLK Vote
Sen. Orrin Hatch pens op-ed saying Democrats "are left trying to hype fake issues" in wake of Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito's successful performance during last week's confirmation hearings (Human Events); Hatch said his vote against the creation of the Martin Luther King holiday was "one of the worst decisions I have made as a senator" (Los Angeles Times); columnist calls Hatch the "Senate's creepiest Republican" (Times Herald-Record).
Shorts, Briefs & Other Unmentionables
Anderson On Air America
Mayor Rocky Anderson was interviewed over the weekend by Air America/RadioNation host Laura Flanders about the Larry H. Miller/Brokeback Mountain controversy and progressive activism in Salt Lake City.
New NSLC Website
North Salt Lake City has a new website. To check it out, click here.
SUWA vs. RS 2477 Roads
The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance is encouraging its members to oppose "bogus RS 2477 highways" by emailing Gov. Huntsman, contacting their state senators and representatives, and writing letters to the editor to Utah's major newspapers. For more info, click here.
Utah Sierra Club Newsletter
Here's a belated (pdf) link to the Utah Chapter of the Sierra Club's Winter 2005-06 newsletter, which features articles on the Legacy Highway settlement, the RS 2477 highways controversy, Rep. Jim Matheson's "vote for a dangerous bill", the steps Utah should take to combat global warming, the revitalization of the Jordan River Watershed Council, and other issues.
Ashdown Town Hall Meeting
UVSC's College Democrats club will host a town hall meeting tonight at 6:30 p.m. in the Sorensen Student Center, Room 213B (UVSC campus) with Senate candidate Pete Ashdown. The meeting is free and open to the public. For more info, click here. |
