News Highlights

Grassroots group Citizens for Dixie's Future holds rally in St. George to protest the Washington Co. growth bill recently introduced in Congress by Sen. Bob Bennett and Rep. Jim Matheson (Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret Morning News).

The House passes Sen. Orrin Hatch's sex offender registry bill (Tribune and Morning News).

Will proposed new tax in Utah County pay for highways or commuter rail? (Tribune and Morning News).

Quote of the Day

…"white, non-Hispanic and native-born fertility rates are well below replacement. That means nationally, every generation born is smaller."

-- Pam Perlich, a senior research economist at the University of Utah, commenting on a new study about population growth and immigration (Morning News).

National Perspective on Transportation

I’m spending this week in Washington, D.C., mostly attending meetings on national transportation issues. I’ve heard key transportation leaders in Congress speak, as well as top industry leaders and a key executive in the U.S. Department of Transportation. In light of Utah’s transportation challenges, it’s interesting to get a national perspective. Here are some observations:

-- Congestion is increasing across the nation, and infrastructure development is not keeping up. Our society is simply more mobile, and growing states like Utah are especially challenged. One key congressman said, “We should be investing trillions of dollars, not billions, in transportation to keep our economy competitive.”  The U.S. DOT estimates conservatively that congestion costs the economy $200 billion a year, but the Reason Foundation puts the number at $600 billion.

-- The gas tax has been the main source of funding for transportation infrastructure, but it is not keeping up, thanks to inflation and more fuel-efficient vehicles. The federal Highway Trust Fund will be out of money by 2009. Gas tax revenue will barely pay for highway maintenance, and cannot be counted on to build the new transportation infrastructure needed to maintain mobility.

-- Virtually every speaker, both from Congress and the administration, said that tolling and private investment in transportation will become major components of transportation funding. Polls show that citizens prefer paying tolls to higher gas taxes. The biggest dissatisfaction with tolling has to do with toll booths (which can be eliminated with new technology), rather than paying the toll. Tolling in Florida is now bringing in a billion dollars a year and all new capacity projects are considered for tolling.

-- More and more large investment banks are becoming interested in transportation infrastructure investment. It makes sense to let demand drive new supply through private investment.

Washington Watch

Hatch: Stem Cell Research 'Pro-Life'

Sen. Orrin Hatch pens op-ed criticizing Pres. Bush's veto of a bill that would have expanded federal funding for stem cell research: "I believe that being pro-life involves helping the living. Stem-cell research is pro-life and pro-family; it enhances, not diminishes, human life. I do not question that an embryo is a living cell, but I do not believe that a frozen embryo in a fertility clinic freezer constitutes human life. The president's argument that using spare in vitro fertilization embryos for research destroys life is essentially a paper tiger -- the spare embryos are slated for destruction anyway. I find it hard to understand how the president is comfortable with allowing 7,000 to 20,000 of these spare embryos to be discarded each year as waste yet considers it murder to use these same embryos to benefit mankind" (The Hill); Hatch urges the Senate to support the Child Custody Protection Act, which would "criminalize individuals who take a girl across state lines for an abortion" (see press release); Hatch endorses "Jerome A. Holmes of Oklahoma to be a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, which covers the six states of Utah, Oklahoma, Kansas, New Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming" (press release).

Blog Watch

At the Senate Site blog, Sen. Lyle Hillyard analyzes the most recent TC-23 tax revenue report, and concludes: "I am thankful the revenues are up. I am glad our people are doing better than expected. The investments we are making are working" (see also Hillyard's audio blog analysis of the report)... Liberty for Utahns! has a post on immigration policy... Davis County Watch says: "One of my sources tells me that Kay Briggs is going to be retiring as Mayor of NSL and that Lynn Ballard, formerly a County Commissioner Candidate, wants the job. If I wanted to show some real credibility I would get an additional source. Also, I'll be pulling a Robert Novak, and not revealing my source -- except, maybe, to a Grand Jury"... In reaction to this story, Part of the Plan says: "[HHS Sec. and former Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt] just can't seem to catch a break. To tell you the truth, whether this is legal or not, it's obviously one of those tax dodges that only the rich and privileged elite can take advantage of. Poor middle-class schmucks like me don't have a clue how to beat the IRS like this. When I fire up my copy of Turbo Tax every year, it never asks me 'Would you like to setup a Type III family charitable organization so you can write off non-existent acts of philanthropy?'" (see also here, here, here, and here)... tag-strategia has a couple posts on financial literacy education in public schools... Education in Utah has a post on school trust lands... Millard Fillmore's Bathtub has a post on education spending... The St. George Spectrum editorial board joins the Utah blogosphere: SouthernUtahBlog... At Out of Context, Robert Gehrke reports: "The Senate voted 98-0 last week to pass the Voting Rights Act. Sen. Orrin Hatch was quoted in The Hill newspaper saying, 'I think the Voting Rights Act is the most important civil-rights bill in history.' But in 1982, Hatch was a leading opponent of the bill. He fought for changes as a member of the Judiciary Committee, was one of four who voted against a compromise version of the bill in committee, and argued the bill could lead to reverse discrimination. The New York Times quoted Hatch in June 1982 warning that if the Voting Rights Act was renewed, 'racial gerrymandering and racial block voting will become normal occurrences'''... Illinoisans For Mitt notes this columnist's assertion that "[a] new [conservative Christian] orthodoxy has emerged around issues such as abortion, gay marriage, public display of the Ten Commandments, and so on," and says: "No doubt this movement seeks to grow. Orthodoxy inherently moves to multiply and convert. This new Orthodoxy needs an articulate leader who can recognize this fight and combine political savvy, intellect, and moral courage at the highest levels of Government. In order to multiply and convert the messenger needs to be equal to the message ... Today I believe we have such a person, [Mass. Gov. and likely '08 presidential candidate] Mitt Romney" (see also here, here, here, here, and here)... Rep. Steve Urquhart says: "Rumors are circulating that Gov. Huntsman endorsed Sen. [John] McCain's presidential bid in exchange for a promised cabinet spot. Is that true? I don't know and, for the purposes of this discussion, I don't care ... The point is that the possibility itself raises an interesting hypothetical ... If a sitting Governor were to angle for such a deal, he would be campaigning for election at the same time as the presidential candidate -- not with real plans to serve as Governor, but with plans to get elected, turn the reigns over to the Lieutenant, and jump to the presidential administration. In such a scenario, if successful, the voters would not get a real chance to vote on the person who actually would serve as Governor or ever intended to serve as Governor that term. That would be highly abusive to one of the people's most basic and essential rights -- the right to actually elect their governmental leaders. Again, I have no idea whether Gov. Huntsman cut any kind of deal ... But, that has no bearing on what Utah should do to ensure that the people's franchise right is secure ... I have asked Legislative Research to give me an opinion whether the Utah Constitution needs to be amended to protect against such a hypothetical situation."

-- Compiled by Golden Webb

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Utah in the National News

Article looks at Mass. Gov. and likely '08 presidential candidate Mitt Romney's Mormonism (Associated Baptist Press).

Article: "Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson is an unapologetic Democrat in what may be the reddest state in the nation. But he has implemented serious green policies during his five years as mayor -- and won not only re-election but plaudits from the local business community. 'When I can get up in front of the Salt Lake City Rotary Club, which is by and large conservative businesspeople, and get a standing ovation after talking about the kinds of changes we're making here, that says a lot,' Anderson says. His city government committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 7 percent from 1990 levels ... By the end of 2005 it had already exceeded that target while boosting city revenues ... The city then shared its lessons with local businesses and citizens ... 'We show them how they can do the same and generally save money as well,' says Anderson, who adds, 'It's important to have a positive message. People respond so well to the sense that, yes, we have these [environmental] challenges, but we have a can-do spirit and we can do the right thing and come out ahead'" (The Nation).

HHS Sec. and former Utah governor Mike Leavitt pens op-ed on reforming the healthcare system in New Orleans and Louisiana (The Hill).

Environmentalists say global warming is putting Glen Canyon National Recreation Area at risk (Reuters).

As towns like "Moab, Utah, grow at rates far beyond the national average, they bump against the public land that surround them, carrying urban crimes to open space" (New York Times).

Local Headlines

Salt Lake Tribune

- House passes sexual predator bill

- Town meeting on climate

- Utah County weighs transit split

- Pioneer heritage area would be the first in Utah

- Utah's ACLU director leaving after 5 years

- Rally opposes bill before Congress dealing with Washington County land

- New report says Utah is prepared for disasters

- End to tax credit puts wind farm at risk

- Rolly: D.A. hopeful unaware of rip-off

- Utah County task force calls for facility to be built in downtown Provo

- Editorial: A hard lesson: Local officials have duty to restrict building on landslides

Tooele Transcript Bulletin

- Mayor's Corner: Don't make us turn off your taps

- Grantsville rodeo club thanks mayor, city council members

Standard-Examiner

- Economic benefits of rail stations questioned

- Davis Chamber moves to new home

- Editorial: Wasting money

Davis County Clipper

- West Nile mosquitoes found buzzing in Davis

- HAFB to get $10 million in Senate appropriations

- Closing festivities planned for Bountiful rec center

- Residents to get chance to critique Farmington

- Layton asked to help pay for Conference Center expansion

- Jobs up, unemployment down

BYU NewsNet

- Editorial: Teacher shortage

Daily Herald

- Schools look to recruit from retired professors

- Op-ed: Meetings law changes let more sunshine in

KCPW

- Utah's population growth pale compared to AZ, NV

- Forum @ Market: Bond initiatives

- Music and politics to reach youth

Deseret Morning News

- LDS pioneers, Great Basin get 'heritage areas'

- California fuels Utah growth

- Convention center in Provo?

- Most favor creation of small school districts

- Enrollment dip worries colleges

- Commuter-rail vote inches closer

- Senate passes abortion bill

- House passes sex-offender measure, sends it on to Bush

- 'Monster home' tiff deemed divisive

- Citizens group rallies against lands bill

- Cuts could hurt poorest of Utah's poor

- Audit of agency requested

- Suburban boom may be fueling projects in Salt Lake

- Gay candidate seeks Murray board post

- Power facilities strained

- Panel OKs $100M for Utah bases

- Affordable housing gets $1.5M boost

- All results official in primary elections

- Venture dollars drop in Utah

Elected Officials Birthday List

Please submit calendar items to Daily@UtahPolicy.com

- July 26- 31: Bob Brister, Green Candidate for Utah's 2nd Congressional District, will lead a delegation to the Green Party of the United States(GP-US) Conference in Tucson, Arizona. Mr. Brister has been endorsed by Greens for Democracy and Independence (GDI), a national association representing the majority of Greens. The GDI is holding its first national conference in conjunction with the GP-US conference.
- July 26: Administrative Rules Review Committee, 9 a.m., room W135.
- 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 26: Midday Metro at 10 a.m. on KCPW 88.3 FM: conversations with Pam Perlich, a senior research economist for the Bureau of Economic and Business Research at the U of U, on immigration’s impact on Utah and the nation; Patrick Nelson on protecting eco-diversity in Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons with this week’s Wasatch Wildflower Festival; and an update on Radio al-Mahaba with Salt Laker Akiko Swab. To participate, email midday@kcpw.org.
- July 26: RadioWest on KUER FM 90: "Road Trips," 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. 50 years ago, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Federal-Aid Highway Act, creating one of the greatest public works projects in history -- and a significant development in American culture. Today on RadioWest, we'll hear about some unforgettable trips, and ask you to share some of your stories of the road.
- July 26: Gov. Huntsman to attend Samoan Heritage Festival, 7 p.m., West Valley Family Fitness Center, 3100 South 5600 West, West Valley City.
- July 27: Governor's Monthly News Conference, 10 a.m., KUED studios.
- July 27: Lt. Gov. Herbert to meet with County Clerks, 1 p.m., State Office Building, Salt Lake City.
- July 27: Downtown Alliance and Salt Lake Chamber "Downtown Connection / Business After Hours" networking social event, 5 to 7 p.m., Panache Restaurant, Second Floor of the Wells Fargo Center, 299 S. Main Street. Cost is $12 for Chamber members and Downtown Alliance businesses. For more information and to register, visit the Salt Lake Chamber's website or call Jackie Sexton at 801-328-5053.
- July 27: Salt Lake County Libertarian Party Meeting, 7 p.m., Rocky Mountain Pizza Company, 3977 Wasatch Blvd., Holladay.
- July 28: 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 28: Town Hall Meeting on Climate Change, 6:30 p.m., City Library Auditorium, 210 E 400 S, Salt Lake City. Presentation by Mayor Rocky Anderson on climate change and maintaining our quality of life. All members of the community are invited. An open public forum will follow.
- July 29: Utah Democratic Family Reunion, 12 p.m., Washington Park (located just east of the Mountain Dell Golf Course). Democrats from all over Utah are invited to bring the whole family to this event where there will be games, food and an opportunity to get to know one another better.
- July 31: Medicaid Interim Committee, 8:30 a.m., room W135.
- Aug 1: Utah International Trade Commission, 2 p.m., room W125.

- See the entire calendar