News Highlights

See links to all the stories on speeches, rallies, etc., in Local Headlines on right.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld meets privately with Tony and Amy Galvez, whose son, Marine Cpl. Adam Galvez, was killed in Iraq earlier this month (Deseret Morning News and Salt Lake Tribune).

Gov. Huntsman meets with state legislators and newspaper and T.V. editors to get his message out about the need for lawmakers to vote for "tax reform, tax cuts and transit needs" in next month's special legislative session (Tribune and Morning News).

Morning News editorial endorses Huntsman’s tax reform plan.

Quote of the Day

"I love democracy in action. I agree you have a right to say what you said. It deserves to be debated. Good luck at your rally. I'll be at mine."

-- Salt Lake County Council member Michael Jensen, during a spontaneous debate at council meeting about rallies and war (Morning News). See also Tribune story.

That Silver-Tongued Herbert

Has anyone noticed that Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert can give a darn good speech? I invited him to give a luncheon speech recently to a group of out-of-state business executives and he was terrific. He gave them a rousing welcome to Utah and hit nicely on the specific topics of interest to them. He was informative, substantive, funny, self-deprecating, sincere and heart-felt. He used a lot of stories and anecdotes to teach lessons and make some points.

I heard numerous comments about what an excellent speech it was from the out-of-staters, and how much they liked Herbert, who mingled and chatted with them. “I don’t think we have a politician that nice and that good in our entire state,” said one visitor.

Blog Watch

In a post on income tax reform, Rep. John Dougall says: "It's true that changes to the current system are targeted more to tax relief than tax reform, but incorporating a flat tax option into our tax system is significant reform, despite what the skeptics say.  Is it as much as I would like? No, but remember our lesson the other day about the first natural law of the legislative process. Attempting to get everything, we're faced with getting nothing. I personally think getting some tax reform is better than none at all. ... In politics they say that 'it's better to get part of a loaf, if you can't get the whole loaf'. This tax reform may not be the whole loaf, but it's not just the crumbs either!"... Utah Taxpayer touts a Stockholm “congestion pricing” plan that charges motorists for driving into the city... Paul Rolly explains why "[n]ext year's Salt Lake City Mayor's race could shape up to be a battle between the children of two of Utah's most prominent Democratic politicians"... American Flag Blog says: "President Bush will be in Salt Lake City this week to coincide with the American Legion's annual convention and the Bush-haters, led by Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson, will be there to spew their hatred along with other assorted nuggets of nonsense. In a state that voted overwhelmingly to re-elect Bush and has a reputation for conservative politics, Anderson is more than just a fly in the ointment. He is a true-blue leftist activist and is a harbinger of the leftward shift within the Democrat Party and the growing polarization of American politics. Consider that Anderson's guest of honor is that queen of leftist hyperbole, Cindy Sheehan. While most Democrat politicians who value their futures have distanced themselves from Sheehan's hate-America road show, Anderson is bringing her in with the specific goal of taunting Utah's conservative majority. By hosting Sheehan, whether he wishes to or not, Anderson is tying himself to Sheehan's filthy baggage" (see also here, here, here, here, here, and here)... At Out of Context, Rebecca Walsh reports: "Rather than showing off his prowess at table tennis or tickling his keyboard, Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. trotted out his daughter to impress Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Before a breakfast of fruit-and-yogurt parfaits, sweet breads and scrambled eggs and bacon, first daughter MaryAnne Huntsman, 21, along with her coach serenaded the nation's top diplomat (and concert pianist) with a rendition of Rachmaninov's Second Piano Concerto. MaryAnne Huntsman has just been accepted to the Manhattan School of Music. Ever gracious, Rice called the performance 'spectacular.' One-on-one, Utah's governor and the Secretary of State talked about Asia, China and Utah's future. She declined to prognosticate about Huntsman's job prospects in a future White House. The governor has signed on with Arizona Sen. John McCain's campaign, raising speculation that he hopes for another job in Washington. 'Jon can do just about anything he wants to. He's enormously talented,' Rice said. But, 'everything suggests to me that he's totally, thoroughly devoted to Utah. He seems to love it here. And he seems to love his work as governor.'"

Washington Watch

Editorial: No to Bennett Bill

Editorial says a bill sponsored by Sen. Bob Bennett "that would set a national standard for how companies react when their computer systems containing consumers' personal information are breached" is too weak and risks pre-empting stronger laws already passed by many states (Las Vegas Sun).

Legion, Sutherland on Marriage

The Sutherland Institute issued a press release saying the American Legion “has formally endorsed a definition of the natural family in language long-supported by the Sutherland Institute and closely resembling a recent Kanab City resolution." However, a KCPW story says the Legion distanced itself from the Sutherland position: “American Legion representatives were surprised and dismayed to receive a press release from the Sutherland Institute Friday drawing a parallel between their own 2004 resolution and Sutherland's Natural Family Manifesto.”  

Elected Officials Birthday List

Utah Policy Daily is a service
of Utah Policy.com

Publisher: LaVarr Webb
Editor: Paul Hollingshead
News: Golden Webb
Calendar and Subscriptions: Luci Hollingshead

Utah Policy Daily
American Plaza III, Suite 105
47 West 200 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84101
801.537.0900 Office
801.537.0901 Fax

Special E-Mail Messages: Utah Policy Daily may send subscribers e-mails with information about new features, special offers, or messages on public policy issues from clients and advertisers. If you do not wish to ever receive these e-mails, please let us know by e-mail at daily@utahpolicy.com.

Utah in the National News

In remarks to veterans at the American Legion's national convention in Salt Lake City, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says critics of the Bush administration's Iraq and counterterrorism policies are trying to appease "a new type of fascism" (Associated Press and Reuters); Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who also spoke at the convention, says the Bush administration is countering extremism with hope and democracy, and that history will bear out that strategy (Associated Press).

Utah's state government web portal is ranked 3rd best in the nation by the Center for Digital Government (Associated Press and Center for Digital Government).

Conservative columnist explains why Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney would make a better candidate for vice president in '08 than for president: "[Romney] has shown early appeal among conservatives. In his case, however, there is a major roadblock en route to the top of the GOP ticket, namely, the question of whether Americans are ready for a Mormon to be president. Because the country as a whole is a lot more sensitive on these issues than it used to be, the reservation will be expressed as I just put it, namely, not about Mr. Romney's religion but about what people think about Mr. Romney's religion. But that, in turn, provides an opportunity: With Mr. Romney in the No. 2 slot, the 'Mormon issue,' such as it is, would play itself out nationally but without the stress of the top slot aggravating the question. It is especially true of Mr. Romney that he would be more plausible as a presidential candidate with a national run for veep behind him" (Washington Times).

Local Headlines

Deseret Morning News

- Resolve praised: Rumsfeld urges veterans to set the media straight

- Rumsfeld meets with Galvezes

- Rice admits war issues are daunting

- Act now to reform taxes, fund transit, guv says

- Debate on war perks up meeting

- Politicians stand up for U.S. troops in speeches to Legion

- Sheehan may 'join' Salt Lake protest through live link

- Activists to picket funeral

- SLCC to sell Main center

- Number of AP exams up in Utah

- Parent resource program in limbo

- Crisis? Head to a church in Utah County

- Income up; poverty steady

- Council may become family affair

- Lehi schools see decline in students

- Ashdown raises money for poor

- Sales tax hike backed for TRAX

- Bennett says land bill could help housing

- North Salt Lake chooses new mayor

- Rallies, protests today in Salt Lake

- Some tickets to greet Bush might still be available

- Scheduled rallies

- Bush in Utah

- Rice key points

- Rumsfeld key points

- Tax commissioner gets leadership award

- Op-ed: Stereotypes have no place

- Editorial: Tax plan a good first step

Tooele Transcript Bulletin

- Rice: democracy will stop terrorism

Standard-Examiner

- Rally Point

- Ogden lands ski publicity

- Editorial: Our letter to President Bush

Logan Herald Journal

- Thomas Edison-Ogden, Edith Bowen schools denied charter status

KUER

- Rallies planned for Bush visit

Daily Herald

- Timpview, Lone Peak top in state for taking, passing AP tests

- Leavitt plans 'recreational subdivision' in Nebo wilderness

- P.G. will take out $23.5 million bond for growth

- Utah County commissioners vote to protest American Fork land annex

KCPW

- Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice speaks in Salt Lake City

- Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld speaks in Salt Lake City

- Public invited to greet Pres. Bush on tarmac

- Corroon welcomes Legion convention

- Huntsman honors fallen soldier in Legion remarks

Davis County Clipper

- Hatch: Political divisions 'undermine war'

- Beattie excited about downtown

- Republican faithful will be out in force

Salt Lake Tribune

- Two secretaries say America is winning, urge support

- Household income inches up, but poverty rates change little

- That's not Rocky: S.L. County mayor booed

- Rolly: Sneak peeks at our VIP visitors

- Dual-tax proposal: Legislators worry time is scarce for answers

- Utah County strikes crisis-care deal

- Sheehan not coming to SLC

- Unlike Sheehan, mom of Utahn backs cause

- Patriot Guard promises to block veteran funeral protest

- City's a stage as protesters ready for street theater

- Bush tickets don't appear to be 'nonpartisan'

- Many Legionnaires lash out at protests

- North Salt Lake City Council chooses replacement mayor

- Utah and Nevada lawmakers meet

- Two big events stir rush for downtown

- SLCC to sell downtown campus to LDS Church

- Editorial: Buyer beware: Makers of dietary supplements should have to prove safety

- Editorial: Good cop, bad cop: Rice, Rumsfeld deliver equally deluded visions

Please submit calendar items to Daily@UtahPolicy.com

- Aug 30-31: 2006 Native American Summit, Sherwood Hills Conference Center, 7877 S Hwy 89-91, Wellsville. Gov. Huntsman will host the first-ever gathering of government-to-government leaders representing the State of Utah and Utah's eight Native American tribal councils in an effort to build and foster relationships and increase communication.
- Aug 30: Economic Development Corporation of Utah (EDCUTAH) annual meeting, 8 a.m., Radisson Hotel, Wasatch Ballroom, 215 West South Temple, Salt Lake City. Guest speaker will be Steve Forbes. Tickets are $25 for EDCUTAH investors and $30 for non-investors. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Contact Trina Stanley, 801-323-4251, by Aug. 25. Email: tstanley@edcutah.org.
- Aug 30: Commerce and Revenue Appropriations Subcommittee, 9:30 a.m., Workforce Services Building, 720 S 200 E, Salt Lake City.
- Aug 30: Midday Metro at 10 a.m. on KCPW 88.3 FM features conversations with Steve Kroes of the Utah Foundation on education finance and reform; Jeff McCarthy, an English professor who specializes in environmental-literature and is the Director of the Environmental Studies program at Westminster, and Kerry Case, Coordinator of the college’s new Environmental Center, talk about the new green initiatives on campus this fall; and Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff on the arrest of FLDS leader Warren Jeffs.
- Aug 30: Rally to protest the current Administration's Foreign and Domestic policies, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Salt Lake City and County Building, 451 S State, Salt Lake City. The rally will consist of a mixture of speakers from across the political spectrum, including Mayor Anderson, anti-war protester Cindy Sheehan, and Green Party candidate Bob Brister.
- Aug 30: Salt Lake City Citizens Call for Freedom Rally, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Rice Terrace in Liberty Park. There will be a Utah National Guard presence, a flag ceremony conducted by Honor Guard, and other entertainment. Invited speakers include Sen. Hatch, Sen. Bennett, Rep. Matheson, Rep. Cannon, Rep. Bishop, Gov. Huntsman, Lt. Gov. Herbert, and Mayor Corroon. Rally is to support the troops and veterans, it is not political.
- Aug 30: President Bush welcome and appreciation rally, 5:30 to 8 p.m., Salt Lake City & County Bldg, 451 S State. The rally will have entertainment and speeches by elected officials and private citizens. The rally is sponsored by the State and County Republican Parties. It’s open to the public.
- Aug 30: Liberty Rally encouraging President Bush to press a stalled Congress on immigration reform , 6 p.m., Liberty Park.
- Aug 30: Lt. Gov. Herbert to greet attendees at Utah's Native American Summit Evening Social hosted by Gov. Huntsman and the Lt. Gov., 7 p.m., Sherwood Hills Resort, 7877 S. Hwy 89-91, Wellsville.

- See the entire calendar