Today's political briefing: Key developments
and analysis for Utah policymakers
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Paid Advertorial
Democracy at Work
Parents for Choice in Education publishes an essay by former Sen. Steve Poulton about the common practice of interest groups targeting legislators who disagree with them. See below.
USTAR Update
New Buildings are Crucial to USTAR Success
The USTAR economic development initiative includes funding for state-of-the-art research buildings at Utah State and the University of Utah. These buildings are critical in attracting the best researchers in the world in specialized, targeted disciplines with high potential for business spinoffs.
Utah must have world-class research facilities for the scientists to work in. Otherwise, they are less likely to come to Utah. To do groundbreaking research, they need the latest laboratory equipment and facilities. The top scientists with the best commercialization records are a little like professional sports stars. They are in high demand and it takes a complete package to recruit them. Some of these teams include as many as 70 scientists, researchers, lab assistants and graduate assistants. With as many teams as will be recruited, new facilities are absolutely needed.
The new facilities will also take at least three years to complete. Research teams recruited will be housed in temporary quarters until then, so it’s important to get started on the facilities as soon as possible.
In addition to these buildings, five Innovation Centers with close ties to the research teams will be located at other higher education facilities to foster research and business creation all over the state. Through these five centers, all parts of the state will be able to participate in and take advantage of the USTAR initiative.
Transportation Watch
Texas Rep. Mike Krusee makes an eloquent case for tolling and public private-partnerships. Check it out in yesterday’s Transportation Watch (scroll down). |
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News Highlights
Gov. Huntsman and House Republicans reach an impasse with the Senate over Utah's budget (Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret Morning News).
In op-ed piece, Sens. David L. Thomas, Greg Bell, Michael Waddoups and Tom Hatch say funding crucial state needs is more important than cutting the tax on food. (Tribune).
Sen. Orrin Hatch, Rep. Rob Bishop, and Rep. Jim Matheson question Pres. Bush's port plan, but Sen. Bob Bennett sides with the President, saying the UAE is a "reliable ally in the war on terror" (Tribune).
Private Fuel Storage faces a few more steps before it has final approval to ship high-level nuclear waste to Utah (Morning News).
KSL editorial board beats up on Legislature over ethics reform. |
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Quote of the Day
“I don't always agree with what Bernick has to say, and he knows that. But this time I have to thank him for the wake-up call. As leaders in the Legislature, it is time for us to lead and help legislators in the House and Senate develop a greater respect for their positions and for the people we serve. Consider that my pledge.”
-- Op-ed by House Majority Leader Jeff Alexander, responding to a column by Political Editor Bob Bernick (Morning News). |
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Thursday Buzz
Written by LaVarr Webb & Associates |
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Candidate Tracking Service
Are You On the List?
With an election year dead ahead, Utah Policy Daily is firing up its candidate tracking service, listing the candidates who are running for various offices and tracking them through the process. So far we have posted mostly incumbents, and we haven’t filled in the details with Xs noting progress.
We will rely on readers and candidates to provide information for the listings, so please let us know if you’re aware of someone who is interested in running or is progressing through the process. We will link candidate names to their Web sites or blogs, so please provide that information as well. We are tracking congressional candidates and from there you can click on House and Senate candidates, county candidates, State School Board candidates and even 2007 SLC mayoral candidates. You can also get to the candidate listings by clicking Candidate Tracking in the blue navigation bar at the Utah Policy Web site.
The candidate tracking service can be a great resource if everyone will send candidate information to daily@utahpolicy.com. You might want to check to see if your name is listed. You never know when you might be mentioned by the Great Mentioners.
Utah Voter Poll
Utahns Support Voting Reforms
As Utah considers changes to election law, the BYU Utah Voter Poll asked voters to respond to various reform proposals.
- 44.2% of voters “strongly agree or somewhat agree” that voters should be allowed to vote 14 days before election day; 34.5% somewhat or strongly disagreed.
- 53.5% of voters “strongly agree or somewhat agree” that citizens should be allowed to register and then vote on election day.
- 70% of voters “strongly agree or somewhat agree” that voters should be allowed to vote in any primary election regardless of their party affiliation.
- Utah voters generally expressed support for the idea of common polling places that consolidate several election voting locations into a single voting place.
See all of the poll results and the survey methodology at the Utah Voter Poll website.
Blog Watch
Political State Report has a post on the domestic-partner benefits feud between Mayor Rocky Anderson and the SLC Council... Reach Upward asks: "Do Mormons really love Pres. Bush?" (see also here)... Senate candidate Pete Ashdown responds to Sen. Orrin Hatch's Saddam/Al Qaeda comments by making a broader point about the power of the Internet... The UAC blog says SB113 has been "one of the most difficult bills for UAC staff to deal with this Legislative Session"... Wilf Sommerkorn has a roundup of planning-related legislative news... Dee's 'Dotes says Utah lawmakers have the right idea but the wrong motivation when it comes to toll roads... Political Gospel of Mark reveals what a typical day at UPD looks like.
Local Watch
Mayor’s Veto Statement
The Salt Lake City Mayor's Office has posted a PDF file of Rocky Anderson's "Statement of Objections" to the City Council's "adult designee" benefits plan. To read it, click here.
Washington Watch
Reid: Faint Praise for Leavitt
Nevada Sen. Harry Reid says HHS Sec. Mike Leavitt has a "great heart," but isn't doing enough to protect Americans from a flu pandemic (Las Vegas Sun).
Orrin Hatch = Tim Wakefield?
Article at conservative news outlet/blog comparing the Boston Red Sox to Washington politicians equates Sen. Orrin Hatch with Tim Wakefield (RedState); Hatch is profiled in upcoming book titled, “Leadership: View from the Shoulders of Giants” (DailyIndia).
Cannon Applauds Grant
Rep. Chris Cannon applauds approval of a $1,125,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development for Utah County under its self-help housing technical assistance program (see press release); Cannon joins "with a bipartisan group of Representatives in introducing H.R. 4709, the Law Enforcement and Phone Privacy Protection Act of 2006" (see press release.)
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Democracy at Work
Paid Advertorial by Parents for Choice in Education
By Steve Poulton |
In Sunday’s Salt Lake Tribune, Paul Rolly chided Parents for Choice in Education for targeting legislators who have consistently voted against parental choice. If this article were the only exposure someone had to Utah politics, they would believe PCE is plowing new ground by recruiting and supporting candidates based on a single issue. Conspicuously absent from his article was any hint that other interest groups—the banks, the teachers union or the credit unions, for example—routinely recruit and support candidates based on those candidates’ stances on specific issues.
Although Mr. Rolly finds them distasteful when performed by political groups with whom he does not agree, these tactics are an inherent part of representative democracy. Interest groups, or “factions,” as Publius wrote in Federalist 10, identify, recruit and support potential candidates who embrace their vision, and candidates in turn ask voters to embrace that vision.
Perhaps the clearest example of an interest group targeting a legislator over a single issue is former Rep. Chad Bennion. In 2002 he and Sen. Howard Stephenson sponsored the Voluntary Contributions Act (VCA), which required unions to obtain explicit permission from their members before collecting political contributions from them. Since then, the UEA PAC has been hemorrhaging political dollars. As numerous reports have documented, their donations have declined by 90 percent, and their cash on hand has fallen by more than 50 percent.
Determined not to be the only one who lost in that fight, the teachers union painted a target on Rep. Bennion’s back, and went after him in the 2004 elections. They recruited Tim Cosgrove to run, and gave him $6,048.91. In total, all Utah unions gave him $10,248.91, or 37.5 percent of his contributions. Coupling their generous donations with thousands of hours of volunteer help for Cosgrove, the UEA ousted Rep. Bennion.
The 2000, 2002 and 2004 campaigns featured banks and credit unions squaring off in House district 13. Elected in 2000, Rep. Paul Ray received $12,936—43.8 percent of his total that year—from Utah credit unions. In 2002 the banks helped elect Rep. Dana Love, despite Rep. Ray receiving another $6,479 from the credit unions. The 2004 campaign reprised the banks and credit unions squaring off in the race, with the credit unions and Rep. Ray prevailing.
Individually, these sums may not sound like much. The UEA’s overall political spending offers a glimpse at the larger picture. Since January 7, 2002, they have spent $753,253 on various candidates, and their parent organization, the NEA, has spent another $371,300 just in Utah. The thousands of hours their members devote in support of their political agenda are probably worth twice that much.
Not surprising, for those who understand the liberal agenda of the teachers Union, is the divergence between the UEA’s political giving, and the political affiliation of their members. While they have approximately 5 Republican members for every 1 Democrat; they give approximately $7 to Democrat candidates for every $1 they give to Republicans.
Of course, that divergence is entirely within their prerogative. They are just as welcome, and history shows them quite adept, at using the tactics Mr. Rolly finds distasteful in the activities of Parents for Choice in Education. This is, after all, representative democracy at work.
And quite frankly, it is delightful to see an organization like Parents for Choice in Education take on historically the most powerful special interest group in the state, the teachers union. The education lobby—led by the teachers union—has long been without a counterbalance of any kind. To absolutely no one’s surprise, their consistent mantra has been to protect and expand the status quo to their benefit. Unfortunately, that agenda has too often harmed Utah children.
A former State Senator, Steve Poulton is on the board of Parents for Choice in Education. |
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Thursday
February 23, 2006
National Headlines
Article takes in-depth look at the NRC's licensing of the proposed Goshute N-waste site (Christian Science Monitor).
Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm defends her proposed health care plan for the uninsured, which was modeled on a program former Gov. Mike Leavitt instituted in Utah (The Oakland Press).
Number of people involved in polyamorous marriage relationships estimated to be in the tens of thousands, and are not confined to Utah polygamists (Columbia News Service).
Local Headlines
Salt Lake Tribune
- 3 Utahns in Congress question ports plan
- Senate digs in heels on budget
- Real seeks $41M for stadium in Sandy
- Waste fight nets state a hefty bill
- SLC to weigh new rules for dogs, cats
- State officials say tribe is a sham, fight millions in arbitration claims
- School boards say vouchers are not legal
- Real seeks $41M for stadium in Sandy
- No beer to be sold at stadium?
- Hopefuls scramble to fill Clearfield mayor job
- Utah, Idaho counties may team up
- Developer again sues Provo over land plan
- Legislative Briefs
- Education reform bill hits obstacles but passes
- Colleges steamed over size of their share of state surplus
- Heard on the hill
- Bill would fix the cell phone law
- School clubs: Debate boils up
- Residents along the Wasatch shell out more
- Black chamber opening on Friday
- Communications Systems-West celebrates 50 years in spy biz
- Op-ed: Revenue surplus not big enough to drop the food tax
- Editorial: Employee Benefit Plan: Council should let mayor's veto stand, await court ruling
Standard-Examiner
- Report: Cost of living for Wasatch Front residents higher during January
St. George Spectrum
- Matheson to meet veterans, discuss health care issues
- Legislature honors USF founder
- Lobbyists will speak on immigration reform
Daily Herald
- Clubs debate centers on morality
- Division of Wildlife pleads for donations
- Provo fiber-optic network could be done ahead of schedule
- NRC makes license for Utah nuke storage facility official
- E-waste to be studied
- Education reform bill passes House
- Committee passes bill on textbooks
- School fee waiver bill moves on to Senate
- Hate crimes bill undergoes revision
- House OKs bill targeting cold medication
- Editorial: Toll road an unfair burden
City Weekly
- Just Testing: Is the U.S. government making anthrax bombs in Utah?
- The Gift Keepers: Lobbyist gift bills stray from the herd, only to be slaughtered in Howard Stephenson's "lion's den"
- Hunting RINOs: Fed up with school-choice laggards, a Salt Lake Republican sets out to teach some party members a lesson
- The Ocho: Eight campaign slogans for Rep. LaVar Christensen
- 5 Spot: Talk show host Jim Sumpter on liberals, O'Reilly and groupies
- Editorial: Perhaps this Legislature's slew of anti-gay bills isn't about hate but a galling lack of honesty
KSL Editorial Board
- Ethics reform
Cedar City Review
- UPTAC: More than just an acronym
Deseret Morning News
- Impasse on Utah budget
- Real deal isn't ready yet
- Evolution bill may lose its 'origins of life' wording
- Council set to override benefits veto
- Mayor breaks tie for Cedar Hills Council
- Utah Demos assail Hatch's words
- N-storage license in hand, PFS faces several more steps
- Abortion bills favored
- Student-club bill progresses
- House avoids increase on liability cap
- House OKs bill requiring test for school diploma
- House debate on voucher bill delayed due to absentees
- Compromise coming on hate-crimes bill?
- House OKs bill requiring bond in radiation stays
- Funding measure would reroute 900 South trains
- House approves lowering driver's permit age to 15
- Education-reform bill is passed by the House
- Measure would restrict sale of meth ingredients
- Bill would shift oversight of Guardian Ad Litem
- Photo: Hoping to make a pitch
- Utah's division of L-3 called success story
- Utah jobs going unfilled
- Op-ed: Legislator-civility column struck a chord
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Please submit calendar items to Daily@UtahPolicy.com
- Feb 23: Legislative meetings scheduled throughout day. See legislative calendar for details.
- Feb 23: Utah League of Women Voter's daily legislative update on KCPW 88.3 FM, 7:40 a.m.
- Feb 23: Lt. Gov. Herbert to speak at the annual meeting of the Special Service District Association, 9:30 a.m., Auditorium in the State Office Building at the Capitol.
- Feb 23: Gov. Huntsman KUED Monthly News Conference, 10 a.m., KUED Studios.
- Feb 23: Midday Metro on KCPW at 10 am: Capitol Hill report from Julie Rose; Robert Hill, professor and chair of the U of U's Dept. of Education Psychology, talks about his new book on Positive Aging, sustainable building concepts with Skip Greeg, CEO of Salt Lake-based Spectrum Engineers, and Auden Schendler, director of environmental affairs for Aspen Skiing Co.; and Steve Best, co-founder of the Center on Animal Liberation Affairs, on the politics of animal rights, Mother Earth, and patriotism.
- Feb 23: RadioWest on KUER FM 90: "Media and the Government," 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Last week, while discussing Senate Bill 102 which calls for lobbyist gift disclosure, Senator Howard Stephenson leveled criticism against the news media for sensational reporting. What is the relationship between the media and government and what role should the media play?
- Feb 23: Lt. Gov. Herbert to Keynote the annual meeting of the Utah Water Conservation Forum, 12 p.m., Jordan School District Office, 9361 S 300 E, Sandy.
- Feb 23: Congressman Jim Matheson to speak at Dixie State College, 2 p.m., Main State Theatre. Topics will include growth in Washington County and the future for the County. In additional, he will discuss the role of Dixie State College and make observations regarding possible curriculum developments and applicability over the next few years. There is no charge to attend.
- Feb 23: Lt. Gov. Herbert to Keynote the Manufacturer of the Year Awards Banquet, 5:30 p.m., State Room at the Capitol.
- Feb 23: Gov. Huntsman KSL's "Let Me Speak to the Governor," 6 p.m., KSL Studios.
- Feb 23: An evening with Senator Mitch McConnell to celebrate the launch of Congressman Chris Cannon’s 2006 campaign, 6 p.m. VIP reception, 7 p.m. dinner, Little America Hotel, 500 S Main, Salt Lake City. Tickets $150, VIP Reception $1000, table of 8 with 2 vip tickets $2000. To RSVP call Whitney 801-368-5777 or email rsvp@chriscannon.com.
- Feb 23: Davis County Democratic Party 2006 President's Month Dinner, 6:30 p.m., Davis Applied Technology College, 550 E 300 S, Kaysville. Dinner, Special guests, future candidates, and drawings for door prizes. Tickets are $25 per person or purchase a table for eight at $160. For tickets call 801-721-4002 or 801-543-3364.
- Feb 23: Salt Lake County Libertarian Party Meeting, 7 p.m., Rocky Mountain Pizza Company, 3977 Wasatch Blvd., Holladay.
- Feb 24: Bonding bill available to legislators by noon and final action taken on it by calendared closing time.
- Feb 24: Last day to pass bills with fiscal note of $10,000 or more.
- Feb 24: Pete Ashdown, Democratic candidate for US Senate, to speak at the Murray Chamber of Commerce Eggs and Issues Forum, 7:30 a.m., Mimi's Cafe 5300 S State, Murray. For more information contact Brett Garner at brett@pashdown.org.
- Feb 24: Hinckley Institute of Politics Forum "Terrorist Financing: Preventing Another 9/11," 10:45 a.m. Jeff Breinholt, Acting Chief, Counter terrorism Section, Criminal Division, U.S. Department of Justice.
- Feb 24: Lt. Gov. Herbert to Keynote the Opening Ceremony of the Black Chamber of Commerce, 11 a.m., 1747 S. 900 W., Salt Lake.
- Feb 24: Lt. Gov. Herbert to Keynote the Weber County Lincoln Day Dinner, 5:30 p.m., Eccles Conference Center in Ogden.
- Feb 24: Davis County Republican Party Lincoln Day Dinner, 7 p.m., Davis Conference Center, Layton. This event will feature Larry H. Miller as keynote speaker. Other invited guests include Sen. Orrin Hatch, Rep. Rob Bishop and Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert. Contact Duard Pedersen for details at dpederson@utdavisgop.org or call 801-554-1875.
- Feb 24: Salt Lake City Shundahai Network to host a series of 4 short films about nuclear waste storage and transportation: “Nuclear Power Industry Transportation Claims Debunked”, “Nuclear Waste Project Yucca Mountain”, “What’s the Deal with Yucca Mountain” and “Nuclear Energy/Nuclear Waste”, 7 p.m., Free Speech Zone, 2144 South Highland Drive, Suite 130, Salt Lake City. For more information see Shundahai Network website or call 801-533-0128.
- Feb 24: Candidate for U.S. Senate Pete Ashdown Meet and greet hosted by Dr. Raymond Ward, Lakeview Hospital Community Classroom, 630 Medical Dr, Bountiful. Discussion on Democracy 2.0 and health care solutions. For more information contact Brett Garner, 801-983-7383 or brett@peteashdown.org.
- Feb 25: Utah Rally for Peace meeting, 2:15 to 5 pm, Salt Lake City Main Library Auditorium.
- Feb 25: Lt. Gov. Herbert to Keynote the Box Elder Lincoln Day Dinner, 6 p.m., Maddox Ranch House in Perry.
- Feb 26: Last day for a motion to reconsider in 2006 General Legislative Session.
- Feb 26: Last day to consider bills from own house.
- Feb 27: General appropriations bill, supplemental appropriations bill, and school finance bill available to legislators by calendared floor time and final action taken on each bill by calendared closing time.
- Feb 27: Chamber Legislative Affairs Committee, 12 noon, Beehive Room, East Capitol.
- Feb 27: State Chamber Government Affairs, 12 to 2 pm, 4112 State Office Bldg.
- Feb 28: Chamber Board Of Governors, 7:30 am, Chamber, Eccles Bd. Room.
- Mar 1: Second supplemental appropriations bill available to legislators by calendared floor time and final action taken by noon.
- Mar 1: Last day of 2006 Legislative Session.
- Mar 1: Pete Ashdown, Democratic candidate for US Senate, to speak to Local 77 of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), 7 p.m., AFL-CIO hall 1975 W 3500 S. For more information contact Brett Garner at brett@pashdown.org.
- Mar 2: Fundraiser for Pete Ashdown, Democratic candidate for US Senate, hosted by Ceri Jones and Amy D'Amico, 5 p.m, Alta Club, 100 East South Temple Salt Lake City. For more information contact Brett Garner at brett@pashdown.org.
- Mar 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.
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- See the entire calendar
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