News Highlights

Utah N-dump foes send over 4,300 e-mails, faxes and letters urging the BLM to block PFS's Goshute waste site plans (Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret Morning News).

Salt Lake County leaders question Real Salt Lake's promise to donate $7.5 million to youth soccer facilities when it is seeking public money for stadium (Tribune).

Standard-Examiner editorial urges Utah Legislature to consider Massachusetts health care plan, because Utah is slowly losing the health care coverage battle.

Quote of the Day

"It's pancakes and politics."

-- Randy Minson, campaign manager for 3rd Congressional District candidate John Jacob, who is competing with Chris Cannon and Merrill Cook to see how many state delegates they can feed and chat with at numerous breakfasts, brunches, lunches and dinners (Morning News).

The Do-Nothing, Overreacting Congress

While driving yesterday morning I heard KSL radio’s Doug Wright interview Sen. Bob Bennett, who quoted long-time Washington insider Tom Korologos commenting on the effectiveness of Congress: Congress can really do only two things, said Korologos, “Nothing and overreact.”

How true. How true. Congress is incapable of doing anything meaningful on the big issues that really matter, like the budget deficit, health care crisis, immigration and bankruptcy of entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare, while totally overreacting on silly things like ports management and high gas prices (offering a $100 rebate).   

Where are They Now

Chaffetz Can Predict the Weather

I spent a few minutes on Monday with Jason Chaffetz, former campaign manager and chief-of-staff to Gov. Jon Huntsman. Chaffetz is a little more relaxed these days and is spending more time with his family. He is back running his business, Maxtera, which is doing well managing investments and business operations for clients. He is also doing some lobbying and campaign work in Colorado. When he left the governor’s office, he voluntarily agreed to a one-year “cooling off period” during which he wouldn’t lobby in Utah.

Chaffetz is also nearly fully recovered from a serious accident 10 months ago that shattered his heel and left him nearly immobile for several months. When the weather changes, especially when low pressure moves in, his heel full of metal screws lets him know with a dull but intense ache.

Chaffetz re-emerged on the Utah political scene recently by signing a letter to state GOP delegates with other political leaders encouraging reform of GOP provisions allowing appointment of automatic delegates to party conventions. Chaffetz believes all delegates should be elected at party caucuses. This is not really a major crusade, he said, but just an attempt to raise awareness, support “the right principle,” and protect the integrity of the process.   

He flirted briefly with running for Congress in the 2nd Congressional District, but decided against it. However, it’s clear that the political bug is still biting and Chaffetz may look for opportunities to seek elective office on the future. He sees himself staying involved in the political process, supporting good candidates, and keeping his own options open as far as running as a candidate.

Blog Watch

Reach Upward asks: "Why are some Mormons afraid of an LDS presidential candidate?"... Random Meanderings and Other Meaningless Blather says: "Much of the emotional conflict in [the immigration debate] now comes from the symbolism involved: you can’t disrespect a nation’s flag, its national anthem, its language, cultural idiosyncrasies, etc, and still expect to be accepted by that nation as a whole, without a certain degree of emotional response and conflict from the citizenry" (see also here and here)... Part of the Plan "re-endorses" Senate candidate Pete Ashdown... Red State Rebels says: "People in Utah and Nevada are up in arms about the coming Divine Strake bomb experiment set early next month in the Nevada desert -- and Idahoans ought to be, too" (see also here)... Spencer Speaks has a post about Larry H. Miller, the Salt Lake Bees, the Village People, and Brokeback Mountain.

-- Compiled by Golden Webb

Washington Watch

Hatch Endorses Hayden Nomination

Sen. Orrin Hatch endorses the nomination of Gen. Michael Hayden as Director of Central Intelligence (see press release).

CPPA Newsletter

The University of Utah's Center for Public Policy & Administration has posted its latest Policy Perspectives newsletter. This edition features articles on Medicaid and Medicare. To read it, click here.

UTC CEO Receives Award

The University of Utah College of Engineering presented its "2006 Distinguished Service Award" to Richard R. Nelson, president and CEO of the Utah Technology Council, at the May 5 engineering graduation exercises. The annual award "honors an individual for extraordinary service to the college and the community" (see press release).

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Utah in the National News

The BLM closes public comment on the proposed Goshute N-waste site, after receiving more than 4,350 mostly negative letters, e-mails, postcards and faxes on the project, including objections from Utah politicians and the LDS Church (Associated Press).

LDS columnist argues that Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney's Mormonism makes him the best presidential candidate for the GOP in '08 (Beehive Standard Weekly).

Columnist writing on school choice praises the public health benefits of Utah's Mormon culture (RealClearPolitics).

Leaders from Western towns, including Moab and Park City, will meet next week in Aspen, Colorado, to discuss energy, land use, affordable housing and growth issues (Aspen Times).

Several Utah cities make finance magazine's "50 Smart Places to Live" list, with St. George, Logan and Provo in the top 21 (Kiplinger's).

Local Headlines

Salt Lake Tribune

- Cause unites N-dump foes

- Kanab's model citizens

- County leaders question RSL's fiscal judgment

- Drug sign-up: Time's short

- No health coverage? Here's an option

- Mullen: Are you a demo and don't know it?

- Eagle Mountain: The Highway Patrol ponders whether he lied to them

- Utahns speak on insurance reform

- Mayor issues challenge: It's time to get in shape

- Technology worth a mint to elementary school classes

- Divine Strake: Q&A

- Editorial: Needless suffering: Ending vision and dental care is not responsible

- Editorial: A siren song: Cities should weigh costs, benefits of small school districts

Standard-Examiner

- Construction to start on Ogden office building

- Editorial: Toward better health

St. George Spectrum

- Ball starts rolling on new HCP plan

KCPW

- Matheson calls for more data before June 2nd bomb test

- Local agencies carry the Part D burden without compensation

Daily Herald

- Doctor: Avian flu danger is real, be prepared

- Springville starts its recycling program

- Poll: Most disapprove of an HOV lane fee

- State legislator wants to limit funeral protests

- Editorial: Measure parents' performance

BYU NewsNet

- 'Lost Boys' find freedom in new law

Deseret Morning News

- Utah attacks PFS nuclear waste plan

- PFS storage proposals

- 3rd District race centers on food

- Huntsman Award winners -- 10 educators help change students' lives for the better

- Officials pursuing Granite-split study

- Balloting for quarters is over

- Applications sought for open-space funds

- Meat-plant site rejected

- Editorial: Post inspections on the Web

- Editorial: Score one for the governor

Please submit calendar items to Daily@UtahPolicy.com

- May 9: John Jacob Delegate Breakfast, 7:30 a.m., Mimi's Café, 5223 S State, Murray.
- May 9: Lt. Gov. Herbert to speak at American Water Resource Association Conference, 8:30 a.m., Law and Justice Center, 645 South 200 East, Salt Lake City.
- May 9: Administrative Rules Review Committee, 9 a.m., room W135.
- May 9: Midday Metro on KCPW 88.3 FM at 10 a.m.: Pat Rusk, president of the Utah Education Association, on new hope for the teachers union’s Political Action Committee in light of last week’s court ruling declaring the Voluntary Contribution Act of 2001 unconstitutional. Plus a conversation on the Urban Land Institute’s Spring Council Forum, and Nando Parrado, author of Miracle in the Andes.
- May 9: John Jacob Delegate Lunch, 12 p.m., Sizzler, 1240 S State Street, Orem.
- May 9: Merrill Cook State Delegate Luncheon, 12 p.m., Olive Garden, 504 W 2230 N, Provo.
- May 10: John Jacob Delegate Breakfast, 7:30 a.m., IHOP, 925 W State Road, American Fork.
- May 10: John Jacob Delegate Luncheon, 12 p.m., Sizzler, 1477 W 7800 S, West Jordan.
- May 10: Pete Ashdown to speak at the Heber City Rotary Club, 12 p.m., Hub Cafe 1165 South Main, Heber City.
- May 10: Merrill Cook State Delegate Luncheon, 12 p.m., Sizzler, 3429 S Redwood Rd, West Valley.
- May 10: Merrill Cook State Delegate Dinner, 7 p.m., Carrabba's, University Mall, Orem.
- May 11: John Jacob Delegate Breakfast, 7:30 a.m., Mimi's Café, 304 E University Parkway, Orem.
- May 11: Privately Owned Health Care Organization Task Force meeting, 9 a.m., room W135.
- May 11: John Jacob Delegate Luncheon, 12 p.m., Marie Callender's, 2882 W 4700 S, West Valley City.
- May 11: Merrill Cook State Delegate Luncheon, 12 p.m., Brick Oven, 111 E 800 N, Provo.
- May 11: Gov. Huntsman to give welcoming remarks at Urban Land Institute National Conference, 4 p.m., Salt Palace Convention Center, 100 S. West Temple, Salt Lake City.
- May 11: Pete Ashdown Meet and Greet at the home of Pollyanna Pixton, 5 p.m., 461 E 200 S #100, Salt Lake.
- May 11: Gov. Huntsman to attend Golden Apple Awards, 6:30 p.m., Eccles Broadcast Center, 101 Wasatch Drive, Salt Lake City.
- May 11: Merrill Cook State Delegate Dinner, 7 p.m., Famous Dave's, 7273 S Plaza Center Dr. at Jordan Landing, West Jordan.
- 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 12: Gov. Huntsman to attend Hill Air Force Base F-22 Fighter Jet Delivery Program, 10 a.m., Hill Air Force Base, Flight Line Hangar.
- May 12: American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) luncheon, 12 p.m., Salt Lake County Government Center, room S1007 (South Building). Topic will be "Development of the Salt Lake Valley's West Bench: Implications for the Public Sector." Speakers include Russel Fox, Kennecott Land Corporation, Jeff Daugherty and David White, Salt Lake County Planning. For reservation, call 801- 581-6493 or email jrandall@cppa.utah.edu.

- See the entire calendar

Elected Officials Birthday List