News Highlights

After hearing that if the state doesn’t invest in technology it will “become one of the best-educated, smartest call centers in the world,” the Senate gives unanimous support to the USTAR economic development initiative (Salt Lake Tribune, Deseret Morning News and Daily Herald).

Utah's races for the U.S. House and Senate have a theme of personally financed challengers versus well-stocked incumbents, according to year-end reports filed with the Federal Election Commission (Morning News).

Secretive National Security Agency expanding its operations to Utah (Tribune).

Quote of the Day

“Why is the CDC not interested in this science? Are officials there more interested in politics or in protecting the government's reputation than in science?”

-- Morning News editorial arguing that with scientific evidence accumulating, the federal Center for Disease Control owes it to all Americans to fund comprehensive research that explains exactly what were the harmful effects of the nuclear testing program.

Blog Watch

The Senate Site blog says Sen. Al Mansell "will revise SB170 -- or put out a different bill -- to address the responsibility of local governments to follow their own ordinances and spend impact fees appropriately" (see also here, here, and here)... Utah Politics features a post by the State Board of Education's Kim R. Burningham... Reach Upward has another post on Utah's budget surplus... New West has a post on the Kane County/Grand Canyon Trust flap... Says Paul Rolly: "When you are the 800-pound gorilla, like the Republican behemoth in the Utah Legislature, you get to be a bully, if you so choose, and the Republicans obviously choose to do so"... More from HazZzmat and Charley Foster on the WaPo's "Utahns are Bush-supporting rubes" story (see also here, here, and here)... Mountain View Corridor counsels doing away with federal earmarks... The UAC blog says "even the bills with the best of intentions might have unintended consequences"... OneUtah says, "There seems to be a paucity of will on the hill these days to address real issues that impact kids and education"... Planet Legislature says lobbyists have commandeered Capitol Hill (see also here)... Utah Conservative supports Rep. Margaret Dayton's HB352... Dee's 'Dotes features a dialogue between Sen. Chris Buttars and an amphibious rodent... Messenger and Advocate has a post on the LDS Church and hate crimes legislation.

Washington Watch

Cannon: Tiahrt for Majority Whip

Rep. Chris Cannon supports Kansas GOP Congressman Todd Tiahrt for House majority whip (The Hill).

Hatch Sponsoring Opiod Dependence Symposium

Sen. Orrin Hatch to co-sponsor a Senate Symposium highlighting the success of office-based treatment for opioid dependence using buprenorphine (see press release).

Matheson: Amend Housing Act

Rep. Jim Matheson is co-sponsoring bill that would amend the National Housing Act by removing the existing cap of 250,000 reverse mortgages that HUD can insure at any given time (Mortgage101.com).

PETA to Governor: ‘Pardon’ State Fish

The animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is asking Gov. Huntsman to declare the Bonneville Cutthroat trout, Utah's state fish, off-limits to fishing. Says PETA: "In light of scientific evidence proving that fish feel pain in the same way that all animals do, it is only a matter of time before society views cruelty to fish with the same revulsion that we feel about cruelty to dogs or cats. Imagine hooking dogs or cats through the mouth and dragging them behind your car" (see press release).

ULCT's Spring Conference

The Utah League of Cities and Towns' 2006 "Mid Year Conference" is going to be held April 6-7 at the Dixie Center in St. George. For more info. and to register, click here.

Elected Officials Birthday List

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National Headlines

Columnist praises Gov. Huntsman's call for a cut to Utah's top income-tax rate (National Review).

Columnists says likely presidential candidate Mitt Romney is strategically choosing "distance over embrace, clarity over subtlety" when it comes to Pres. Bush's policies (Washington Post).

Water officials from the Colorado River states reach agreement on a wide-ranging drought management plan that they will now propose to Interior Sec. Gale Norton (Associated Press).

Local Headlines

Deseret Morning News

- Deficit reduction will cost students

- Duo want high school bar raised

- Judge denies a motion on Summum display

- Toll roads partly private?

- A law granting in-state tuition to undocumented students is legally sound

- Incumbents hold early edge in money

- SB80 set for hearing today before Senate committee

- Polling locations shift

- A familiar face is elected to Fruit Heights City Council

- Proposed amendment fails

- Bill spotlights custody issue

- Utah House urges study of N-power

- Group wants to build luxury hotel at '02 Games site

- USTAR initiative gains early approval by Senate

- Waste-disposal-override measure goes to House

- Lawmaker looks to stop abuse of tax system

- Pre-marriage counseling may result in discount

- Resolution calls for educating minors on tobacco

- Utah business index dips

- Economy expected to grow despite concerns

- Editorial: More hints of fallout danger

Standard-Examiner

- Index: Utah economy still strong

- Editorial: Bush, rebooted

St. George Spectrum

- S. Utahns reflect on Bush's speech

- Op-ed: Give students, parents choice instead of surplus

- Editorial: HB 30 finds Lost Boys

Daily Herald

- Wells Fargo cautiously optimistic about Utah economy

- Senate passes initiative to improve Utah's tech market

- House passes DNA collection bill

- Bill looks to better Utah marriages

- Editorial: Message bills: a waste of time

Davis County Clipper

- Mayor stands firm on police chief's ouster

- Supreme court to decide land dispute venue

- Sheriff cites safety in opposing gun bill

- Open meetings law changes could seriously impact cities

- Smoking only part of clubs' concerns

- Op-ed: We could learn at lot from Jaime Lerner's leadership

- Op-ed: From the Left: Who are the ‘oddballs' at the state legislature and what are the strange issues introduced?

- Op-ed: From the Right: Who are the ‘oddballs' at the state legislature and what are the strange issues introduced?

KSL Editorial Board

- Don't dilute GRAMA

City Weekly

- Senatorial Sass: Howard Stephenson wants to restore the Senate's clout

- Air Apparent: If the best things in life are free, why is clean air along the Wasatch Front so precious?

- Game Theory: Lawmakers gunning for first-person shooters get outflanked, but the onslaught continues

Salt Lake Tribune

- Key spy agency expands to Utah

- Downtown's 'festival district' wasn't so festive

- Mullen: Moderate adjusts to life on Hill

- Ten Commandments: Trial may be next

- Senate bets millions on science

- Possible Laundromat Sales Tax Ahead

- Bill may stop SLC health insurance plan

- Gay club legislation text now available

- Bill would weaken guv's say on budget

- Cities Target Ambulance Service Measure

- House shows support for trooper crosses

- Legislature briefs

- More Legislative Briefs

- Heard on the hill

- Micron says 50 jobs in Lehi just the beginning

- Envirocare has highest volume ever in 2005

- Editorial: Grazing Allotments: Cattleman-conservationist alliance is needed

Please submit calendar items to Daily@UtahPolicy.com

- Feb 2-3: Utah Forest Products Association 1st Annual Conference, Greenwell Inn Conference Center, Price. UFPA was established in April 2005 as a non-profit organization to promote Utah’s forest products and services, including solid wood and biomass, by utilizing sound forest management practices. To learn more about the conference, visit the UFPA website.
- Feb 2: Legislative meetings scheduled throughout day.  See legislative calendar for details.
- Feb 2: Utah League of Women Voters daily legislative update on 88.3 FM KCPW, 7:40 a.m.
- Feb 2: State Chamber Winter Meetings, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., TBD.
- Feb 2: Midday Metro on KCPW 88.3 FM at 10 am: a legislative update from Julie Rose; Jim Fetzer on Scholars for 9/11 Truth; former Salt Laker Mark Oviatt talks about his two-year stint helping to rebuild Iraq; and an immigration conversation with Alex Segura of the Utah Minuteman Project and the Utah Latino Project's Tony Yapias.
- Feb 2: Lt. Gov. Herbert to chair the Utah Sports Commission Meeting, 12 p.m., 201 South Main, suite 2010.
- Feb 2: Democratic Senate candidate Pete Ashdown to speak at the Sugarhouse Rotary Club, 12 p.m., Forest Dale Golf Course Club House, 2375 S 900 E, Salt Lake City.
- Feb 2: Gov. Huntsman 2006 Economic Forecast Luncheon, 12:30 p.m., The Yarrow, 1800 Park Avenue, Park City.
- Feb 2: Utah State Chamber of Commerce Event, 2:15 p.m., State Office Building, Room 4112.
- Feb 2: Davis County Democrats Planning Committee, 7 p.m., County Commission Chambers room, Davis County Courthouse, 28 E State Street, Farmington.  All Davis Democrats are urged to attend.  The general public is also invited. For more information, email dccwc@aol.com.
- Feb 2: John Jacob for U.S. Congress event, 7 p.m., Provo City Council Chambers, 351 W Center Street, Provo. For questions or to RSVP, call Brad Jowers at 801-473-8606.
- Feb 3: Legislative meetings scheduled throughout day.  See legislative calendar for details.
- Feb 3: Utah League of Women Voters daily legislative update on 88.3 FM KCPW, 7:40 a.m.
- Feb 3: Press Conference to discuss SCR 1 – Legislative Resolution Encouraging School Boards to Adopt Policy Prohibiting Bullying In Public Schools, 9 a.m., West Building State Capitol Complex, room W110. With senator Patrice Arent, Representative Ronda Menlove, Attorney General Mark Shurtleff, and First Lady Mary Kaye Huntsman. For more information, see SCR-1 website.
- Feb 3: Midday Metro on KCPW 88.3 FM at 10 am: Howard Fineman, Newsweek's chief political correspondent, senior editor and deputy Washington bureau chief; Frank Cumberland on Community Supported Agriculture programs.
- Feb 3: Gov. Huntsman to visit with Diamond Valley Elementary School Children, 2:45 p.m., Governor's Office.
- Feb 3: John Jacob for U.S. Congress event, 7 p.m., American Fork Public Library, Program Room, 64 S 100 E, American Fork. For questions or to RSVP, call Brad Jowers at 801-473-8606.
- Feb 3: Closing the Achievement Gap for Hispanic Youth Presentation for community leaders concerned about Hispanic youth, 7 to 8:30 a.m., Lamb's, 169 S Main. Presentation by Barbara Lovejoy. For more information contact Barbara Lovejoy at 801-466-1117 or bclovejoy@msn.com.

- Feb 4: Women's Democratic Club Luncheon present U.S. Senate candidate Pete Ashdown, 11:30 a.m., Olio's Restaurant, Sheraton City Centre, 150 W 500 S, Salt Lake City. $15 at the door. To register, call 801-272-4465 or email jccoffey1954@aol.com.
- Feb 4: Utah County Republican Party Lincoln Day Dinner, UVSC Ballroom.
- Feb 4: Lt. Gov. Herbert to "Flip the Coin" at the Inaugural Game of the Utah Blaze, 6 p.m., Delta Center.
- Feb 6: State Chamber Government Affairs, 12 to 2 p.m., 4112 State Office Bldg.
- Feb 6: Lt. Gov. Herbert to keynote the Utah Association of Realtors "Day at the Legislature," 1:30 p.m.

- Feb 7: Chamber Legislative Affairs Committee, 12 p.m., Beehive Room, East Capitol.
- Feb 7: Chamber Energy Committee, 12 p.m., Chamber, Eccles Bd. Room.
- Feb 7: Hinckley Institute of Politics Forum "Careers in the Foreign Service, a meeting with Bill McGlynn, Diplomat in Residence, 12 p.m.

- See the entire calendar