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The Week Ahead
Week two of the Legislature gets rolling with plenty of intrigue over tax cuts, particularly the sales tax on food. To check out committee notices and agendas, click through to the Legislature’s monthly calendar. The Legislature’s Web site also publishes a House weekly calendar and a Senate weekly calendar.
Stephenson to Appear on Midday Metro
According to KCPW's Midday Metro blog, Sen. Howard Stephenson will face off with Jim McConkie of an organization called TRUE, which has said the senator has a conflict of interest. The appearance is for today at 10:15 a.m.
Get to Know Your Legislators
Name: Sen. Carlene Martin Walker
Occupation: State Senator, District 8, Representing Cottonwood Heights City, Midvale, Sandy, Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons
Education: BS BYU
Growing up: San Francisco Bay Area.
Fondest memory: Walking around Rome for a week with my husband, sightseeing and eating great Italian food.
Childhood ambition: Being a great ice skater…but I never learned.
Family: Husband Gordon, 4 married children, 9+ grandchildren.
Why politics: After my children were raised and gone I wanted to make a difference in our community.
My perfect day: Hanging out with my family. There’s nothing better. They’re my best friends.
Hobbies: Travel.
First job: Graveyard shift at the United Airlines flight kitchen at San Francisco International….at least I think that was it. That summer was a blur due to lack of sleep.
Motivations/ambitions: Making a better world for my grandchildren.
Hottest issue you're watching: My credit freeze bill. I’ve been working on it for two years!
Biggest challenge: Getting all the stakeholders on board with my credit freeze bill.
Alarm clock: My insomniac husband.
Proudest moment: When my oldest daughter, Kimberly, was born.
Political ideology: Minimize government regulation and intrusion.
Soundtrack: Abba’s greatest hits. I loved them the first time around.
Personal motto/mission statement: No success compensates for failure in the home.
Most embarrassing moment: When I was on a date with my future husband and I met his current fiancé. He had some explaining to do. Some people will do anything for a vote.
Inspiration: Barbara Bush
Retreat: My home office…when all my emails are caught up.
Favorite book: My Grandfather, Samuel Martin’s autobiography.
Favorite movie: My Fair Lady
Indulgence: Chocolate…no nuts, no fruit, no caramel, just chocolate.
Mentor: My husband
A small insight into my psyche: I love to work with women who have dreams.
My top priority for the 2006 session: My credit freeze bill.
Hot issue in 2006 session: What to do with the surplus, whether to call it one-time or ongoing.
The 2006 session will be remembered for: How we handle the surplus.
The surplus: Don’t call it ongoing. Work on Education and Transportation and replenish the Rainy Day Fund.
Transportation: Critical to Economic Development. We need to enable Public Private Partnerships to build the Mountain View Corridor.
USTAR: An exciting endeavor. We need to do it right. And fund it adequately.
My district is cool because: I represent the greatest ski resorts in the world Alta, Snowbird, Solitude and Brighton.
I like serving in the Legislature because: The most wonderful feeling in the world is to help someone solve a problem.
My philosophy of government: Government shouldn’t do something that the private sector can do.
Running for political office is: An emotional rollercoaster.
Washington Watch
Cannon: Fence Idea Won't Fly
Rep. Chris Cannon says proposal to build 700-mile fence on U.S.-Mexico border to keep out illegal immigrants is "all but certain to change," predicting that "a final bill will likely include a relatively small fence provision but not the entire proposal"; also, Cannon endorses "the call for the Republican Conference [of the U.S. House of Representatives] to hold across-the-board elections for all leadership positions" (see press release).
Blog Watch
OneUtah explains "why we need blogs like OneUtah"... At the Senate Site blog, Sen. Pete Knudson has an audioblog post on how the Senate Majority reached its tax cut target... Paul Rolly says Rep. LaVar Christensen's hired national strategist Eddie Mahe to help him unseat Rep. Jim Matheson... Red State Rabble says fundamentalists like Sen. Chris Buttars turn believers into atheists (see also here and here)... Part of the Plan says it "will pay a reward of FIVE DOLLARS to anybody who produces a transcript from any school accredited by the State of Utah that shows that [Buttars] has ever passed ANY science course"... Planet Legislature says: If you are gay and a friend of Buttars (yes, he has to agree that you are his friend), [we'll] award you a prize: two tickets to see Brokeback Mountain".... Drinking Liberally recaps a Pete Ashdown speech... The UAC blog recaps the Legislative Session's first week... Woods Cross Citizen says HB101 is a small step in the right direction... Gazelem questions the latest Dan Jones/D-News poll... Utah Conservative defends Rep. Chris Cannon's ethics... Charley Foster uncovers this Michael Moore quote (from Moore's open letter to Canadian voters): "But seriously, I know you're not going to elect a guy who should really be running for governor of Utah"... Wilf Sommerkorn has a long post on "the integrity of community planning."
Tinsley To Run in District 61
John Tinsley, a small businessman from Orem, will seek the seat of Rep. Margaret Dayton, who is  running for a Senate position. Tinsley said he wants to use his experience as a small business owner, his hands-on legislative experience, and his work in the community to represent the people of House District 61. He currently serves as a Republican Precinct Chair, as the Vice Chair of the Provo Freedom Festival Committee, as District Chair of the Orem City Neighborhoods in Action, and in many other local and state organizations.
“It is important that we bring more real world business experience to the State Legislature,” Tinsley said. “I have had to deal with the hardships our bureaucracy can force on small business owners and I am proud of the work I did to eliminate excessive government impositions and regulations on small business. I will bring a no nonsense approach to protecting our citizens from the abuses that hurt us all.”
Tinsley is the father of four children. He said he understands the value of an excellent education. “I am dedicated to ensuring the highest standards of education for all of Utah’s children.”
The candidate said he has been preparing, organizing, and actively working on the race since the summer of 2005, and already has the support of many delegates, community and business leaders, and elected officials. He also has raised over $15,000, with a fundraiser planned to raise at least another $10,000 in the coming month. |
