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2015 Watch
Regional Transit System Needed
Some 30-35% of TRAX passengers who board at 100th South station in Sandy are from Utah County, according to ridership surveys. Utah County residents are driving to that station and then hopping on TRAX. So even though Utah County taxpayers aren't paying taxes to support the TRAX system, they benefit by it. And that's perfectly OK. But this demonstrates that we need a regional mass transit system without each county becoming parochial about taxation and service levels. We all benefit by improved transportation wherever we live.
A Train Every Five Minutes
Here’s something cool: If the four new TRAX lines (to Draper, West Jordan/South Jordan, West Valley City and the airport) are added to the TRAX system, a lot more cars will be added to the system as well. That will mean that on much of the main line, a TRAX train will come by about every five minutes. So we won’t have to worry about schedules. Anytime you need to go someplace you just head for the TRAX station and a train comes by within five minutes.
Support Transit Expansion
Join the 2015 Transportation Alliance at this Web site. And learn more about the Alliance by reading three documents. The first is a letter to the community from the leaders of The 2015 Alliance. The second is a press release from the Chamber, and the third is a fact sheet from the Chamber. |
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News Highlights
Utahns head to the polls today to vote in one U.S. House primary and primaries for legislative, county and school board contests, as well as bond elections in five school districts (Deseret Morning News and Daily Herald). Tribune editorial says it’s time to take those new voting machines out for a spin.
Sandy officials to reveal their top-secret funding plan for the Real Salt Lake soccer stadium today (Morning News and Salt Lake Tribune).
Business leaders purchase full page newspaper ads to promote a special legislative session to authorize a ballot initiative for public transit funding (Morning News). |
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Quote of the Day
"On the Internet, speed is power."
-- Rick Vincent, associate chairman of Aviation Science at Utah Valley State College, who is using iProvo’s ultra-broadband communications network to teach remotely up to 40 students at a time on a flight simulator. A Bill Moyers-hosted PBS television show will feature the aviation class and iProvo as examples of the sort of high speed network the nation needs (Daily Herald). |
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Tuesday Buzz
Written by LaVarr Webb & Associates
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Vote Today
A low turnout is expected, so be one of the few who make a difference and have a voice.
Tuesday Soapbox
Proper Federalism is the Answer
In a recent column in U.S. News & World Report, Editor-at-Large David Gergen says: “The grim truth is that the political leadership of the country, especially in Washington, is almost dysfunctional in grappling with the big issues bearing down on us. From energy to education, climate change to healthcare, budget deficits to trade deficits, progress is perilously slow.”
Gergen is right. And the problem isn’t necessarily that the wrong people are in charge. The problem is that the national politicians are trying to do far too much; their job description has become so bloated that there is no way they can do it all. They can’t take care of every problem known to man.
The answer is to devolve much of the federal workload back to the states, along with the funding, and return to the kind of federalism envisioned by the Founding Fathers. Proper federalism will work even better in our modern, networked age. The best initiatives in education, health care and environmental progress are happening at the state level. Let the federal government handle those truly national responsibilities and let the 50 “laboratories of democracy” handle the rest.
Utah Foundation 'Quick Poll'
The Utah Foundation has posted a new "Quick Poll" question: "From your experience or those you know, what is the biggest obstacle to getting a college degree?" Head on over and vote.
Blog Watch
Outside Report says: "From Joe Lieberman to Lincoln Chafee to Daniel Akaka to Rep. Chris Cannon, never have we seen so many entrenched incumbent heads on the political chopping block. There is a real desire for change out there, but unfortunately that desire is not for bipartisanship. What we are witnessing is the DailyKosification of the Democratic Party and the Free Republicanization of the Republican Party. 2008 is going to be an ugly year"... At The Loft, Chuck Muth says he believes John Jacob's "Satan" comments may have killed his chances to unseat Rep. Chris Cannon, but claims that "Cannon is every bit the 'loose screw' that Jacob now appears to be. He once told me face-to-face after the impeachment hearings that he believed the Chinese had implanted a chip into Bill Clinton's head and that the former president was completely under the control of the ChiComs ... In any event, it now appears that the best opportunity to take out the Provo Prevaricator has gone up in smoke. Then again, if the devil can mess up Jacob, maybe the Big Guy upstairs -- who, after all, does work in mysterious ways -- can still pull out a miracle on Tuesday. Let us pray..." (see also here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here)... At New West, Tracy Medley says the Utah Legislature is "mentally-challenged" when it comes to disabled services... At the Senate Site blog, Sen. Sheldon Killpack proves it's sometimes better to be a devil than an angel. Check it out.
-- Compiled by Golden Webb
Washington Watch
'Cliffhanger' Vote on Hatch Amendment
Sen. Orrin Hatch says his proposed flag desecration amendment is the only way to overturn a 5-4 Supreme Court ruling in 1989 that struck down flag-protection laws in 48 states and the District of Columbia: "The First Amendment was denigrated when five unelected judges took the power away from the people" (Reuters); the Senate may vote as early as today on the amendment; observers expect the vote to be a "cliffhanger" (Chicago Tribune, ABC News, and Associated Press).
Bennett Bill Targets Identity Theft
Sen. Bob Bennett introduces a bill that would require companies to notify customers if their information has been compromised in a way that could lead to identity theft or account fraud. Says Bennett: "We are not doing enough to protect consumers and businesses from identity theft and account fraud" (MarketWatch, Reuters, and press release).
Cannon vs. Jacob is Immigration Test
Article says today's primary election between Rep. Chris Cannon and John Jacob "hinges in part on who stands taller in opposition to [Pres.] Bush's call for a path to citizenship for some 11 million illegal immigrants" (Associated Press); the primary's outcome "could signal how immigration will influence this year's congressional elections" (CNN); Jacob backtracks on his "Satan" comments: "What the [Salt Lake Tribune] reported and what I said weren't the same thing. It wasn't that [the devil] was trying to keep me out of Washington. I was just saying when you're trying to get into politics, there's a lot of adversity. … Contrary to reports of saying it was keeping me from being there, it was going to help me in training when I get there. It's not the devil; it's adversity." The Tribune stands by its story. Says the Trib's Dan Harrie: "[Jacob] specifically said 'the devil.' It sounds like he's telling a different story than what he told our reporter and editorial board (The Hill).
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of Utah Policy.com
Publisher: LaVarr Webb
Editor: Paul Hollingshead
News: Golden Webb
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Tuesday
June 27, 2006
Please submit calendar items to Daily@UtahPolicy.com
- June 27: Statewide Primary Election
- June 27: Lt. Gov. Herbert to kick off election day, 7 a.m., Zions Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1070 South Foothill Drive, Salt Lake City.
- June 27: Midday Metro at 10 a.m. on KCPW 88.3 FM features conversations with Salt Lake County Clerk Sherrie Swensen, who will gives us an on-the-scene report of electronic voting machines and turnout in today’s primary election; plus details on National HIV Testing Day with the CDC’s Ron Valdiserri and Lynn Beltran, HIV and STD program manager with the Salt Lake Valley Health Department; and two African women lawyers from Cameroon who take up residency at the Salt Lake City Film Center this week.
- June 27: RadioWest on KUER FM 90: "Home Buying - Your Personal Economy," 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. For many people, a home is their most important investment, but for many first time buyers, a home seems out of reach. On this edition of Your Personal Economy, host Dan Bammes takes a look at the strategies and the pitfalls of buying and selling residential real estate with John Bird of Albion Financial Group, Lisa Salisbury of Remax Mountain Properties and Darin Brush of the Community Development Corporation of Utah.
- June 27: Child Welfare Legislative Oversight Panel, 2 p.m., room W020.
- June 27: Gov. Huntsman to visit Bryce Canyon National Park, 3:30 p.m., and attend dinner with local leaders, 7 p.m., Ruby's Inn, 1000 South Hwy 63, Bryce.
- June 28: Gov. Huntsman to visit Capitol Reef National Park, 10:30 a.m., and attend lunch with Wayne County leaders, 12:30 p.m., Rim Rock Restaurant, Hwy 24, East of Torrey.
- June 28: Gov. Huntsman to tour Sigurd Wolverine Oil Site, 4 p.m., Sigurd.
- June 28: Utah Transit Authority Board of Trustees meeting, 2:30 p.m., Administration Building at the Meadowbrook Facility, Board Rooms, 3600 South 700 West, Salt Lake City.
- June 29: Privately Owned Healthcare Organization Task Force, 9 a.m., room W135.
- June 29: Gov. Huntsman's KUED Monthly News Conference, 10 a.m., KUED Studios.
- June 29: Meet and Greet Pete Ashdown, 6 p.m.,offices of Pace Pollard Architects, 256 East 100 South, Salt Lake. Hosted by John Pace and Ken Pollard. Contact nancy@peteashdown.org for more information.
- June 29: Washington County Republican Party County Central Committee Meeting, 7 p.m., The Dixie Center, St. George. Party business and possible bylaw changes will be discussed.
- June 30: Applications due for the Salt Lake Chamber's Leadership Utah class. To learn more, click here.
- July 1: Green Party Honk 'n' Wave for Peace "U.S. Out of Iraq, Now," featuring Bob Brister, Green Candidate for Utah's 2nd Congressional District, 9 to 10 a.m., NW corner, intersection of 700 E and 2100 S, Salt Lake City. For more information see www.bristerforcongress.org.
- July 1: Young Democrats of Utah free public barbeque, 4 to 8 p.m., Sugarhouse Park, Central Pavilion, 1300 East 2100 South, Salt Lake City. Democratic candidates, please sign up to bring your favorite side dish to share. For more info or to RSVP, please call Remington at 801-792-2802.
- July 4: Lt. Gov. Herbert to participate in Freedom Festival Parade, 9 a.m., Provo.
- July 5: Special Districts Subcommittee of the Political Subdivisions Interim Committee, 9 a.m., room W125.
- July 5: Lt. Gov. Herbert to host Mayor Olaf Raschke and staff of Meissen, Germany at the Utah State Capitol Complex, 4 p.m., Salt Lake City. |
- See the entire calendar
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