The Week Ahead
Three legislative meetings are scheduled this week, including the never-ending and name-challenged Privately Owned Health Care Organization Task Force, the Constitutional Revision Commission, and the Water Task Force. Go to the legislative calendar and click on a meeting for the agenda, location, time, etc. See all the week’s political events in the Utah Policy Daily calendar.
Monday Musings
Time for a Third Party?
With the Republicans seemingly paralyzed in Washington, and the Democrats not offering any great alternative, talk of a third party representing middle America continues to grow louder. Conservative columnist Peggy Noonan, writing in the Wall Street Journal, says America may be ready for a third party, but not necessarily one that represents the middle between the Republicans and Democrats. Instead the new party would fill the gulf between the people at the grassroots level and the elites of both parties in Washington.
“The problem is not that the two parties are polarized,” writes Noonan. “In many ways they're closer than ever. The problem is that the parties in Washington, and the people on the ground in America, are polarized. There is an increasing and profound distance between the rulers of both parties and the people -- between the elites and the grunts, between those in power and those who put them there.”
I agree with Noonan. We don’t need to bridge the gap between Republicans and Democrats. We need to bridge the gap between out-of-touch Washington insiders and everyday citizens. I still believe the biggest problem we have is a total failure of balanced federalism, with Washington soaking up most of the money and trying to take responsibility for every aspect of our lives. It’s an impossible task to find a Washington solution for every problem that besets America, but Washington politicians keep throwing money at it, and failing. Candidates and political parties that recognize the underlying problem and work to restore a proper balance in our federal system will find a groundswell of support.
Transit-Oriented Development Popping Up
Existing and planned light rail and commuter rail stations are offering developers some new opportunities for mixed-use Transit-Oriented Development. Read this Davis County Clipper story about Station Park in Farmington. Such projects will be repeated in many locations in Weber, Davis and Salt Lake counties, and eventually Utah County, as developers see the potential of clustering business, entertainment, retail and housing development around TRAX and FrontRunner commuter rail stations. West Valley City is planning to build its city center around a TRAX station.
Eventually, it will be possible for the vast majority of Wasatch Front residents to get to any major shopping, entertainment, sports or business destination without having to fight traffic in an automobile. Even those not close to a rail line will drive a few miles to a park-and-ride lot and then hop on TRAX or FrontRunner and be able to read, work on a laptop, make phone calls, or sleep while traveling to their destination.
The Clout of Noisy Netroots
Interesting column in NationalJournal.com by William Powers about Netroots, the network of Democratic Internet activists who use the Web to rally liberal Democrats to raise money, promote causes and support or oppose candidates. Netroots have developed impressive organizational and fundraising clout, but they have yet to win any major race, in part because they tend to be shrill and far more liberal than mainstream America. In fact, their presence is probably good for Republicans because they are highly visible and represent the “Angry Left” segment of the Democratic Party that tends to alienate most voters.
Blog Watch
At the Senate Site blog, Rep. Margaret Dayton discusses NCLB (see also here)... Paul Jones Dayton says: "Utahns are very bright people, but when it comes to politics we Utahns vote our hearts and not our minds" (see also here)... Rep. Steve Urquhart discusses teacher pay... Rural Blogging says: "I believe the key to economic success in rural Utah lies, not in attracting new companies to our small towns, but in helping business understand what it takes to succeed"... Wilf Sommerkorn has a post on Downtown Rising... At Times & Seasons, Nate Oman offers a legal analysis of the proposed "Marriage Protection Amendment" (see also here and here).
-- Compiled by Golden Webb
Washington Watch
Hatch: Oil Shale a Solution
Sen. Orrin Hatch says of oil shale development: "North America has a solution that matches the scale of the [oil supply] problem and is sufficient to meet our demands and needs" (Denver Post).
Critics Assail Bennett Amendment
Critics of a billboard amendment introduced by Sen. Bob Bennett say the measure represents "an assault on decades of effort to beautify highways" (Gainesville Sun).
Hatch, Bennett Back McConnell
Sens. Hatch and Bennett express praise and support for Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell, who's positioned to become the next Senate GOP leader (National Journal).
Cannon's Immigration Stance defended
Columnist defends Rep. Chris Cannon's stance on illegal immigration, which was apparently attacked recently by radio and TV personality Sean Hannity (The Conservative Voice).
Matheson Targeting Video games
Rep. Jim Matheson one of several U.S. legislators targeting the sale of violent and sexually explicit video games to minors (ZDNet).
Utah Trails Designated
Interior Sec. Dirk Kempthorne designates 36 trails in 24 states as new National Recreation Trails, including two trails in Utah (see press release).
Local Watch
MAG June Newsletter
The Mountainland Association of Governments has posted a PDF file of its June newsletter. To read it, click here.
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