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Hatch’s Red Newsletter
Sen. Orrin Hatch has a new campaign newsletter. The first edition wishes everyone a happy new year, touts Hatch’s legislative accomplishments, asks supporters to volunteer in the campaign, spotlights volunteer Kathy Mashburn, and lists Hatch’s county campaign teams. Hatch is from a red state, and the newsletter is so red it hurts your eyes to read it.
Blog Watch
[Note: Just to clear up some confusion in the Utah blogosphere, Golden Webb (that's me -- see email address at the bottom right) compiles the Blog Watch, not LaVarr (I'm LaVarr's son); any Blog Watch nefariousness should be blamed on Golden, not LaVarr.]
Rep. Steve Urquhart has a post on the food tax... Reach Upward says Mitt Romney doesn't deserve conservatives' support (see also here)... Paul Rolly has a post on an upcoming Lincoln Club meeting "in which most Republican congressional candidates and several Salt Lake County hopefuls will strut their stuff"... Slam Smith endorses toll roads... Part of the Plan has found (and posted) that talismanic Pres. Bush-with-Jack Abramoff photo everyone's been looking for... Jennifer Killpack-Knutsen has a post on her "baring" witness for peace experience... The World, According to Me issues a challenge: "If you can name me one 'Scientific Theory' [about the origins of life] other than evolution, I will give you $5" (see also here and here)... Gary Thornock has a post on Utah County transit issues... Planet Legislature says it's hard for Utah GOP lawmakers to be "gracious [to Rep. Jim Matheson] when all [their] efforts to shove the guy out of office have failed"... Dee's 'Dotes has a post on West Jordan's sewage problem... OneUtah rates a mention at New West... The Warren has a post on hate crimes laws... Wilf Sommerkorn discusses Facilities of Regional Significance... SLCSpin has a couple posts on S.B. 156.
Podcast Watch
Jennifer Napier-Pearce’s InsideUtah.com podcast this week features former State Rep. Matt Throckmorton on seeking solutions to illegal immigration (:48); and political consultant LaVarr Webb and citizen watchdog Claire Geddes on showing who's boss at the state legislature (7:07).
Wimmer to Challenge Hogue
Republican Carl Wimmer, a law enforcement officer for more than a decade, will challenge incumbent Rep. David L. Hogue for the GOP nomination in House District 52. “My life and career have been guided by two of the most important things in life: Personal values and public service,” Wimmer said. “That is why my campaign will be about the most consequential issues facing Utah today, and I intend to take my campaign directly to the people.”
Wimmer said he will focus on making Utah schools world class and expanding economic opportunity. His policy goals are fiscal responsibility, elimination of the sales tax on food, merit pay for teachers, earmarking 65 cents of every school dollar to classroom needs, school choice and tort reform.
Washington Watch
The Hatch Report
At the invitation of his son Jess, Sen. Orrin Hatch visits Wellesley High School in Massachusetts, answering questions ranging from U.S. Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito to the war in Iraq (Wellesley Townsman); Hatch says the battle over Alito and the judiciary is a fight "over whether we should stick with the system America’s founders established" (Baptist Press), and that Democrats "are so intent on manufacturing a case against [Alito] that they brush aside this seemingly minor detail of his qualifications as if it were just an annoyance" (Washington Post); Hatch is accused of hypocrisy over the Alito hearings by lefty news outlet (Political Cortex); says he wants to avoid disagreement within the patent industry as Congress prepares to rewrite patent legislation (Dow Jones/Associated Press); Hatch supports a coalition of groups putting pressure on automakers to build flexible fuel hybrid vehicles (AutoWeek); is co-sponsoring bill that aims to combat U.S. gang violence (Daily Bulletin).
Cannon Calls for Leadership Elections
Rep. Chris Cannon signs petition with 18 other House Republican lawmakers that calls for across-the-board House GOP leadership elections on Feb. 2 (The Hill).
Glen Canyon Institute's 10th Anniversary
The Glen Canyon Institute, an environmental group dedicated to "restoring a healthy Colorado River through Glen Canyon," is celebrating its 10-year anniversary. To read the anniversary message of Richard Ingebretsen, the Institute's president, click here.
Health Care Bill
Rep. Steve Mascaro is sponsoring HB 122, designed to stimulate economic development and cover many of Utah’s working uninsured by allowing small businesses (2-50 employees) to buy into the Public Employee Health Plan, a private not-for-profit health care trust fund. Premium costs for participating businesses will be significantly lower by virtue of the administrative efficiency, economies of scale, and community rating (pooling or spreading of risk) that are the hallmarks of PEHP.
Casual Friday
Winter Fishing
For hardy fishers, winter can be a great time to get out of the smog of the valleys and into the (relatively) warm sunshine on lakes and streams. Ice fishing is a relaxing, enjoyable way to wind down and spend a Saturday morning. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources provides some terrific information about where to go and what they’re biting. Check out the statewide weekly fishing reports, and the fishing discussion forums. And, by the way, the cisco run is in full swing at Bear Lake. |
