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2015 Watch
Sales Tax for Transit Not Dead Yet
By LaVarr Webb
The Salt Lake County Council took a took a courageous and visionary step Tuesday by voting to place a property tax GO bond proposal on the general election ballot in November (See coverage by Tribune and Morning News). The four new TRAX lines to Draper, West Jordan/South Jordan, West Valley City and the airport are primed and ready to go, and approval by voters this fall would mean construction starts next year and all the new lines are finished within seven years.
However, the County Council action doesn’t mean the funding mechanism for the TRAX expansion is set in concrete. While a solid majority of voters say they would pay the increased property tax for the four new lines, significant opposition to the property tax also exists. The Legislature could still replace the $895 million property tax bond with a quarter-cent sales tax increase in just Salt Lake County.
By taking that action in January, none of the property tax money would have been expended and the entire amount could be replaced with a quarter-cent sales tax. None of the projects would be slowed down.
Most all public officials and business leaders, including the County Council who voted for the property tax bond, prefer the sales tax. In fact, the November ballot language for the property tax bond could possibly be written in such a way to encourage the Legislature to switch the funding to a quarter-cent sales tax. If it passes, the Legislature would have clear direction from voters that they want TRAX expansion and are willing to pay for it, but they prefer the sales tax to property tax.
On The Move
For links to all the week's key transportation news stories, read below. |
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News Highlights
Gov. Huntsman and the Nature Conservancy launch the largest land preservation and restoration campaign in state history (Salt Lake Tribune, Associated Press, and Deseret Morning News).
Voters will get to decide whether to build four new TRAX light rail lines in Salt Lake County (Tribune and Morning News).
Sens. Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennett vote to expand federal funding for embryonic stem cell research (Morning News, KCPW, and Tribune).
Special session on tax reform still being discussed (Tribune). |
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Quote of the Day
“It's easy to jump all over crowd-pleasing tax cuts during an election year, especially when the state is growing and surpluses are plentiful. It's much harder to govern responsibly with an eye toward the future, but that is what ultimately will leave a legacy of which to be proud.”
-- Morning News editorial on the push for tax cuts.
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Wednesday Buzz
Written by LaVarr Webb & Associates |
Lots More on Mitt Romney
See the very sophisticated runmittrun.org Web site paid for by San Diego filmmaker Mitch Davis, and a press release about the project, plus results of a poll conducted in South Carolina that shows voters know very little about the Mormon Church. See also Tribune and Morning News coverage.
Blog Watch
Reach Upward, in a post on declining birthrates, says: "A couple of decades ago people decried the unsustainable nature of an increasing population. Contrariwise, we must consider the unsustainable nature of our socialization of aging. A declining percentage of producers cannot hope to continue to provide adequate support for an increasing percentage of retirees. Even as we expand our Medicare system and ignore the impending implosion of our Social Security system in defiance of demographic realities, we continually push the problem into the future toward an increasingly dire situation. What will the brave, new future hold for an aging population that lived their productive lives in a culture that failed to create enough children to provide for itself? This could easily produce a whole new and terrible meaning to the phrase 'generation wars'"... JuniperWest says: "The Federal Marriage Amendment failed in the House [Tuesday], and thank God for the 60+ fair-minded representatives that voted it down. I was shocked to find that [Rep.] Jim Matheson was not one of them" (see also here)... The Utah Amicus notes that Democratic congressional candidate Christian Burridge "will be visiting longtime Utah radio personality Tom Barberi on 96.5 FM [today] at 12:00PM. Tune in and see Utah's best choice for the Third District"... Erik's Blog says: "Pete Ashdown, local Internet entrepreneur and funny looking guy, is running as a Democrat against [Sen. Orrin] Hatch in the 2006 mid-term election. He won't win. I don't say that because I don't want him to win -- I do -- but he won't. What he will do, hopefully, is send Hatch and the rest of Utah a message: nobody is so entrenched that they can't be (eventually) toppled. The fact that Ashdown isn't a career politician, rich lawyer, close relation to an existing entrenched politician, or any other kind of insider will be icing on the cake" (see also here and here)... Eidos says: "A great many people are saying that [Mass. Gov. and likely '08 presidential candidate Mitt] Romney cannot get Evangelical votes ... because he is a Mormon. I think they are wrong. The Evangelical community is mature enough to know that they are voting for President not Chief Pastor" (see also here, here, and here).
-- Compiled by Golden Webb
Washington Watch
The Hatch Report
Sen. Orrin Hatch joins the Senate in approving, by a 63 to 37 vote, legislation that expands current federal funding for stem cell research; Pres. Bush is expected to cast the first veto of his presidency to nix the bill (see press release and Bloomberg); Hatch says he's feeling heat from the pro-life community over his support for the legislation: "Pro-life leaders have been respectful but disappointed. One leader even told me I was no longer pro-life. But with rank and file people, countless have come up to me and said, 'I support you ... your position is very pro-life because you want to help the living as well as the unborn'" (U.S. News & World Report); Hatch says the bill "will help provide the long overdue expansion of the number of stem cell lines eligible for federally funded biomedical research. This is what our leading scientists have told us they want and need to move the field of stem cell research forward" (Reuters); Hatch says: "I do not believe that a frozen embryo in a fertility clinic freezer constitutes human life. Now, I believe that being pro-life involves helping the living. Regenerative medicine is pro-life and pro-family" (Associated Press); conservative columnist says Hatch "pledged during his last Republican primary campaign to oppose embryo research, but then broke his promise" (National Review); Hatch tells St. Louis-area Jewish leaders he supports Israel in its fight against Hamas, Hezbollah, Syria, and Iran: "I wear a mezzuzah and have one on my office door to remind me every day what happened to the Jewish people during the Holocaust and of the importance of supporting our friends in Israel ... No responsible nation can fail to defend Israel in this crisis. Israeli soldiers were kidnapped by Hamas and Hezbollah for no good reason at all. I have absolute support for what Israel is doing to defend itself and to get back its soldiers" (St. Louis Jewish Light and St. Louis Post Dispatch); Hatch says of his proposed national sex offender registry bill, which is being championed by Ed and Elizabeth Smart: "We have 500,000 sex offenders in this country -- 150,000 we don't even know where they are. We got to check the Web a lot more, because that is where so many of them find their victims" (KLTV 7 and Hatch Senate website photo).
Bennett: Fund Expanded Stem Cell Research
Sen. Bob Bennett votes to authorize federal funding for expanded embryonic stem cell research. Says Bennett: "The issue is not a question of whether stem cell research will go forward. That issue has already been determined as states, such as California and New Jersey have made the commitment to fund research on stem cell lines. The question now is whether the federal government will be involved. I believe that it is essential for both scientific and ethical reasons that the federal government, through the NIH, maintains an investment in this research. If the NIH were cut out all together, as it would be without this bill, the federal government would be left without any say in the ethical guidelines framing this promising science" (see press release). |
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Wednesday
July 19, 2006
Please submit calendar items to Daily@UtahPolicy.com
- July 17-19: Lt. Gov. Herbert to attend the National Lieutenant Governor's Association Conference, Seattle, Washington.
- July 19: Legislative meetings throughout day, see legislative calendar for details.
- July 19: Gov. Huntsman to give speech at US-ASEAN Business Council Conference, 8:30 a.m., Grand America Hotel, Salt Lake City.
- July 19: Midday Metro at 10 a.m. on KCPW 88.3 FM features conversations with Pat Mulroy, executive director of the Southern Nevada Water Authority, on the latest play Nevada is making for Utah water; Allison Jones, a biologist with the Wild Utah Project, with her concerns over the Utah-Nevada water negotiations; and David Livermore of The Nature Conservancy on the Living Lands and Waters campaign, the largest conservation initiative in Utah history that was unveiled yesterday.
- July 19: RadioWest on KUER FM 90: "Disputing the Water of Snake Valley," 11 a.m and 7 p.m. At its current growth rate, Las Vegas has enough water to carry it to 2013. Not much time for the ever-expanding metropolis to develop new water resources. The Southern Nevada Water Authority turned its sights on its 60% share of the water in the Snake Valley. Doug is joined by officials from both states and concerned Utahns, for a conversation about the process of an agreement and the impact of ever-increasing water demands.
- July 19: "Meet and Greet" the eight Democratic Candidates, or their representatives, for the 2006 General Election in Washington County, 6 p.m., Springdale Town Hall, 118 Lion Blvd., Springdale. Sponsored by the Washington County Democratic Executive Committee. Open to the Public.
- July 19: LaVar Christensen for Congress campaign presents "Rock the House" featuring the Stars of the Broadway hit "Beatlemania," 7 p.m., Dixie State Cox Auditorium in St. George. Call 801-572-9878 for ticket reservations or email info@lavarforcongress.com.
- July 20: Transportation, Environmental Quality, and National Guard Appropriations Subcommittee, 9 a.m., DOT Region 2 conference room, 2010 S 2760 W, Salt Lake City.
- July 20: LaVar Christensen for Congress campaign presents "Rock the House" featuring the Stars of the Broadway hit "Beatlemania," 7 p.m., Sandy City amphitheater. Governor Huntsman will make a guest appearance on keyboards. Call 801-572-9878 for ticket reservations or email info@lavarforcongress.com.
- July 20: Davis County Democrats Planning Committee Meeting, 7 p.m., Commission Chambers, Davis County Courthouse, 28 East State Street, Farmington. All Davis Democrats are urged to attend. The general public is also invited.
- July 20: Lt. Gov. Herbert to attend Pioneers of Progress Dinner sponsored by the Days of '47, 7 p.m., Little America Hotel, Salt Lake City.
- July 21: Gov. Huntsman Davis Co. School District Visit, 4 p.m., Farmington.
- July 21: Gov. Huntsman to attend 2006 Bountiful Handcart Days Parade, 6 p.m., Bountiful.
- July 21: Desert Greens Party of Utah Summer Recycling and Utah Food Bank Campaign, 5:30 to 9 p.m., 2144 South Highland Drive, Sugarhouse. For more information see www.gput.org/events.shtml.
- July 22: Lt. Gov. Herbert to participate in Cedar Hills 10th Annual Family Festival Parade, 9 a.m., Cedar Hills.
- July 22: Pete Ashdown speaking at 7 Year Anniversary Show at Kilby Court, 7 p.m., 741 S. Kilby Court (330 West). $5 cover charge. Visit www.kilbycourt.com for more information.
- July 24: Lt. Gov. Herbert to participate in the Days of '47 Parade, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., Salt Lake City.
- July 25: Lt. Gov. Herbert to address the Bear River Association of Governments, 1 p.m., Garden City.
- July 26: Lt. Gov. Herbert to offer opening remarks at Partners for the Advancement of Collaborative Engineering Education Conference, 9:30 a.m., Harman Bldg., BYU Campus, Provo.
- July 27: Lt. Gov. Herbert to meet with County Clerks, 1 p.m., State Office Building, Salt Lake City.
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- See the entire calendar
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Publisher: LaVarr Webb
Editor: Paul Hollingshead
News: Golden Webb
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