Mayoral Race Update
Dave Buhler has hired Love Communications to do his mayoral campaign messaging and media. Ralph Becker has sent a message to friends and supporters saying he is “excited about the possibility of running for mayor in 2007,” but his focus now is on retaining his House seat this year. He will make a final decision after the November election. The list of candidates definitely in the race include: Buhler, Nancy Saxton, Keith Christensen, Jenny Wilson, and Dr. J. Preston Hughes. Others saying they are likely in the race are Meghan Holbrook and Becker. A few more being mentioned include Frank Pignanelli, Eric Jergensen, Molonai Hola and Patrice Arent.
National Politics
Some pundits are touting 2006 as the year with strong anti-incumbency sentiments. But in a NationalJournal.com column, John Mercurio outlines the difficulty of defeating an incumbent politician, and the ramifications for the Democrats' chances to win control of Congress this year.
Podcast Watch
Jennifer Napier-Pearce’s InsideUtah.com podcast this week features Diana Lee Hirschi, Tony Yapias and Conan Heimdal on three ways to greet the President of the United States; Grethe Peterson, Sen. Patrice Arent and others on giving abused kids a safe place to talk; and the story of Matt Jenson, a champion swimmer with Down’s Syndrome.
Blog Watch
Utah Taxpayer says: "Some issues are debated every year at the Legislature: tax cuts, tax hikes, vouchers, charter schools, public education, transportation, Truth-in-Taxation. Every couple of years, a sleeper issue dominates the headlines, catches everyone off guard and causes a big ruckus: credit unions vs. banks, UTOPIA, and subsidies for a soccer stadium. We'll be a little bold and make a prediction: one of the sleeper issues for the 2007 Session will be Utah's state spending limitation law. In 2004, Rep. Greg Hughes (R-Draper) sponsored HB66, a taxpayer-friendly bill that strengthened Utah's very weak spending limitation law. The bill passed each chamber overwhelmingly (48-17-10 in the House and 18-5-6 in the Senate). Why will this be an issue in the 2007 session? Stay tuned"... In the comments section of this post by New West's Tracy Medley on the controversy surrounding Sen. Chris Buttars' recent Brown v. Board of Education remarks, Jay P. Greene says: "I am the author of the book Education Myths that Senator Buttars cites as supporting his views on Brown v. Board of Education and the effects of desegregation. Nothing in my book could be interpreted as opposing the Brown decision or desegregation. In fact, the Brown decision only appears once in the book (on p. 204) in a chapter about how school choice contributes to the desirable policy goal of improved school integration. That is, my book clearly embraces the desegregation goals of the Brown decision. I'm afraid that the senator must have my book confused with a different one"... Paul Rolly says Pres. Bush's upcoming visit to Utah has already "meant a quick $125,000 for the coffers of the Utah Republican Party" (see also here)... At Out of Context, Rebecca Walsh says: "Recent reports that Utah Republican Party Chairman Joe Cannon has lobbied his younger brother, Congressman Chris Cannon, on behalf of several clients caused nary a ripple in Republican ranks. But Utah's top Republican questions the elder Cannon's judgment. 'If I were in that position, I would not have been lobbying a family member,' Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. said Wednesday. Although the nominal head of Utah's Grand Old Party, Huntsman said it's up to delegates to decide what behavior they're willing to accept from their leaders. 'If delegates don't like what the party chair is doing, they have the right to elect someone else,' he added. The relationship between the governor and the party chair has historically been chilly -- dating from the 2004 gubernatorial campaign. But the two have since made up. Still, Cannon probably should take note: 'The party is bigger than people, an individual,' Huntsman said."
Understanding the Legislature
Even though we linked to Rep. John Dougall's Dynamic Range blog post in yesterday's Blog Watch, I thought it was so good it deserves a full reprint in UPD. So many people misunderstand the Legislature. Dougall makes some great points. Here’s his post:
The First Law: 38-15-1
38-15-1? What's that you ask? It's the first natural law of the legislative process. It's the very first thing that every new legislator need to learn (and that every sitting legislator needs to remember). It's through the first law that almost everything gets done (i.e. pass/repeal legislation). Legislative success dictates strict compliance with the first law.
To pass a bill requires majority approval in both the House and Senate as well as concurrence of the Governor. The Utah House of Representatives consists of 75 members, with any 38 members comprising a majority. There are 29 members of the Utah Senate, of which any 15 form a majority. Then there's one Governor. If you can get any 38 members of the House, 15 members of the Senate, and the Governor to all agree with your legislation (e.g. vote for it/sign it) you can get it done.
Key take away: The legislative process is a team process.
No single individual can get anything done legislatively. It requires majority agreements. It requires complete obedience (and submission of your ego) to the first law. Many citizens don't fully comprehend this natural law. Some people assume that a legislator or the governor can just snap his or her fingers and magically laws change. They don't comprehend the complexity of making even the most minor legislative change. Despite their experience and leadership positions, not even the Speaker of the House, the President of the Senate, or Governor gets exactly what he wants, how he wants it, and when he wants it. Everyone has to work together, collaborating and compromising, battling and even horse trading, to either pass or block legislation. This process creates the continual formation of alliances, with various underlying motivations, agendas, and shifting suballiances, to address legislative issues.
So how can you be successful and also enjoy the legislative process? Here's a couple of key ways that help:
- Don't worry about getting credit. Just work to implement good policy and the rest will take care of itself.
- Don't burn bridges. Your worst opponent on one issue may be your greatest advocate on the next. Burning bridges reduces the available pool of resources necessary to reach 38-15-1.
- Patiently educate. There is an enormous array of legislative issue. No one is the expert on every issue, so you need to take time to help a sufficient number of legislators understand your issue and how it is beneficial to their constituencies.
- Check most of your ego at the door. It takes a certain amount of ego to survive and thrive in this process ("Hey look at this great idea. Let's do it!"), but too much ego does more damage ("I'm the only one who knows anything around here." or "This process can't survive without me."), ultimately leading to 1-0-0 -- a legislative goose egg.
- Persistence matters. The process is designed to be slow and cumbersome. Get back up when you are knocked down. Keep moving, keep pushing, or nothing will happen. Rarely does everyone look at a new idea and immediately welcome and adopt it (particularly in a process that generally punishes innovation). As people warm to the idea, they'll begin to accept and support it.
Of course there are certain limited exceptions to the first law, but if you remember 38-15-1 you can accomplish almost anything legislatively.
Casual Friday
Outdoors Report
Lake Powell is fishing right now better than at any time in its history. That is saying a lot. But that’s the report from Powell guru Wayne Gustaveson, who concludes his Lake Powell report with this provocative invitation: “If you haven't experienced the most amazing year for fishing success ever seen at Lake Powell, now would be a good time to give it a try.”
-- Find out about upcoming events in the Morning News’ Outdoor Notes
-- Check out the Tribune’s Outdoor Notebook and Recreation Roundup for sports and recreation activities this week
-- Use the Morning News’ interactive map of Utah to plan your outdoor pursuits across the state.
-- For the latest wildlife news and information and the fishing report visit the DWR website
Weekend Events
New Films
-- Invincible: Rotten Tomatoes
-- Idlewild: Rotten Tomatoes
-- How to Eat Fried Worms: Rotten Tomatoes
-- Best Movie Bet for Families: Cars. Read the Tribune review
Concerts
-- Concert in the Park: Hickle Family Band, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Brigham Young Historic Park, free
-- Violinist Tamara Tanner, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Assembly Hall on Temple Square, free
-- Celtic Chamber Music Concert, Saturday, 8 p.m., 2556 Washington Blvd., Ogden, $15
-- Concert in the Park: Uintah Basin Brass, Tuesday, 7:30 p.m., Brigham Young Historic Park, free
-- Lunch Bunch Concert Series, weekdays at noon through September 22, Gallivan Center
-- Eccles Organ Festival, Sundays at 8 p.m. through October 22, Cathedral of the Madeleine
Theater
-- “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” through August 25, Draper Historic Theatre
-- Circus Chimera’s “Alice in Wonderland” through August 26, Utah State Fairpark
-- “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” through August 26, Sandy City Amphitheater
-- “Songs for a New World” through August 26, Utah Musical Theatre, Morning News review
-- “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” through September 1, Pickleville Playhouse, Morning News review
-- "Peter Pan" through September 1, Tuacahn Amphitheatre, Ivins
-- “Love Is …” through September 2, Bountiful Performing Arts Center
-- "South Pacific" through September 2, Tuacahn Amphitheatre, Ivins, Tribune review
-- “Tied to the Tracks” through September 2, Pickleville Playhouse
-- “Peter Pan” through September 9, Academy Theatre Company
-- Utah Shakespearean Festival through September 2, Cedar City
-- “Arsenic and Old Lace” through September 16, Terrace Plaza Playhouse
-- “Seussical the Musical” through September 16, Rodgers Memorial Theatre
-- “Crimes of the Heart” through September 23, StageRight TheaterCompany
-- “Disney's Beauty and the Beast” through September 30, Hale Centre Theatre
-- "Pirates of the Caribbean 2: The SeaQuel," Desert Star Theatre
Museum Exhibits
-- Wind Pieces: New Sculpture Exhibition through August 26, Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art, Utah State University
-- A Century of Art Exhibition through September 17, Museum of Utah Art and History
-- In Focus: National Geographic Great Portraits Exhibition through September 23, Utah Museum of Natural History
-- Material Culture: The Art of Fine Textile Exhibition through September 30, Looking Back: 75 Years at the Salt Lake Art Center Exhibition through October 14, Salt Lake Art Center
-- Rooted In Tradition: Art Quilts from the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum through October 15, Utah Museum of Fine Art
-- Sideshow through January 28, Utah Museum of Fine Art
Et Cetera
-- Park City Jazz Festival, Friday – Sunday, Snow Park Amphitheater, Deer Valley Resort
-- Rock’n Ribs Festival, Saturday, 2 p.m., Gallivan Center
-- Salt Lake American Muslem Cultural Festival, Saturday and Sunday, Washington Square
-- Utah Shakespearean Festival through September 2, Cedar City
-- Public Market at The Gateway, Wednesdays through Sept. 6, 5-9 p.m., The Gateway, free
-- Downtown Farmers’ Market/ Downtown Art & Craft Market, Saturdays through October 21, 8 a.m.–1 p.m., Pioneer Park
-- Snowbird Oktoberfest, August 26 through October 8, Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort |
