The Week Ahead
It’s the last full week of campaigning before the primary election a week from Tuesday. Voters will be paying attention this week. Final debates and joint appearances will be held for candidates in primary contests. By weekend, the focus will be on get-out-the-vote efforts and final messages. A lot of candidates will roll out endorsements ads and mail pieces.
Lots of legislative action ahead this week with the Executive Appropriations Committee meeting Tuesday at 1 p.m. and then a full slate of interim committee meetings on Wednesday. See the legislative calendar for the agendas, meeting locations, etc.
See all the week’s political events in the Utah Policy Daily calendar.
Highway Commemorative Event
UDOT is celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Interstate Highway System by hosting a farewell event this morning for members of the commemorative convoy from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Speakers will include Gov. Huntsman, UDOT Executive Director John Njord, and Idaho Department of Transportation Executive Director David Ekern. For more info, see press release.
Sierra Club Likes SLC's Transit Efforts
The Sierra Club's Sierra Magazine praises Salt Lake City for its "transit turnaround"; Sierra Club director Carl Pope finds significance in the fact that Gov. Huntsman signed a Western Governors Association resolution "calling for action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, saying that such actions could actually be economically beneficial and agreeing that a failure to act [on global warming] could have serious adverse consequences for Western States."
Rolly Scores on Webb
The Tribune’s Paul Rolly writes in his Monday gossip column:
“Political commentator and lobbyist LaVarr Webb said in his utahpolicy.com Friday that congressional Democrats were hypocritical for criticizing Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt for using a charter jet service usually reserved for medical emergencies for a public relations jaunt.
“Webb chastised the Democrats for nitpicking ‘for partisan political purposes.’
“Speaking of partisan political purposes, Webb neglected to mention in his column that he was Leavitt's campaign manager when Leavitt ran for Utah governor in 1992.
“Webb also failed to mention he was Leavitt's director of policy when the governor was criticized for running up a $50,000 taxpayer tab for 108 flights on the state-owned charter in a 16-month period. Many of the trips were for such critical purposes as golf trips, Republican fundraisers and GOP strategy sessions.”
Blog Watch
Rep. Steve Urquhart responds to this Trib editorial on Medicaid: "Most care, most people, least cost, adequate pay for doctors, ignore federal funding. Brilliant! The committee members will want to know about this"... At the Senate Site blog, Sen. Carlene Walker reports on the first meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee for Small School Districts... Part of the Plan explains why Republicans are bad at governing (see also here)... The Warren predicts a Chris Cannon loss on June 27th, and blames Tony Yapias (see also here, here, here, here, here, and here)... House 25 candidate Josh Ewing says: "This week, Rob Weyher, the Chairman of the Summit County Democratic Party, was charged by the Salt Lake County Attorney's office with a crime for offering me a bribe to withdraw from the District 25 race. I’m writing about this in the blog because so many people have asked me about the situation"... y-intercept endorses local community blogs like Weber County Forum... Utah Democrats endorses George Pyle and Plato's Cave... Wilf Sommerkorn says the idea that Utah's new commuter rail stations will be the "focus for new development or revitalization is, I suspect, more hope than reality"... Domestic Fuel posts an MP3 clip of Sen. Bob Bennett sharing "some interesting anecdotes" at a dinner commemorating the 50th anniversary of the U.S. interstate highway system.
-- Compiled by Golden Webb
Washington Watch
Father's Day Look at 'Legacy Caucus'
In honor of Father's Day, article takes in-depth look at the six U.S. senators, including Sen. Bob Bennett, who currently represent the same state his or her father once did in the Senate (NBC News).
Federal $$ for FrontRunner
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta seals an agreement with the Utah Transit Authority for $489 million in federal funding for the "FrontRunner" Weber County-to-Salt Lake City Commuter Rail line (see press release); Sen. Orrin Hatch commends Utah transit officials for securing the federal funding (press release).
Utah Delegation Friendly to Small Business
The Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council says Utah's congressional delegation is among the best in the nation when it comes to voting on issues important to small business or entrepreneurs (Cumberland Times-News).
Praise for Matheson's Anti-Pay Raise Stand
Editorials praise Rep. Jim Matheson for trying to block the automatic congressional "cost of living" pay raise (OpinionEditorials.com and Waco Tribune-Herald).
Single Issue Race in 3rd District
Article says race between Rep. Chris Cannon and John Jacob boils down to a single issue: immigration (CQPolitics.com).
Campaign Tip
Create a realistic and workable plan
(Source: Rep. Ronda Menlove, in a 2006 Republican Women’s Political Action Committee Leadership School Candidate Training Workshop)
- Make a list of what you need to accomplish throughout the campaign.
- Create a timeline and calendar of events, appointments and deadlines.
- Determine your financial resources and develop a realistic budget. Prioritize and get good advice about potential donations, expenses, and what will benefit you most.
- Determine your people resources, get contact information, find out what they will do.
- Plan how and when you will walk (or drive) your district. Figure out what you need to take and who will go with you.
- Maximize your walking time – know the neighborhoods, look at voting patterns, divide up the streets and houses. Not everyone needs to talk with you personally!
- Be Flexible. Be ready to change or adjust your plan. If something doesn’t work, abandon it. Listen to advice and feedback. Be quick to respond. Good preparation for service!
- Plan for the campaign to heat up around election time. Most voters decide who to vote for in the two weeks before the election. Plan for this and let your family, friends, boss know.
(For more information about the RWPAC, contact Kitty Dunn, kittydunn@comcast.net.)
Media Watch
When a reporter needs a good quote for a story, there are usually tried and true sources to go to on every beat. On political stories, a few political science professors at the U. and BYU are usually called. On a story about government ethics, campaign finance reform, or consumerism, Clair Geddes can count on getting some calls. The same is true at the national level, as reported by William Powers in his media column in NationalJournal.com.
Now You Know
The city of Santa Clara is on the Santa Clara Creek, four miles northwest of St. George. Jacob Hamblin, an early Mormon scout, helped establish an Indian Mission on the site in 1854. In 1856, a fort was built. The river was named by early travelers on the Old Spanish Trail and refers to the exceptionally good weather in this region. Santa Clara Swiss Days is an annual community wide celebration to honor the colony of Swiss settlers, who were asked by President Brigham Young to settle Santa Clara in 1861. Santa Clara celebrates and renews its pioneer heritage each year in September with pioneer demonstrations, heritage displays and much more. It is referred to as, “The Jewel of Utah’s Dixie.” (Source: Local Government Directory, Utah League of Cities & Towns)
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