Lots of Positive Economic News
Utah economist Jeff Thredgold’s Tea Leaf economic update this week consists of “happy talk” – all the positive news related to the economy. And there’s a lot, such as this:
- American household net worth on March 31, 2006, reached $53.8 trillion, the highest ever, and nearly three times the total of 18 years ago. Net worth—the difference between assets and liabilities—has risen for 14 consecutive quarters. Higher home and stock prices led the way.
- Productivity of the average American worker rose an average of 3.3% annually during each of the past four years, the largest gains in 51 years. Rising productivity is a long-term key to higher standards of living.
National Politics
How to Increase Voter Turnout
Voters in neighboring Arizona may soon have a compelling reason to vote – a chance to win $1 million. In an OpinionJournal.com column headlined “The Powerball Voters,” columnist Jill Stewart describes a proposal on the Arizona ballot in November that, if passed, will distribute $1 million to a lucky voter after every primary and general election. If you vote, you’re automatically entered in the lottery. What’s more, the measure would be retroactive to this year’s primary and general elections, creating its own voter turnout incentive. Stewart says, “… there's something exhilarating about the idea of dramatically shaking things up.” I say it’s nutty to bribe people to vote.
Anti-War Republicans
In a NationalJournal.com column, Chuck Todd says a lot of Republicans are starting to sound like Democrats on the Iraq War, perhaps reinforcing the Democratic message.
UF Holds Education Forum
Utah Foundation is holding a forum on education funding and reform on Thursday, Sept. 7, at the Hilton Salt Lake City Center, 8-10 a.m. Breakfast will be served. Click here for more information. The forum follows publication earlier this year of a report showing a decline in funding effort for public education over the past ten years.
Speakers at the forum will discuss how the slide in funding effort should be addressed and reforms that would make Utah's education system more competitive and productive. Speakers will include State Superintendent Patti Harrington, Commissioner of Higher Education Richard Kendell, Governor Huntsman's Education Deputy Christine Kearl, Utah Taxpayers Association Vice President Mike Jerman, Parents for Choice in Education Chairman Doug Holmes, Utah School Boards Association First Vice President Sarah Meier, and others.
Seats cost $25 for Utah Foundation members and $35 for non-members. Tables for eight cost $200. To register, call Brooke Wilson at (801) 355-1400.
Blog Watch
At the Senate Site blog, Sen. Chris Buttars says an offhand comment to a reporter about Utah judicial retention was "all it took for the media to begin its 'Buttars Wants To Destroy the Separation-of-Powers' campaign. No doubt at this point you have seen it in every newspaper ... Some good things have come out of the media frenzy. I have had a number of callers with judicial conduct horror stories -- some with little merit, but others with great ideas on how we can enhance Judicial Retention Races ... I'm trying to work out a way to increase public awareness regarding retention elections, the infrequent but damaging rogue judge, and/or the Judicial Conduct Commission ... If someone out there has an ideas on how to make this work, I would love to hear from you"... Reach Upward attended a town meeting hosted by Rep. Rob Bishop in Weber County, and posts a report... Part of the Plan says abortion is the third rail of Utah politics... The Third Avenue thinks SL Co. Mayor Peter Corroon has a bright political future... Charley Foster, who recently moved to Hawaii, is "reluctantly retiring from Utah blogging, but I'm excitedly contemplating a Hawaii blog. I've been mulling a different approach and I'm looking forward to chronicling the education of a haole."
-- Compiled by Golden Webb
Washington Watch
Editorial Opposes Growth Plan
Editorial opposes the Washington Co. growth bill recently introduced in Congress by Sen. Bob Bennett and Rep. Jim Matheson (Boston Globe).
EPA Launches Utah Clean-Energy Project
The Environmental Protection Agency joins with a number of Salt Lake City-area partners to launch the Salt Lake Valley Landfill Gas Energy Project, which "will bring power to more than 2,500 homes in Utah" (see press release).
Greens Oppose New Highway
The Utah Chapter of the Sierra Club has come out in opposition to a proposal to build a new highway through Mohave desert tortoise habitat in the Red Cliffs Habitat Reserve near St. George. Says the Utah Chapter: "The Red Cliffs Habitat Reserve was established as the minimum habitat required for the desert tortoise to recover and prosper. Development elsewhere in Washington County was permitted to go forward only with the understanding that the approximately 60,000 acres in the reserve would be left untouched. Now St. George is going back on this agreement." For more info, click here.
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