|
Today's political briefing: Key developments
and analysis for Utah policymakers
Subscribe
or Unsubscribe
|
Paid
by Scott McCoy for Utah Senate District 2
|
Message Center
(Announcements, Advertisements, Advertorials, and Sponsored Articles.) |
Transportation Watch
For anyone interested in transportation in Utah, the next several weeks should be quite entertaining. That’s because the deadline is fast approaching when Utah leaders must make some major decisions about mass transit, particularly TRAX extensions and commuter rail, that will effectively determine the future of mass transit in Utah. See Feature Story below. |
|
|
News Highlights
LDS members flood the offices of Sens. Orrin Hatch, Bob Bennett, Harry Reid and their Senate colleagues with phone calls, e-mails and letters urging them to approve a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage (Salt Lake Tribune).
Gov. Huntsman continues to "differ sharply" with cuts in the National Guard proposed earlier this year by Pres. Bush, despite a meeting Tuesday with military officials (Deseret Morning News).
Nation’s mayors adopt proposals made by Salt Lake Mayor Rocky Anderson (Tribune and Morning News).
Dueling editorials: Morning News says protect marriage with constitutional amendment; Standard-Examiner says marriage amendment is only about “political advantage in November.” |
|
|
|
Quote of the Day
“… the church asked its members to express themselves, and Reid has been doing so ‘loudly and repeatedly on the Senate floor.’”
-- Story quoting Sharyn Stein, press secretary to Nevada Sen. Harry Reid, a Mormon, who called the marriage amendment favored by his church "another one of the president's efforts to frighten, to distort, to distract, and to confuse America" (Tribune). |
|
|
|
Wednesday Buzz
Written by LaVarr Webb & Associates
|
|
Boom Times for Utah’s Surging Economy
Utah’s go-go economy is rocking and rolling almost like never before. Consider these facts from Commerce CRG, forwarded to Utah Policy Daily by spokesperson Jeri Cartwright:
:
- Several billion dollars in commercial real estate projects, either proposed or planned, should push construction and development activity levels close to pre-Olympic record years.
- We are in the midst of a growth cycle level seen only two other times in the last 31 years.
- Utah has never shown an annual growth of 50,000 jobs in a single year. In the first four months of this year, there were 49,600 new jobs...with months to go before year end. Utah ranks No. 4 in the nation for job growth.
In addition, within a few years the Wasatch Front could have several major highway and light rail construction projects going all at the same time, worth billions of dollars. Workers and construction materials will be in short supply.
All in all, Utah’s economic performance is remarkable, almost mind-boggling.
Ashdown: Hatch Postures in Election Year
Senate candidate Pete Ashdown criticizes Sen. Orrin Hatch for his "repeated, election-year attempts to amend the US Constitution to prohibit same-sex marriage and flag burning." Says Ashdown: "Despite his avowed love of the 'Greatest Constitution in the World,' my opponent has chosen to sponsor or co-sponsor Constitutional amendments almost 80 times, usually during election years. This year is no different; because Senator Hatch cannot win re-election on a platform of unifying Utahns, he will attempt again to win by dividing Utahns apart" (see press release).
Washington Watch
The Hatch Report
Sen. Orrin Hatch outmaneuvers fellow Republican Sen. Arlen Specter and Senate Democrats by averting a Senate showdown over the NSA domestic surveillance program (CNN, USA Today, and Reuters); Hatch says of the proposed Marriage Protection Amendment: "Whether it passes [in the Senate] or not this time, I do not believe the sponsors are going to fall back and cry about it. I think they are going to keep bringing it up" (Associated Press); Hatch says he's tired of hearing the charge that there's no crisis to warrant a constitutional marriage amendment: "Judges are good at deciding cases. They are good at applying law. But when it comes to moral reasoning, there is nothing in their legal training or in our laws that gives a few activist judges the right to make wholesale social change at the expense of the traditions of the American people" (CitizenLink); Hatch delivers speech on the Senate floor defending the marriage amendment (see press release).
Bennett: Marriage Amendment Needed
At his Senate website, Sen. Bob Bennett says of the proposed Marriage Protection Amendment: “We are moving very slowly, but inexorably toward a definition of marriage that will be made by the courts, with no input whatsoever from the people through their elected representatives, either in state legislatures or the Congress. This type of judicial mischief is of great concern to me ... I am very reluctant to amend the Constitution, but am persuaded that this constitutional amendment is needed ... I’d like the opportunity to offer changes to the amendment before us because I’m not yet convinced that the language ... is the correct language for this important constitutional provision. I hope my colleagues in the Senate will vote in a way that provides a chance for me to offer those changes, but fear the vote will fail."
Cannon: Let States Fight Porn
Rep. Chris Cannon introduces legislation "that will allow states to combat pornography by limiting the ability of federal courts to reverse state court decisions as to what is obscene material" (see press release).
Blog Watch
The Jawa Report says: "One thing I've always admired about the [Mormons] is that they, unlike other denominations, haven't forgotten the time honored Christian tradition of excommunication. With Sen. Harry Reid's (D-Nev) new found stance opposing the Constitutional Amendment defining marriage between a man and a woman at odds with that of the Mormon church, isn't it time the Mormons disassociate themselves from him?" (see also here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here)... Congressional candidate Christian Burridge discusses the "Cannon Brother Myth Making Machine"... Rep. Steve Urquhart has a second post on teacher pay... Obiter Dicta by Steve discusses Mormon attitudes toward Pres. Bush and the GOP... At Out of Context, Thomas Burr reports: "Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney was spotted [Monday] leaving the White House West Wing. We're not sure of the purpose of the visit, but there is apparently no truth to the rumors he was packing a tape measure and some curtain samples" (see also here)... At the Senate Site blog, Sen. Lyle Hillyard extols the virtues of holiday chuck wagon breakfasts.
-- Compiled by Golden Webb
2006 Sutherland Transcend Series
The Sutherland Institute will host a Transcend Series session “Across the Spectrum – Understanding Philosophical Frameworks” tomorrow from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm. The presentations will include a general overview of the conservative political perspective by Dr. Lee Edwards, an examination of liberal political and public policy philosophies by Dr. Tim Chambless, and a discussion about the practical value of the philosophies by Dr. Ralph Hancock. To attend or f or more information contact Stan Rasmussen, 801-355-1272. |
|
Utah Policy Daily is a service
of Utah Policy.com
Publisher: LaVarr Webb
Editor: Paul Hollingshead
News: Golden Webb
Calendar and Subscriptions: Luci Hollingshead
Advertising: Jenn Wheelwright
Utah Policy Daily
American Plaza III, Suite 105
47 West 200 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84101
801.537.0900 Office
801.537.0901 Fax
Special E-Mail Messages: Utah Policy Daily may send subscribers e-mails with information about new features, special offers, or messages on public policy issues from clients and advertisers. If you do not wish to ever receive these e-mails, please let us know by e-mail at daily@utahpolicy.com.
|
|
|
Wednesday
June 7, 2006
Please submit calendar items to Daily@UtahPolicy.com
- June 7: Pete Ashdown to speak to the Red Rock Rotary Club, 7:30 a.m., Fairway Grill, St. George Blvd. Open to the Public. No Host Breakfast.
- June 7: Pete Ashdown News Conference with The Spectrum, 10 a.m.
- June 7: Lt. Gov. Herbert to speak at Six County Association of Governments meeting, 12 p.m., Snow College Richfield Campus, 200 South 800 West, Richfield.
- June 7: Gov. Huntsman youth jobs announcement, 2 p.m., United Parcel Service, 2040 West Park Way Blvd, West Valley. The Governor will announce his new initiative: Connecting Utah's Youth to Utah's Economy.
- June 7: Utah Transit Authority Board of Trustees meeting, 3 p.m., Meadowbrook Facility and Maintenance Complex, Board Room, 3600 South 700 West, Salt Lake City.
- June 7: Pete Ashdown and the democratic nominees in Washington County to speak about the "Divine strake" and other current issues, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., St. George Library meeting hall. Open to the Public.
- June 7: Pete Ashdown to speak to Toastmasters International, 6:30 p.m., J. B' s Restaurant, Main Street, St. George. No Host Dinner. Open to the Public.
- June 7: Democracy for Utah Meet up and Officer Elections, 7 to 8:45 p.m., Conference room C, Salt Lake Main Library, 210 E 400 S.
- June 8: Second session of the 2006 Sutherland Transcend Series. Dr. Lee Edwards, Distinguished Fellow in Conservative Thought at the Heritage Foundation in Washington D.C., Dr. Tim Chambless, Adjunct Professor of Political Science at the University of Utah, and Dr. Ralph Hancock, Professor of Political Science at Brigham Young University will present and facilitate this session. Topic: "Across the Spectrum – Understanding Philosophical Frameworks." For more information and to register, contact Stan Rasmussen at 801-355-1272 or email si@sutherlandinstitute.org.
- June 8: Privately Owned Health Care Organization Task Force, 9 a.m., room W135.
- June 8: Utah Wildlife Board Meeting, 9:30 a.m., DNR Auditorium, 1594 W. North Temple, Salt Lake City.
- June 8: Utah Constitutional Revision Commission, 1 p.m., room W125.
- June 8: Lt. Gov. Herbert to speak at South Eastern Association of Governments meeting, 2 p.m., 375 South Carbon Avenue, Price.
- June 8: Meet and Greet with Pete Ashdown, 6 p.m., Giles Home, 1892 S 2500 E, Salt Lake City.
- June 9: Closing the Achievement Gap for Hispanic Youth presentation by Barbara Lovejoy, Director of the nonprofit Generación Florecient, 7 to 8:30 a.m., Lamb's Café, 169 S. Main, Salt Lake. For more information or to register contact Barbara at (801) 466-1117 or bclovejoy@msn.com.
- June 9: Lt. Gov. Herbert to tour White Mesa Uranium Processing Mill, Blanding.
- June 9: Water Issues Task Force meeting, 11:30 a.m., room W125.
- June 9: Gov. Huntsman to give speech at Girls State, 1 p.m., SUU, Sharwan Smith Student City Center, Cedar City.
- June 10: Davis County Democrats monthly breakfast, 8:30 a.m., Granny Annie's Restaurant, 286 N 400 W, Kaysville. Steve Olsen, candidate for United States Representative, First Congressional District and Rep. LaWanna Shurtliff from District 10 in Weber County will be guest speakers. Please bring an item of food (non perishable) for the Davis County Food Bank. All interested Democrats and the general public are invited.
- June 10: Lt. Gov. Herbert to speak at the Centennial Celebration of the Antiquities Act, 10 a.m., Blanding.
- June 10: Chris Cannon to attend Art City Days Grand Parade, 10 a.m., Springville.
- June 10: Candidates for 3rd District John Jacob and Chris Cannon to attend Citizens Resource Debate and Meet the Candidate day, 12:30 p.m., UVSC Student Union Building, 800 W University Parkway, Orem.
- June 10: Chris Cannon to attend Orem Summerfest Parade, 7 p.m., Orem.
|
- See the entire calendar
|
|
