News Highlights

USTAR supporters tout benefits, ask for final legislative push today (Deseret Morning News).

With one day remaining, lawmakers face a backlog of legislation to plow through before adjourning by midnight (Morning News).

Legislators likely to retire or run for another office this year: Reps. LaVar Christensen, Duane Bourdeaux, Margaret Dayton, and Craig Buttars; and Sens. Parley Hellewell and Karen Hale (Morning News and Herald Journal).

Senate to vote on bill providing more money for math teachers, but more accountability is required (Tribune).

Quote of the Day

"Now, the Legislature gets to decide how strongly it feels about retaining its constitutional prerogative to override the veto of the governor."

-- Sen. Howard Stephenson, commenting on Gov. Jon Huntsman’s veto of SB70, giving the Legislature the ability to attempt to override a gubernatorial veto of legislation dealing with radioactive waste storage (Morning News). See also Tribune story and editorial.

National Politics

Scary Budget Monster

National Journal column by Stan Collender says the federal budget beast is growing out of control and Congress lacks the willpower to deal with it either by cutting spending or raising taxes.

Blog Watch

Reason's Hit and Run notes the defeat of SB96, as does AU.org's Wall of Separation... The UAC blog looks where things stand as the Legislative Session draws to a close... Midday Metro has a full slate of legislative recap shows coming up... Slam Smith says "the whole problem with public education can be summed up with one word 'Monopoly'"... The Senate Site blog highlights Sen. Pete Knudson's resolution opposing the transportation and storage of spent nuclear fuel in Utah... KSL Blog has a post on podcasting... Paul Rolly describes a "whirlwind tizzy" involving the gay and lesbian community and the Salt Lake Board of Realtors... Wilf Somerkorn has a post on the LeRay McAllister Critical Land Preservation Fund...  Jen's Green Journal has pictures from Monday's Gay/Straight Alliance clubs rally (see also here)... Planet Legislature will unveil the winners of the 4th Annual Golden LaVar Awards today at 11:00 am... Michael J. Totten's Middle East Journal says Suleimaniya in Northern Iraq is the "Utah of the Middle East."

"Ski for Nature" at Utah Resorts

As part of the Nature Conservancy's "Ski for Nature" program, skiers and snowboarders can support conservation simply by hitting the slopes at Deer Valley, Park City, or Wolf Mountain on March 4, and Alta and Snowbird on March 12. The resorts will donate a portion from each lift ticket sold on those days to the Nature Conservancy of Utah (see press release).

Washington Watch

Hatch: Give Bush Some Slack

Sen. Orrin Hatch says that during a time of war, Congress should be deferential to the White House: "When [Pres. Bush] makes an argument on constitutional grounds, we have to give him some slack" (ZDNet).

Bennett: Lobbying is a Right

Sen. Bob Bennett warns Senate panel against restricting the rights of lobbyists or other citizens to petition the government: "This is a constitutional right we are fooling around with" (Associated Press and Bloomberg News); Bennett, a former lobbyist himself, says "lobbyists often [have] expertise that [can translate] into good public policy" (New York Times).

Mixed Response to Land Sale Plan

Pres. Bush's plan to sell thousands of acres of Utah Forest Service and BLM land draws varying responses from Utah's congressional delegation: Rep. Jim Matheson says the proposal is "troubling", while Rep. Rob Bishop and Sen. Bennett support the plan, at least in concept (Associated Press).

Matheson Seeks Port Decision Details

Rep. Matheson calls for a hearing the Dubai Ports World contract: "Congress and the American people deserve to know how this decision was made" (see press release).

Legacy Parkway Open House

The public is invited to an open house Thursday to review plans for the Legacy Parkway. The open house will be from 4 to 8 p.m. in building No. 2 at the Davis County Fairgrounds (151 S. 1100 W., Farmington). For more info, click here.

Elected Officials Birthday List

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National Headlines

Former Pres. Bill Clinton fields questions from governors about fighting childhood obesity, including one query from Gov. Huntsman (Washington Post).

Western governors unanimously approve the immigration reform policy resolution sponsored by Govs. Huntsman and Janet Napolitano (Ariz.) (U.S. Newswire).

Sen. Chris Buttars' evolution bill is voted down (New York Times, Associated Press, Morons.org, and Political Cortex).

Nevada considering a proposal, similar to Sen. Buttars' scuttled evolution bill, that would require Nevada teachers to instruct students about challenges to evolution (Associated Press).

Utah's move to reduce the state sales tax on food as part of a $160 million tax cut that would also reduce the state's income tax rate and offer tax incentives for businesses should burnish Utah's image as a "business-friendly" state (Idaho Statesman).

Study: Utah in bottom five states in the nation in giving females access to birth control, sex education and other efforts to prevent unwanted pregnancy (Beacon Journal). 

Kanab comes under attack for its "natural family" resolution; Dan Walter, Maryland founder of the website "What's up With Kanab?" says the resolution contains "religious language ... that doesn't belong in a government setting" (CNSNews).  

Local Headlines

Salt Lake Tribune

- Governor leads immigration push

- Fight looms over waste authority

- House does 360 on smoking ban

- Utah poor get no help for teeth, vision trouble

- Effort to make e-mail private dropped

- Money for schools, with a catch

- Utah gets low mark for birth control

- Eco-groups seek legal role in regulation

- LDS book: Evolution is not incompatible with religion

- Kanab council keeps intact 'natural family' ideal

- U. taps new law college dean

- S.L. County questions the loyalty and ethics of Tetris lobbyist firm
- Move to suspend driver licenses fails

- Attempt to eliminate medical coverage stalls

- Short Sessions: Legislative briefs

- Rules for handling developers are OK'd

- Utah companies work to make seaports safe

- Many in the dark on mall shake-up

- SLC man floated for 3rd District Court

- ATK/Thiokol to get $541M to upgrade Minuteman III

- Photo: Capitol Hiss-trionics

- Editorial: Credibility gap: Utah's politics not up to radioactive challenges

- Editorial: Misery multiplied: Victim of incest should not have to notify parents

Standard-Examiner

- Private clubs escape smoking ban

Herald Journal

- Buttars leaving Legislature

St. George Spectrum

- Matheson to sit in on ports hearing

- Utahns lagging in Medicare D registration

- Taxing entities face decision about SITLA land

- Op-ed: End perks that split lawmakers from constituents

- Editorial: Seat belt law strapped

Tooele Transcript Bulletin

- EnergySolutions helps clean radioactive water spill

- Gay clubs, waste, evolution bills get veto threats

Deseret Morning News

- Huntsman vetoes bill on disposal of nuclear waste

- Lawmakers face huge legislative logjam today

- Legislators decide to pack it in after session

- Alpine decries RDA bill tactics

- Western guvs back resolution

- UHP group asks to join memorial lawsuit

- No definitive LDS stance on evolution, study finds

- Lobbying firm's actions not yet a problem, officials say

- Pared-down measure on records access OK'd

- A child-support bill tied to drivers' licenses fails

- Plan letting state dump comp fund advances

- Senate OKs longer terms for repeat sex offenders

- Lawmakers change smoking ban

- Street-racing legislation zooms through House

- Final push for USTAR

- Photo: Standing up for education

- Editorial: Set the stadium aside

- Editorial: No question on food tax

Please submit calendar items to Daily@UtahPolicy.com

- 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: Utah League of Women Voter's daily legislative update on KCPW 88.3 FM, 7:40 a.m.
- Mar 1: Midday Metro on KCPW at 10 a.m. features a legislative update with Julie Rose; Veteran politicos Frank Pignanelli and LaVarr Webb break down the final day of legislative action; Utah Arts Festival executive director Robyn Nelson on the annual Tardy Mardi Party; and Ernie Wessman, Vice President of of PacifiCorp, talks about global warming and its impact on business.
- Mar 1: RadioWest on KUER FM 90: A "Safety Net" for Polygamy, 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Attorney General Mark Shurtleff has been looking for ways to support victims of abuse and civil rights violations in Utah's polygamist groups. His "safety net" approach isn't so much about prosecution as it is about reaching out to these communities. RadioWest looks at what the program is teaching us about polygamist culture.
- 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: Midday Metro on KCPW at 10 a.m.: Senate President John Valentine and Speaker of the House Greg Curtis on the just concluded 2006 General Session of the Utah Legislature; plus Scott Schaeffer on the First Annual Utah Winter Business Economics Conference at the U of U's David Eccles School of Business. Event participants include professors from many of the world's top business schools.
- 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.

- See the entire calendar