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Transportation Watch
Transportation planners say 2030 plan must be accelerated or congestion will quickly become intolerable. Check out all the transportation news links here.
USTAR Update
USTAR is Utah’s Moonshot
By LaVarr Webb
The value of USTAR isn’t just in the direct research teams it will attract and the direct jobs and businesses it will create. USTAR is much bigger than that. Part of its enormous value is what it says about Utah, its leaders, and Utah’s visionary approach to the Knowledge Age.
Creating and funding USTAR sends a powerful message to the scientific and technology world that Utah is open for business, that Utah is on the map, that Utah has a nurturing environment for scientists who want to make great discoveries and spin off profitable businesses. It tells these pioneering scientists that Utah is the place to commercialize their discoveries and put them within reach of consumers, making the world a better place.
In the globally-competitive, innovation-driven business environment we are entering, that is a crucial message to deliver. The reality is that the scientific world is a relatively tight community and word travels fast. The way USTAR is set up, it sends a big signal to scientists, professors and researchers that Utah is a place great work can be done, and scientists can profit from the hard work of making discoveries and breakthroughs. USTAR communicates that Utah will be competitive with any state in the nation in moving to the Knowledge Age, the age of innovation, where entire new industries and businesses will be created with high-paying jobs.
USTAR will be the catalyst to create a critical mass of researchers and businesses in carefully targeted disciplines. Businesses and researchers in these fields will say, “I have to be in Utah, because that’s where the action is, that’s where the breakthrough research is occurring.”
Through USTAR and other initiatives of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, Utah has the opportunity to create an environment for innovation, discovery and business creation that includes the complete package: funding and capital, management, legal services, financial services, skilled workers and business start-up support.
USTAR Update Archive
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News Highlights
Utahns may receive larger than expected tax cut (Deseret Morning News) but tied vote in House kills business tax break (Morning News).
Salt Lake City Council approves 'historic' new city employee benefits program (Salt Lake Tribune and Morning News).
Rep. Chris Cannon wants to ensure that federal law does not prevent states, including Utah, from granting in-state tuition to undocumented students (Morning News).
Salt Lake Tribune editorial endorses USTAR, but says other state priorities should also be funded. |
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Quote of the Day
"When Western residents wake up to the fact that the Bush administration has a . . . scheme to divest the public of its lands, I don't think people are going to like that very much."
-- Dave Alberswerth, a public lands expert with The Wilderness Society, commenting on a plan to sell some BLM and Forest Service land. But a Forest Services spokesperson said sales would only be of small parcels that are “disconnected and inefficient to manage.” (Tribune).
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Wednesday Buzz
Written by LaVarr Webb & Associates |
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Session Hits Halfway Point
Believe it or not, the legislative session is already half over. Take out the weekends and only 15 working days remain. All the big issues have yet to be resolved, but that’s perfectly normal for a legislative session. New revenue forecasts in the next week or so will provide a clearer budget picture, and the pressure of the March 1 deadline will force compromises and final action on the tough issues.
Blog Watch
Utah True Blue thinks it's spotted a gaping lacuna in UPD's Utah political coverage... The Senate site blog has a post, complete with audio, on the Senate Capital Facilities Committee's recommendations for building investment... YDems bonds with Rep. Rob Bishop over their mutual love of Dr. Pepper (see also here)... Utah Conservative says Doug Wright wasn't the right candidate to take on Rep. Jim Matheson (see also here)... Wilf Sommerkorn has a post on SB170-related bills... Jen's Green Journal thinks Sen. Orrin Hatch should retire (see also here)... Staunch Moderate notes that now even sports columnists are weighing in on Utah's evolution debate (see also here)... Mormon With an Opinion has a post on Jon Huntsman Sr.'s interview with Fox's Neil Cavuto in which they discuss Mitt Romney's Mormonism.
Washington Watch
GOP Majority at Risk?
From Charlie Cook’s latest National Journal column: “The latest Cook Political Report House Model, which uses the probabilities of each of the 435 seats changing hands, shows a net gain of six to 14 seats for Democrats. This is one notch short of the 15-seat net gain necessary to win a majority. It should also be noted, however, that these models tend to understate seat changes when there is a wave.”
The Hatch Report
Sen. Orrin Hatch and Gov. Huntsman call on Utahns to help fight the proposed Goshute N-waste dump, now that the BLM has formally re-opened public comment on granting rights of way through public lands to Private Fuel Storage (see press release); Hatch says veterans need asbestos compensation reform (see press release); speaks on the Senate floor in favor of S. 852, the Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution Act of 2005 (see press release); says the "current system is simply not meeting [the needs of asbestos victims] or treating them fairly" (ABC News).
Federal $$ For Commuter Rail
Pres. Bush's proposed 2007 transportation budget includes $80 million for a "43-mile, eight-station commuter rail project [that] will provide the areas of Pleasant View, Ogden, Clearfield, Layton, and Bountiful with direct access to downtown Salt Lake City. The commuter rail line will serve nearly 12,000 weekday riders, including 6,100 daily new riders, by 2025" (see press release).
Tucker Supports “Natural Family”
Joe Tucker, congressional candidate in the 2nd District, has issued a statement supporting the City of Kanab's endorsement of the Natural Family. “We need civic leaders with the courage to stand up for morality and the family. The Kanab city council has my support,” Tucker said. For more information, see Tucker’s website.
Sumsion to Run in District 56
Ken Sumsion, a CPA and consultant to BYU Financial Solutions, has announced his candidacy in House District 56, currently held by Rep. David Cox. Sumsion said he will run a “campaign of common sense and new ideas. I am running to be a citizen legislator, not a professional politician. My campaign will focus on the essential things in life and the necessary things in government, and I’ll offer a fresh perspective to every voter in the district.”
Sumsion said he has been endorsed by American Fork Mayor Heber Thompson and civic leaders Richard and Barbara Winder. He said his top priorities will be government accountability and better schools, including school choice. |
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Wednesday
February 8, 2006
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Please submit calendar items to Daily@UtahPolicy.com
- Feb 8: Legislative meetings scheduled throughout day. See Legislative calendar for details.
- Feb 8: Utah League of Women Voter's daily legislative update on KCPW 88.3 FM, 7:45 a.m.
- Feb 8: Speaker Greg Curtis to attend Boys & Girls Club Breakfast, 8 a.m.
- Feb 8: Gov. Huntsman to meet with Boys & Girls Club 2007 Youth of the Year Recipients, 9:45 a.m., Governor's Office.
- Feb 8: Midday Metro on KCPW at 10 am: legislative update from Julie Rose; an evaluation of the Middle East situation with Ibrahim Karawan, director of the Middle East Center at the University of Utah; activist Holly Near and Valerie Larabee, executive director of the GLBT Community Center of Utah, talk about Winterfest 2006; and Jesse Prinz, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, talks about Neuroscience and Moral Psychology, the topic of the 2006 University of Utah Philosophy Colloquium.
- Feb 8: Hinckley Institute of Politics Forum "You Can Make a Difference," 10:45 a.m. A discussion with Pamela Atkinson, Community Homeless Advocate; Matt Minkevitch, Executive Director The Road Home; Jill Anderson, Executive Director, Citizens Against Physical and Sexual Abuse; Commissioner Palmer DePaulis, Utah State Tax Commissioner.
- Feb 8: RadioWest on KUER FM 90: "The 2006 State Budget," 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. As Utah lawmakers look at a billion dollar state surplus, decisions must be made about how the windfall should be spent. While some at Utah's Capitol Hill caution discipline, others see an opportunity to reduce taxes or to fund projects like transportation. Doug Fabrizio talks to lawmakers and analysts about spending priorities and fiscal choices in a year of plenty.
- Feb 8: Gov. Huntsman to attend KSL Primary Children's Medical Center Radio-thon, 11:20 a.m., Primary Children's Medical Center, 100 Medical Drive, Salt Lake City.
- Feb 8: National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week Press Conference, 4 p.m., South Towne Mall, 10450 S State Street, Sandy. First Lady Mary Kaye Huntsman and her daughter, Liddy Huntsman, will be in attendance.
- Feb 8: Gov. Huntsman to give Boy Scouts of America Presentation, 5:15 p.m., Governor's Office.
- Feb 9: Legislative meetings scheduled throughout day. See Legislative calendar for details.
- Feb 9: Chamber Legislative Affairs Committee, 11 a.m., Chamber, Eccles Bd. Room.
- Feb 9: Gov. Huntsman to give Welcoming Remarks at 22nd Annual Investors Choice Venture Capital Conference, 12:30 p.m., Sheraton City Centre Hotel, 150 West 500 South, Salt Lake City.
- Feb 9: Gov. Huntsman Declaration Signings, 1 p.m., Governor's Office.
- Feb 10: American Society for Public Administration Luncheon, 12 p.m., Utah State Center for the Blind, 250 N 1950 W room 227, Salt Lake City. The luncheon will address the topic: "Assisting People Who Are Homeless: Emerging Strategies for Addressing Needs." For more information see ASPA website.
- Feb 10: Cache County Republicans Lincoln Day Dinner, keynote address by Senator Hatch. Governor Huntsman and local legislators will speak at the reception prior to dinner. Contact David Butterfield for more information at dgb1533@aol.com.
- Feb 11: Davis County Democrats monthly breakfast, 8:30 a.m., Granny Annie's Restaurant, 286 N 400 W Kaysville. Please bring an item of food (non perishable) for the Davis County Food Bank. Special guests, Kim R. Burningham, Chairman of the Utah State Board of Education, and Vik Arnold, Communications Director for the Utah Education Association will be present. Bring your questions concerning Utah Education issues now being debated by the Legislature.
- Feb 11: Senator Orrin Hatch meeting to discuss issues affecting Northern Utah, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Lindquist Alumni Center, Weber State University, 1305 41st Street, Ogden. Please RSVP to kitty.dunn@orrin2006.com or call 801-856-0267.
- Feb 11: Utah Rally for Peace presents free special screening of "911 In Plane Site" by David von Kleist, and "The Great Conspiracy, The 9/11 News Special You Never Saw," by Barry Zwicker, 2:15 to 5 p.m., Salt Lake City Main Library, Meeting Room C located in the basement at 210 E. 400 S. David von Kleist is a radio personality in Missouri with a show called "The Power Hour." Barry Zwicker is a Canadian TV Journalist who produced this 75 minute show for Canadian Television.
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- See the entire calendar
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