The Week Ahead
One of the most interesting legislative sessions in many years comes to a close Wednesday at midnight. A number of important bills and budget decisions await action in the last three days, even though the big tax cut compromise has been agreed to by the governor, House and Senate. Representatives and senators will spend many hours on the floor, passing bills at a furious pace. See House schedule and Senate schedule.
Publisher’s Opinion
Real Education Reform Needed
I’m pleased to see a 6% increase for public education. I’d like to see teachers get more for salaries. I’m a big supporter of our public schools. My six children all attended public schools and I’m sure my grandchildren will as well.
But I’d like to see increased money for public education coupled with real education reform – as proposed by Rep. Stuart Adams in his voucher legislation. I want to improve public schools, pay teachers more, and increase overall funding for public schools. A good voucher or tuition tax credit program will do just that.
Putting parents in control of the education of their children by letting them spend the money allocated per child in the school of their choice is the most natural, fundamental and revolutionary education reform we could ever do.
I’ve watched and, in some cases, been part of the various attempts at school reform for 30 years. Most initiatives just nibble away at the edges and do nothing of substance. Giving parents control of education spending would drive improvements faster than anything else. It would happen naturally, driven from the bottom up, instead of being forced (unsuccessfully) from the top down.
Just as every product you can think of has been dramatically improved over the last 30 years by the magic of the marketplace, education would follow suit. The miracle of our economy is what results from freedom, consumer choice and competition. Turn loose the invisible hand of free markets in education and watch what happens. Give parents the money instead of giving institutions the money and watch parents do what’s best for their children. They will shop. They will compare. And the educational institutions, public and private, will improve, compete, become more efficient, and provide better service. It’s what has made our country great.
While I love public schools, I don’t love public school unions. They have killed meaningful school reform over and over again. It doesn’t matter how reasonable the program. I could absolutely prove that vouchers wouldn’t hurt public schools, would help them, and would result in more money in public schools and, guess what, the union would still oppose vouchers.
They are not reasonable on this issue. It has become a religious crusade for them. It’s not about what’s best for kids and families. It’s about maintaining power and monopoly.
And so, the union appears on the verge of killing school choice once again this session. Legislators who know the right thing to do are fearful of union retribution. But the union eventually will lose. The tide is turning and they can’t hold back destiny. There’s too much at stake – the future of our children and grandchildren.
National Politics
Demos Expect Gubernatorial Success
Trailing 28-22 in governorships, Democrats have a chance to pull even or win a majority this year, according to New York Times story. Twenty-two Republican governor seats are up for election this year, compared to only 14 Democratic seats. And a number of open Republican seats are in traditionally Democratic states.
Candidate Tracking Service
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Check out Utah Policy Daily’s candidate tracking service and be sure to send us information about congressional, legislative, State School Board and 2007 SLC mayoral candidates.
The tracking service is not entirely up-to-date yet, but we’re working to check off progress of candidates. You can also get to the candidate listings by clicking Candidate Tracking in the blue navigation bar at the Utah Policy Web site.
Washington Watch
Hatch Favors Bush's HSA Proposal
Some Senate Finance Committee members believe senior citizens trying to choose between Medicare Advantage Plans are confronted with too many choices, but Sen. Orrin Hatch says the competition drives down costs (Associated Press); Hatch comes out strongly in favor of Pres. Bush's health savings account proposal (Heartland Institute); Hatch announces that "Okland Construction Company, Inc., received a $17.4 million contract to build a new Software Support Facility at Hill Air Force Base" (see press release).
Joined at the Hip?
In 2005, Sens. Hatch and Bob Bennett voted together more than any other senators from any one state (National Journal).
Bennett Apologizes for UVSC Comments
Sen. Bennett apologizes for telling UVSC students and faculty that a legendary U.S. House speaker took cash from lobbyists (Associated Press).
Ratings of Utah Congressmen
How do members of Utah’s congressional delegation rate on the various liberal/conservative voting scorecards? Check them out at National Journal’s vote ratings roundup.
New MAG Newsletter
The Mountainland Association of Governments has posted a PDF file of its February newsletter. This month's edition discusses MAG's 2006 Consolidated Plan, resources available to help seniors select a Medicare Prescription Drug Program, and an economic development project in Pleasant Grove. To read it, click here.
Blog Watch
Wonkette (via the New York Post) claims Sen. Orrin Hatch said the following about Sen. Hillary Clinton: “I hear Bill is driving her nuts. Apparently, she came home the other day, saw him on the sofa and yelled at him to turn off 'Oprah,' get off his butt, and pick up the towels on the bathroom floor. And Bill said, 'Don't try that stuff with me. You're trying to run this place like the House of Representatives… and you know what I mean.'”… The Senate Site blog features a video "on the difficulties of hammering out a balanced state budget"... Rep. Steve Urquhart discusses the budget deal... The DrewL Bucket says Utahns "are in a state of confusion about what constitutes danger to their children" (see also here and here)... Out of Control predicts doom for Provo's iProvo municipal fiber service... Centerville Citizen discusses Wal-Mart's impact on communities... Part of the Plan says the "vast majority of problems with the Republican-majority Utah legislature lies with the Republican-majority Senate"... The Utah Amicus spotlights several Democratic candidates from various Utah races... Paul Rolly says Nancy Workman's on the comeback trail... Utah Democrats surveys Democratic successes and near misses from last week's legislative action... Third Party Watch introduces the world to Roger I. Price, who's "running as the Personal Choice Party’s candidate for U.S. Senate in Utah" against Sen. Hatch... Vox Bibliothecae has an in-depth post about the proposed Goshute N-waste site.
Think Tank Profile
CPPA Provides Independent Research
The Center for Public Policy & Administration (CPPA) is a public policy research and academic center that is housed within the College of Social and Behavioral Science at the University of Utah.
CPPA provides independent research for policymakers and the general public on issues of concern to the citizens of Utah and the Intermountain West. The Center brings the resources of University research staff, including the expertise of faculty and graduate students, to inform policy discussions and evaluate the effectiveness of existing policies or public programs.
The research conducted by CPPA is intended to inform public policymaking through policy briefing papers, more in-depth research studies and longitudinal data bases. The Center is not an issue advocacy organization.
In addition to policy research, CPPA provides a variety of outreach services to public and nonprofit organizations. These services include: management, leadership and organizational development services, technical assistance and consulting, learning opportunities for public associations, sponsorship of the Utah Intergovernmental Roundtable, a consortium of legislative, executive, state agency, city and county leaders working on inter-local issues, and facilitation for policy development.
CPPA receives funding through contracts with various public entities to complete the needed research for policy development, and through contracts for outreach services.
Current research areas include: nuclear waste, higher education, K-12 education, elections, governance, taxation, social security, local government finance, budgeting in the western states, and aging.
The Aging Study, completed for the Utah Department of Human Services, looks at the impact of Utah’s aging population on state services, to create cost effective and time sensitive public policy.
The Utah SSDI ‘1 for 2’ project tests changes to Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) policies. Current SSDI rules discourage individuals from working. Social Security Administration wants to discover how to change their policies so SSDI recipients can increase their employment and earnings without losing all of their cash benefits.
CPPA is currently performing a study on the laws and regulations in all 50 states related to vote counts and recounts for the Federal Election Assistance Commission to promote best practices in the area of vote counting and recounting.
Twice a year CPPA conducts an Omnibus Policy Survey to see what the public views as important policy issues and how their governments are performing.
CPPA administers the University of Utah’s Master of Public Administration (MPA) and Master of Public Policy (MPP) degree programs, and a Demography Certificate Program.
The MPA is an interdisciplinary degree that builds professional knowledge and operating competence for the experienced public administrator or the student seeking a career as a manager in public or nonprofit agencies.
The MPP provides students who want to work in the field of policy analysis with the skills and expertise needed to be successful in the labor market. With a solid foundation in theory, analysis, and evaluation with a range of interdisciplinary emphases, graduated students are qualified to analyze and evaluate public policy in a variety of fields.
The Demography Certificate Program addresses issues that cover an important constellation of social, economic, and biological forces affecting the structure and dynamics of human populations.
CPPA is looking forward to providing even more research and services as it joins other University of Utah departments in forming the Institute for Public and International Affairs (IPIA). By combining with other groups, IPIA will expand the University of Utah's analytical research for use in public policy decision-making and strengthen outreach to individuals, groups, and agencies in Utah and surrounding states that shape and influence public policy.
For more information about CPPA offerings and to see CPPA research publications, please visit www.cppa.utah.edu. |
