News Highlights

Rep. LaVar Christensen works to persuade his peers to override Gov. Huntsman's veto of HB148 (Salt Lake Tribune).

Huntsman calls for Iraqi leaders to form a government or face "any and all additional measures necessary" from Pres. Bush (Deseret Morning News).

New law drastically limits charter school expansion (Morning News).

Spectrum editorial endorses Bennett-Matheson Washington County lands legislation.

Paid by Jana Truman For Davis County Commission

Quote of the Day

"Our major limiting factor for growth is water. Without the necessary water, this state simply cannot continue to grow at our current rate."

-- Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert, calling for both water development and conservation in a speech at a water conference (Morning News).

Lands Deal a Political Boost for Matheson?

The Washington County lands legislation proposed by Sen. Bob Bennett and Rep. Jim Matheson is a big deal, and I’ll have a lot more to write about it later. But Matheson’s involvement adds an interesting political dynamic that’s worth a comment.

If Matheson has any weakness in the upcoming election, it is in the parts of his district outside the Wasatch Front. The St. George area, with its rapid growth, is the biggest population center outside the large counties, and the place where Matheson could be most vulnerable.

So for Matheson to be able to stand arm-in-arm with Sen. Bennett and propose a major land deal that is of enormous importance to Washington County leaders and citizens is a nice political boost for him. The legislation would help Washington County solve its growth problems, water problems, conduct quality growth planning, establish wilderness areas, and help resolve other tough environmental issues.

It’s interesting that in its quite predictable and quite scathing criticism of the proposed lands deal, the Southern Utah Wilderness Association never once mentions Rep. Matheson, while criticizing Sen. Bennett.

Matheson’s main opponent, Utah House Rep. LaVar Christensen, has one good argument to counter Matheson’s involvement in the lands deal. Christensen can congratulate the senator and congressman for proposing the deal, but add, “Now we need a Republican representing this district who can get this legislation approved by the GOP-controlled House.”  

Hinckley Institute Conference

On April 3-5 the University of Utah's Hinckley Institute of Politics will host "the premier national conference on political redistricting. Participants will include representatives from the Campaign Legal Center, Brookings Institute, Common Cause, Center for Democracy and Citizenship, US PIRG and League of Women Voters. The conference will address redistricting principles and their potential implementation in various states as well as on the national level." For more info, click here.

Blog Watch
SLCSpin praises the Senate Site blog, which responds: "The Senate sees the advent of political blogging the same way we view storm clouds over the San Rafael. Rain on the watershed means flood in the canyons. Like the cleansing but extremely dangerous flash floods that rip through the slot canyons all over our state -- new media is changing the way people understand and participate in self government. The issue is not whether the flood is coming -- it is. And it is not whether or not we find the flood to be compatible with established norms and habits -- it is not. The issue is how to enjoy the changing dynamic in a way that embraces the adventure of a new paradigm, while keeping safe the things we treasure from our past"... Rep. Steve Urquhart notes: "Of the 75 House seats up for grabs, Republicans failed to field a candidate in 1, and Democrats failed to field a candidate in 19"...  My world received a mysterious letter from Sen. Orrin Hatch... The World, According to Me helped paint Pete Ashdown's campaign motorhome, and shot a video clip of the experience (see also here)... One Utah questions the Democratic Party bona fides of Utah House candidate Jack Gray... Orem Precinct 54 solicits reader help in crafting a list of candidate questions... This Sorta Fairytale says the Utah GOP "does everything in its power to crush the opinions of the minority party"... J. Max Wilson at Sixteen Small Stones has a few posts on his "continuing adventures as a county delegate"... Slam Smith has a couple posts on the RSL Stadium controversy... LDS Eye on an LSD world says: "Utah understands illegal immigration. After all, our Utah pioneers were illegal immigrants"... The Education Wonks says this op-ed by former Utah math teacher Jonathan Lawes "echoes the sentiments of many working teachers throughout the country"... Sherpa's Wonders says: "For a state with a relatively small population, Utah sure has a knack for breaking onto the national news circuit, water cooler conversation, and late night talk joke lineups."

Tech Watch

More on Internet TV

A Monday front page Wall Street Journal story (subscription required) says more than five million people “flocked to CBS Corp.’s Web site to watch March Madness college basketball games free online.” Meanwhile, Major League Baseball, earned $68 million last season from subscriptions to watch 2,400 baseball games it streamed over the Internet.

MLB.com has mastered the technology of showing video over the Web to the point that it is now streaming video for 25 paying clients, including other sports organizations, plus concerts and other entertainment enterprises.

Citing data from a research company, the Wall Street Journal says more than 300 million households world-wide will have high-speed Internet access by 2010 (the United States is still lagging). Who needs a television network or a local television station if you can reach most households over the Internet with high-quality video?

These developments are important for politics, because as ultra-broadband becomes more available, and as audio and video become commonplace on the Internet, politics will be changed along with everyone else. Readers and viewers will come to expect candidates and officeholders to offer audio and video of speeches, press conferences, town meetings and other events, extending the reach of political leaders (and anyone else with a Web site). Candidates and office holders need to begin thinking of their Web sites as micro-channels.  

Washington Watch

Matheson Announces DOJ Grant

Rep. Jim Matheson announces that the Department of Justice has awarded a $1.5 million Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant to the Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice (see press release).

Free “Boot Camp” for Teens
Sen. Orrin Hatch is inviting Utah Teenage Republicans (ages 13-18) to attend a two-day political leadership training program April 7-8 at Utah Valley State College. “This is an exceptional opportunity for Utah’s young people to participate in one of the best leadership training program anywhere in the nation,” said Hatch.

The price to attend is usually in the hundreds of dollars, but the “political boot camp” is being subsidized entirely by the College Republicans, the Hatch campaign, and the John Jacob campaign. So it is free to Teenage Republicans. For more information, click here, or call Dan Taggart, 801.318.8861.  

True Story: Praying With the President

By Mike Winder

            It is Sunday (March 12) and I am here in the nation’s capital for my first National League of Cities and Towns Conference.  As a history-buff, it was an easy decision to decide to go to church at St. John’s Episcopal Church on Lafayette Square instead of the LDS ward that was too far from my hotel.  St. John’s is nicknamed the “Church of the Presidents” since every President since James Madison has worshipped there.  It is the little church across the square from the White House that always has the prayer service with the First Family on Inauguration Days, and that they are known to drop into now and then.

            Even though the President is a born-again Christian, a Knight-Ridder News story I found online mentioned: "Bush prefers the 8 a.m. service at St. John's, where he kneels on a prayer cushion bearing his father's name, while his wife uses the one bearing President Reagan's. President Carter's cushion remains in the pew; President Clinton's has been moved elsewhere."  St. John’s official website mentioned that the 8 a.m. service was now at 7:45, so that was the one I would attend.  Maybe we would be lucky, at the least it would be an interesting experience.

            My fellow (West Valley City) councilmember, Steve Vincent and I were on our way there this morning when we were stopped by two police officers who told us we had to go around the block.  This we did where we were stopped by two more officers who asked us our destination.  When we replied “St. John’s Episcopal Church for the 7:45 service,” they replied “You said the right password, go on in.”  At this point we realized that the First Family was likely at church that day, and we might get to steal a glimpse.  We also commented that whether there were police officers or Secret Service agents, we had our freedom to worship and go to church, and it was a privilege that couldn’t have been denied.

            At the entrance to the old church secret service agents asked us to empty the metal from our pockets and then wanded us like at an airport.  After passing through security we were greeted by ushers from the church, took a program, and shuffled inside.  The service was already five or ten minutes underway, and so were anxious to quickly be seated.

            It is a small chapel, with beautiful stain-glass windows and maybe 100 people attending that service.  I noticed the President and his wife sitting in a middle pew about half-way up.  There was only one other lady on the row, and she was on the opposite end with plenty of space between her and the First Family.  I walked up to that row and asked the lady if it was OK to sit there, which it was, so we sat down.  As I sat down, the President caught my eye, smiled and nodded a hello.

            I couldn’t believe that we were there, attending church and sitting on the same pew as the President and First Lady!  In our rush to get seated, Steve hadn’t realized who was on our same row.  When I told him to check out whose row we were sitting on he took the biggest double-take in the world!

            But there we were, reading prayers together, listening to the sermon together as the reverend taught about God’s faith in us, and our need to have faith in God and keep his commandments.  We stood side by side with the First Family as we all recited the Lord’s Prayer.  You could tell the President is a God-fearing man.  He often had his eyes closed during the prayers, even while many in the congregation simply followed along in the prayer book or printed program.  It was a conscious effort not to stare, and everyone in the congregation was as natural as could be.

            At one point early in the service, the reverend invited everyone to “Greet one another in the name of the Lord.”  Everyone stood and began shaking hands with those around them saying “Peace of the Lord.”  I noticed the two Secret Service agents sitting behind the First Family and reached my hand to one saying “Peace of the Lord.”  He returned the greeting and the handshake.  Then Laura Bush reached her hand to me, and said in her Texas drawl “Peace of the Lord.”  I returned the greeting and shook her hand.  Then, as the congregation began to sit back down, President Bush caught my eye and reached his hand across his wife, and so I reached back.  The 43rd President of the United States gripped my hand, looked at me and said “Peace of the Lord.”  I returned the greeting.  I’ve met vice presidents before (Dan Quayle and Dick Cheney), and even met Barbara Bush once, but this morning was my first experience meeting a President of the United States.

            Later in the service a prayer was given by the reverend where he blessed some people by name in his congregation, including those who were in the service, those who were ill or have lost loved ones, and those who were having birthdays that week.  In the midst of the prayer he added “and bless our President George” using the casual first name (George is a member of his congregation, after all).  I have heard many prayers for our nation’s president before, but never while sitting just a few feet from him.

            Soon it was time for communion, and the congregation began filing up row by row to take the bread and wine.  Steve and I did not, but George and Laura and everyone else did.  After the First Family returned they glanced at us and probably wondered why we didn’t go up with the rest of the church.  Since we had a few minutes while we were waiting for the rest of the chapel to take communion, I wrote a little note on the back of my City Council business card

            “Pres & Mrs. Bush,  Even us Mormons from Utah pray for you & are honored to worship God together.  –Mike”

            I set my card down on the bench between Laura and I (the Secret Service behind us quickly glancing over the bench to see what I was doing), and she picked it up and read it.  She smiled and seemed to get a kick out of it and showed her husband.  He, too, got a big smile and seemed to enjoy it.  He smiled back at us with an acknowledging nod.  He took the card and studied the front of it for a minute.  Then he pulled a black marker out of his suit coat and signed the front of the business card, and then handed it back to me:

            “Thanks Mike – and God Bless.  George Bush”

            What a priceless souvenir from my trip to DC! 

            Towards the end of the service we all knelt to pray.  Because we were in the “Church of the Presidents” there were prayer cushions of past presidents that we knelt on.  I knelt on Woodrow Wilson’s prayer cushion, Steve was on Calvin Coolidge’s, and just as the news article had mentioned, Laura used Ronald Reagan’s and the President used his dad’s.  It was a humbling thing to connect to our nation’s presidents’ spiritual life that way.

            At the end of the service we all stood and the First Family and Secret Service agents filed out the front door, shaking hands with the reverend on the way.  After a couple minutes the rest of us were allowed to file out the back door.

            As we left the church Steve and I were marveling that there we were, a born-again-Christian President, a Methodist First Lady, and two Mormon city councilmembers in an Episcopal church worshipping God together on a Sunday morning.  Isn’t America great? 

Utah in the National News

Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney raises cash for his campaign committee in Arizona, where many of his fellow Mormons live; some see the fundraiser as an affront to Romney's potential '08 presidential rival, Arizona Sen. John McCain (Associated Press).

Article looks at Utah's virtual-visitation law (Minneapolis StarTribune).

The Southern Nevada Water Authority strikes $7.2 million deal with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to lease water on the Muddy River (Las Vegas Review-Journal).

Local Headlines

Deseret Morning News

- Huntsman joins call for action by Iraqis

- Protest victory — Senators clear way for illegal aliens

- Students rally against immigrant legislation

- Dixie's growth triggers traffic logjam

- Dixie future may hinge on water

- Developable land is getting scarce in Dixie

- Focus of town meetings on youths, underage drinking

- Costly fallout in Emery over vote machines

- Mesa Air to serve 3 Utah cities

- Law sharply restricts expansion of charter schools

- Green Party activist challenges Matheson

- Water is key, Herbert says

- Questar fight going to top

- State panel starts search for consumer services chief

- Utah joins effort to educate public about insurance

- Editorial: Vision needed on immigration

- Editorial: Teen drinking is no joke

St. George Spectrum

- Iron County to hire consultant to deal with conservation

- Incident sparks Ivins City review

- Editorial: Land bill gives solutions

KSL Editorial Board

- Cultural illiterates

Salt Lake Tribune

- Guests or felons? Debate sizzles

- Protesters demonstrate against bill

- Immigration reform proposals

- Lawmaker plans attack on veto

- New vote machines ignite feud in Emery

- Six-block move may be costly for candidate

- Vegas gets water help from LDS

- Snyderville Basin considers alternative to incorporation

- Davis County attorney decides not to seek sixth term, after all

- SLC council to meet Thursday in Poplar Grove, its District 2

- Lehi planning emergency fuel deal

- Settlement lowers cost of Utahns' electricity

- Advocates: Review PSC order

- Editorial: Chicken about cattle: Government wrong to overlook mad cow threat

- Editorial: 2 'R's' not enough: Schools should guard against narrowing curriculum

Please submit calendar items to Daily@UtahPolicy.com

- Mar 28: Midday Metro on KCPW 88.3 FM at 10 a.m.: Mary Tull, with an update on the buildout of The Leonardo at Library Square; Arab-American Linda Najjar, a 4th year doctoral student in the U’s Counseling Psychology program, on the images of Arab-Americans in the media; and Tom Mann of the Brookings Institution and Texas State Senator Jeff Wentworth on the Redistricting Conference to be held in SLC later this week.
- Mar 28: Hinckley Forum "Immigration Reform," 10:45 a.m., Mickey Ibarra, White House Director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs in the Clinton Administration.
- Mar 28: Gov. Huntsman news conference on trip to Iraq, 2 p.m., Governor's Board Room.
- Mar 28: Town Hall Meeting on underage drinking, 7 p.m., University of Utah Fine Arts Building Auditorium, 370 South 1530 East. Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson, South Salt Lake Mayor Robert Gray, and First Lady Mary Kaye Huntsman will host the meeting.
- Mar 29: Gov. Huntsman to attend USTAR reception, 4 p.m., Panache, 299 S Main Street, Salt Lake City.
- Mar 30-31: The Legacy Law Foundation in collaboration with the Sutherland Institute and the Lighted Candle Society are holding a two-day combined event entitled “Stand Up.  Step Forward.  Speak Out.”  Register online at www.LegacyLeader.com.
- Mar 30: Gov. Huntsman KUED Monthly News Conference, 10 a.m., KUED Studios.
- Mar 30: Gov. Huntsman at KSL's "Let Me Speak to the Governor," 6 p.m., KSL Studios.
- Mar 30: Call to Duty Tour sponsored by the S.J. Quinney College of Law's Public Interest Law Organization, 7 p.m., Sutherland Moot Courtroom, College of Law, University of Utah. This group of seven service members will discuss and debate the military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy. For more information go to www.calltodutytour.org or hurstj@law.utah.edu.
- Mar 31: Hinckley Forum "Tax Cuts, Deficit & The Economy," 9:40 a.m., Randal K. Quarles, Under Secretary for Domestic Finance, U.S. Treasury.
- Mar 31: Gov. Huntsman to present Business Woman of the Year Award, 12 p.m., The City Center Marriott, 220 S State Street, Salt Lake City.
- Mar 31: Lt. Gov. Herbert to speak at Tooele County Lincoln Day Dinner, 7:30 p.m., Deseret Peak Fire Museum, 2930 West Highway 112, Tooele.
- Apr 1: Salt Lake County Democrats Legislative Chair Elections and Precinct Officers Training, registration opens at 8:30, Northwest Middle School, 1730 West 1700 North Salt Lake City. All newly elected precinct officers are invited to attend. Questions may be directed to the County Party at 801-220-0122 during normal business hours or at www.slcountydems.com.
- Apr 1: Pete Ashdown to speak at the Daggett County Democratic Convention, 12 p.m., Senior Citizen's Center, 145 E Highway 43, Manila. For more information contact Brett Garner at brett@pashdown.org.
- Apr 4: Pete Ashdown, Democratic candidate for US Senate, to speak to the American Fork Rotary Club, 12 p.m., Jim's Family Restaurant 834 E State Rd, American Fork. For more information contact Brett Garner at brett@pashdown.org.
- Apr 5: Pete Ashdown to speak at the Box Elder County Democratic Convention, 6 p.m., Community Center, Brigham City. For more information contact Brett Garner at brett@pashdown.org.
- Apr 6-7: Utah League of Cities and Towns 2006 Mid Year Conference, Dixie Center, St. George. For more information and to register, see ULCT website.
- Apr 6: Professional Republican Women Meeting, 12 p.m., Wells Fargo Building, 2nd Floor, 299 S. Main, Salt Lake City. Featured speaker: Shirlee Shields, author, lecturer, will present "Change Your Voice, Change Your Image," including pointers for public speaking and presentations. RSVP to Melanie Rogers, pongocoaldog@yahoo.com. PRW meets at noon the first Thursday every month. Come early (11:30-12:00) to network and meet other professional Republican women.
- Apr 7-8: Youth Leadership School, conducted by the Morten Blackwell Leadership Institute at UVSC, Orem. This is a two day “political boot camp” that is normally several hundred dollars. It is being subsidized entirely by the College Republicans, the Hatch campaign, and the John Jacob campaign, and is free for all Teenage Republicans. For more information, contact Dan Taggart at 801-763-1105, cell 801-318-8861, or email dan@dantaggart.com.
- Apr 7: 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.
- Apr 11: Summit County Libertarian Party Meeting. For time and location contact Lynn Badler at lbrtee@earthlink.net or 435-658-1847.
- Apr 15: Utah Rally for Peace meeting, 2:15 to 5 p.m., Salt Lake City Main Library, meeting room C. View a free encore performance of “Painful Deceptions, An Analysis Of The September 11th Attacks," produced and narrated by Eric Hufschmid. For more information contact Director James Valarian at utahrallyforpeace@hotmail.com.
- Apr 19-20: Senator Bob Bennett, in conjunction with the Utah Rural Development Council, to host the Fifth Annual Rural Business Conference at Western Park in Vernal. Kathleen Clarke, BLM director, and JoAnn Wagner, CEO, chairman, and president of SOS Staffing, will give keynote speeches at the conference. Registration is $20. For more information, please visit www.ruralutah.com.
- Apr 20: Emery County Convention, 7:00 pm, Castledale Recreational Center, 7500 S. 400E.
- Apr 21: Davis County Republican Party Golf Tournament, Valley View Golf Course, Layton. For more information contact Craig Foster at FosterCL@ldschurch.org or 801-773-4620.
- Apr 22: Davis County Republican Party Convention, 8 a.m., Woods Cross High School. For more information contact Ben Horsley at ben.horsley@gmail.com or 801-294-6579.
- Apr 22: Davis County Democratic Party Convention, 11:30 a.m., Farmington Jr. High, 150 S 200 W, Farmington.
- Apr 22: Green Earth Fest, 12 to 6 p.m., East side of the City/County Building at Washington Square, 200 East 400 South, Salt Lake City. Learn what you can do to help improve the health of our planet . Visit with organizations and vendors which advocate for a healthier environment: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Sale. For more information, call 801-502-8556, email gpu@gput.org, or see Green Party website.
- Apr 26: United Way of Salt Lake Annual Compassionate Leader Awards Luncheon, 11:30 a.m., Little America Hotel. Bishop H. David Burton will be honored as the Compassionate Leader of the Year, and seven other individuals and organizations will also be recognized during this prestigious luncheon. The cost to attend the luncheon is $15.00 or $150.00 for a table of ten. To reserve your seat, please contact Jennifer Andrs, United Way of Salt Lake’s special events manager at 801-736-7787 or visit www.uw.org.

- Apr 26: Uintah County Republican Convention, 6:30 pm, Vernal Junior High School.
- Apr 27: Salt Lake County Libertarian Party Meeting, 7 p.m., Rocky Mountain Pizza Company, 3977 Wasatch Blvd., Holladay.
- Apr 28: Towner for Senate Republican BBQ for all Salt Lake County Delegates in Senate District 2, 5 to 7 p.m., Liberty Park, North East Pavilion. To RSVP, call 801-502-9134.
- Apr 29: Utah County GOP Convention, Payson High School.
- Apr 29: Salt Lake County Republican Party Nominating Convention, E Center.
- Apr 29: Libertarian Party of Utah State Nominating Convention, 10 a.m., Salt Lake County Government Center, 2001 South State Street, N1100, Salt Lake City.
- Apr 29: Utah Rally for Peace meeting, 2:15 to 5 pm, Salt Lake City Main Library Auditorium. Free screening of "JFK II," by John Hankey. For more information contact Director James Valarian at utahrallyforpeace@hotmail.com.
- Apr 29: The Nationally Affiliated Green Party of Utah Political Debate: Leaving Iraq: Pros and Cons, 7 p.m., Westminster College. U.S. Senate Candidates in Utah will debate the merits of leaving or staying in Iraq. KCPW will be covering this event. For more information call 801-502-8556, email gpu@gput.org, or visit www.gput.org.
- Apr 30: Last day a veto-override session may begin.
- May 1: Normal effective date for bills.
- May 1: First day to file bills for the 2007 General Session.
- May 4-5: First session of the 2006 Sutherland Transcend Series. Jim Ferrell, managing director of the Arbinger Institute and best-selling author of Leadership and Self-Deception and The Peace Giver, will facilitate Arbinger’s renowned “The Choice in Political Leadership” two-day seminar.  For more information, contact Stan Rasmussen at 801-355-1272 or visit www.sutherlandinstitute.org.
- May 12: Davis County Republican Party Golf Tournament. For more information, contact Todd Weiler at 801-521-3434 or Craig L. Foster at 801-773-4620.

- May 13: Utah Republican Party State Convention.
- May 13: Utah Rally for Peace meeting, 2:15 to 5 p.m., Salt Lake City Main Library, meeting room C.
- May 27: Utah Rally for Peace meeting, 2:15 to 5 pm, Salt Lake City Main Library Auditorium.
- June 17: Utah Rally for Peace meeting, 2:15 to 5 pm, Salt Lake City Main Library Auditorium.
- June 20: Primary Elections
- June 27: Statewide Primary Election
- Oct 24: The Sutherland Institute presents the World Congress of Families:  2006 Utah Regional Conference celebrating “A Community of Families” at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City.  For more information contact the Sutherland Institute at (801) 355-1272 or visit www.sutherlandinstitute.org.

- See the entire calendar

Elected Officials Birthday List

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