News Highlights

Gov. Huntsman trying to win support from other Western governors for a new national immigration policy that includes a call for a temporary guest worker program — but not blanket amnesty (Deseret Morning News and Salt Lake Tribune).

Senate, House and governor still squabbling over tax cuts (Morning News and Tribune); and highways a big winner as lawmakers set priorities for spending the surplus (Morning News).

Sen. Chris Buttars' evolution bill voted down (Morning News, Daily Herald and Tribune).

Quote of the Day

“With Utah's tremendous growth, it is high time we made a meaningful investment in protecting our watersheds, agricultural lands and community open spaces. We need to fully fund the LeRay McAllister Conservation Fund at $6 million and take a significant step toward ensuring a good quality of life for Utah's future generations.”

-- Op-ed by Robert Garff, CEO of Garff Enterprises and former House speaker (Morning News) See also Tribune editorial.  

Romney Support Groups Popping Up

Mitt Romney isn’t officially a candidate for president, but his supporters are getting organized anyway. Several websites and blogs are dedicated to tracking his every word and deed, and others are encouraging grassroots support in various states. Here are some to watch: Patrick Ruffini's Romney News Wire, Americans for Mitt, Delawareans for Romney, Ohioans For Mitt, Tennesseans for Mitt, Massachusetts for Mitt, Oval Office '08 Rankings.

Blog Watch

Planet Legislature notes what happens when politics and prayer collide on Capitol Hill... The Senate Site blog features a post by Sen. Curtis Bramble on the just-passed SB242, as well as audio of Bramble's thoughts on "short-term tax cuts vs. long term reform"... Woods Cross Citizen says HB214 is a waste of time...  Reach Upward discusses "the magic of the marketplace in education"... Utah Conservative resents assertions "that if you oppose the removal of the sales tax on food you are not a conservative"... Utah Democrats reports: "It's unanimous! [Both Sens. Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennett] fibbed to Utah citizens this week"... SLCSpin says the City Council represents SLC's "only hope for leadership" under Rocky Anderson... Paul Rolly reports: "Former State Sen. Paula Julander is considering running for her old seat in Salt Lake City's District 2 against fellow Democrat Scott McCoy"... Thoughts in a Haystack celebrates the demise of Sen. Chris Buttars' evolution bill... The Tax Foundation's Tax Policy Blog ranks the "business-friendliness" of the 50 state tax systems; Utah's system rates 18th overall (Hat Tip: Davis County Watch)... Let Your Mind Alone says East Coast liberals think left-wing Mormons are just right-wing nutjobs.

Washington Watch

Synfuels a Multibillion-Dollar Scam?

Time magazine article slams members of Congress, including Sen. Orrin Hatch, for a provision in the new budget-reconciliation bill that gives tax credits to the Utah-linked synfuel industry, which the article calls a "multibillion-dollar scam" (Time);  proposed DREAM Act legislation has lost the backing of Sen. Hatch, who now doubts it will pass (Toledo Blade).

Local Watch
Rocky's Climate Change Presentation

The Salt Lake City Mayor's Office has posted a 42-minute video of the presentation Rocky Anderson gave to the New Cities Project on climate change.

What's Up With Kanab?

A "group of concerned Americans" that objects to Kanab's Natural Family resolution (PDF file) and other recent Kanab City Council actions has created a website, What's Up With Kanab?!?, where you can sign a petition, contact Kanab city officials, and participate in a letter-to-the-editor writing campaign.

Critical Lands Planning Toolkit

The Governor's Office of Planning and Budget has produced a Critical Lands Planning Toolkit (PDF file) intended to "aid communities in defining, identifying, inventorying, mapping, and prioritizing their critical lands in an effort to find a balance between conservation and development." For more info, click here.

Media Watch

Interesting New York Times story about bad relations between the White House and the press corps that covers it.  

Reader Response

Higher Ed Also Needs Funding

By Dwayne Nielson

I'm the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Southern Utah University.  I have been reading your regular comments on the importance of USTAR and agree with your conclusions and recommendations.

The Legislature and the Governor are missing an important element in helping us move forward in economic development.  When the state had shortfalls in revenue, higher education budgets were cut, Universities were forced to reduce programs and staff positions, and salary increases for professors were frozen.  In the last few years increases in salaries for University personnel have not kept up with industry in general and Universities in other states.

Additionally, the Universities have had to cover huge increases in fuel costs and other operating cost increases by passing them on to students in the form of fees which are assessed in addition to tuition.  For the last few years both fees and tuition have continued to increase.

The result?  Fewer students are attending college.  Historically our state has been a leader in percentage of students attending college, now we are in the middle of the pack.

Currently, the legislature is working hard on funding ideas and concepts being created in the Universities through the USTAR initiative, but if we don't have the qualified workers graduating from college, we will not be able to take these ideas forward in a long-term significant way.  We will continue to suffer from what happens today - innovative companies start in Utah, get to a certain size, are bought by out of state companies who move the high paying management jobs to their home state and leave a bone for Utah; their customer care centers.

The current funding recommended by the legislature is much less than what has been requested by the Regents and Commissioner of Higher Education.  I believe their recommendations are appropriate and hope the Governor and Legislators don't miss this important component to making our state more competitive.  The Colleges and Universities need to recover from the cuts they had to endure several years ago.

Elected Officials Birthday List

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National Headlines

Article profiles Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney's wife, Anne, who's "winning praise as a warm and witty sidekick as her husband begins to spread his name and promote his possible [presidential] candidacy around the country" (Boston Globe). 

Nonsmoking club owner finds himself an unlikely champion of the right to smoke in private clubs as the Utah Legislature considers ending that privilege (Associated Press)

Local Headlines

Deseret Morning News

- Huntsman tackling immigration

- Food tax may go before Utah voters

- Amended evolution measure dies in Utah House

- Bluffdale loses land fight

- Sandy stadium deal not so hot?

- Is morale suffering in attorney office?

- Roads, technology get big cut of surplus

- Records access bill hits a snag in the Senate

- Abortion bill gets approval

- Activists rally for gay rights in 'family state'

- LDS Church rejects polygamy accusations

- Matheson requests hearing on port deal

- Fee-waiver legislation gets preliminary Senate approval

- House and Senate approve ombudsman expansion

- 'Lori Hacking bill' passes unanimously in first round

- Child-care license restriction gets initial Senate approval

- Possible ballot question

- Op-ed: Ensure quality of life for future generations

Standard-Examiner

- Editorial: Federal budget blues

St. George Spectrum

- Workforce housing committee meets Tuesday

- County seeks consultant for prairie dog plan

- Op-ed: UEA: Test the "Baker Voucher Program"

- Editorial: Pipeline is must have

KSL Editorial Board

- Keep trying Senator Hale

Daily Herald

- Attorneys argue against Buhman

- UVSC: High school classes need amping up

- Buttars' evolution bill dies in House

- Second Republican enters race for Salt Lake County district attorney

- Employers find jobs hard to fill

- Op-ed: Smoking ban violates property rights

- Editorial: College credit in high school

Salt Lake Tribune

- Bill on evolution proves unfit to survive

- Huntsman pushing immigration reform

- More hot waste in Tooele County?

- Senate: Incestuous dad knows best

- Soccer lobbyist works for all sides

- Builders win court fight with Bluffdale

- Radiation regulators being taken to court

- Educators withhold judgment on budget

- E-mail access restriction in trouble

- $2M request bypasses public

- Lawmakers adopt measure to protect physicians' apologies

- 'Natural family' resolution foes take stage in Kanab

- Protests disrupt budget meeting

- Rallying for Their Rights: Teens denounce proposed gay-club ban

- Senators want the people's advice on taxes

- Short Takes: Legislative briefs

- HBO criticized for polygamy show's ending

- PSC stands pat on decision

- Editorial: Seeing the light: Years of quiet effort finally pay off

- Editorial: Save open space: Legislature should kick in the full $6 million

Please submit calendar items to Daily@UtahPolicy.com

- Feb 25-28: Governor Huntsman in Washington D.C. for National Governor's Conference.
- Feb 28: Chamber Board Of Governors, 7:30 am, Chamber, Eccles Bd. Room.
- Feb 28: Utah League of Women Voters' daily legislative update on KCPW 88.3 FM, 7:40 a.m.
- Jan 28: Midday Metro on KCPW at 10 am: legislative update from Julie Rose; a state of the outdoor industry report from Frank Hugelmeyer, president of the Outdoor Industry Association; University of Utah geology and geophysics professor David Chapman on global warming; and Maureen Keefe, Dean of the U's College of Nursing, and Intermountain Healthcare's Nancy Nowak, chief nursing officer, on a more than $3 million grant by the healthcare giant to the college.
- Feb 28: Speaker Curtis Leadership Media Availability, 12 p.m.

- 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: Women's State Legislative Council Meeting, 11:45 a.m., State Office Building Auditorium.   Debates will be presented on "Banning Gay/Straight High School Clubs,"  "Restricting Use of Eminent Domain"  "Repeal No Child Left Behind."  Pros and cons presented in all committees.  Delegate Members and visitors invited. Visitors call for Guest Pass to Kitty Kaplan, Pres-Elect at 801-942-5133 or Suzanne Merrill, President, at 801-796-0831. For detailed information please visit www.wslcofutah.org.
- 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: Hinckley Forum "Legislative Wrap Up," 12 p.m., with Representative Ralph Becker, House Minority Leader; Speaker Greg Curtis, Speaker of the House; Representative Patricia Jones, President John Valentine, Dr. Dan Jones, President, Dan Jones & Associates (moderator).
- Mar 2: Governor Huntsman Legacy Announcement, 2 p.m., Davis County Fair Park, 151 S 1100 W, Farmington.
- 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 2: Salt Lake Friends Meeting (Quakers) Witness for Peace, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Federal Building Plaza, 125 S State Street, Salt Lake City. For more information visit the Utah Activist Calendar.
- Mar 2: Gov. Huntsman to give welcoming remarks at J.P. Morgan Chase Reception, 6 p.m., Stein Eriksen Lodge, Deer Valley.
- Mar 2: Davis County Democrats Planning Committee Meeting, 7 p.m. Davis County Courthouse, County Commission Chambers room, 28 E State Street, Farmington. All Davis Democrats are urged to attend.  The general public is also invited.
- Mar 2: Meet the Candidate Night with District Attorney Candidate Kent Morgan, 7 to 8:30 p.m., 7981 Tennyson Circle, Sandy. For questions call 801- 244-4619.
- 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.
- Mar 3: Hinckley Forum "ASUU Presidential Debate," 12 p.m., BLOC Party vs. Big Idea Party.
- Mar 3: Salt Lake City Shundahai Network will host “Trinity and Beyond,” 7 p.m., Free Speech Zone, 2144 South Highland Drive, Suite 130, Salt Lake City. In the salad days of nuclear-weapons testing, the United States detonated 331 atomic, hydrogen, and thermonuclear bombs. This film utilizes a lot of declassified footage, most of it in color. For more information see Shundahai Network website, or call. 801-533-0128.
- Mar 6: Hinckley Forum "Ethics and Partisanship," 10:45 a.m. Congressman Orval Hansen (R-ID, 1968-1975), Congressman Jim Lloyd (D-CA, 1974-1980).
- Mar 7-17: 2006 election candidate filing period.
- Mar 9: Hinckley Forum "Money and Politics," 8 a.m. Kirk Jowers, Director, Hinckley Institute of Politics; Associate Professor, University of Utah; Director of Academic Affairs for Campaign Legal Center.
- Mar 9: Davis County Central Committee Meeting/Caucus Training, 7 p.m., DATC in Kaysville (behind Davis High). This meeting is for all precinct chairs and vice chairs, as well as all elected officials.
- Mar 9: Constitution Party of Utah Davis County General Meeting, 7 p.m., Kaysville Library, 44 N Main, Kaysville. Questions contact Jorgina Hancock at 801-298-0430.
- Mar 11: Utah Rally for Peace meeting, 2:15 to 5 p.m., Salt Lake City Main Library, meeting room C.
- Mar 13: Pete Ashdown, Democratic candidate for US Senate, to speak to the Hurricane Rotary Club, 12 p.m., JB's Restaurant, 635 W. State, Hurricane. For more information contact Brett Garner at brett@pashdown.org.
- Mar 14: Pete Ashdown, Democratic candidate for US Senate, to speak to the Cedar City Rotary Club, 12:15 p.m., Sullivan's Steak House, 301 S. Main Street, Cedar City. For more information contact Brett Garner at brett@pashdown.org.

- See the entire calendar