Forbes Endorses Huntsman Plan
Gov. Jon Huntsman’s effort to flatten Utah’s income tax got a strong boost from former presidential candidate Steve Forbes on Wednesday. In speeches sponsored by the Economic Development Corporation of Utah in Salt Lake City (See Morning News story) and Ogden (See Standard-Examiner story), Forbes said Huntsman’s plan will boost the economy, treat taxpayers more fairly, and ultimately result in more revenue for government.
Forbes, who is publisher of Forbes magazine, provided an enthusiastic defense of the flat tax, which he has been promoting for years. He said if Utah adopts a flat tax it will create momentum for the federal government to follow suit. He also endorsed Huntsman’s suggestion that taxpayers be given a choice: pay the flat tax or pay on the current progressive scale.
The Salt Lake City meeting comprised the annual meeting of EDCUTAH. New members of the board of trustees were nominated and approved, including incoming Chair Phil Thompson of Industrial Supply. Outgoing Chair Scott Anderson of Zions Bank was honored, and EDCUTAH President and CEO Jeff Edwards gave his year-end report. EDCUTAH has enjoyed its best year in history, with site visits up 42% and the number of new jobs acquired up 36%.
(See Morning News story).
Reader Response
Fund Arterial Roads
(By Chuck Chappell, executive direction, Wasatch Front Regional Council)
“Thanks for the excellent status report on the transportation sales tax initiative in Salt Lake County (See Wednesday UPD. Scroll down). Clearly the first priority for the proposed local sales tax in Salt Lake County is to complete the four TRAX extensions and Commuter Rail South by 2015. This work would require more than one-half of the proposed 0.25-cent sales tax increase. The highway component of the regional transportation system is funded through UDOT and that agency is also facing major funding shortfalls. In recent and hopefully future regular sessions, the Legislature is concentrating on the solving the shortfall for the State Highway System. There remains, however, a very significant portion of the regional transportation system with very little funds -- the regionally significant arterial roads that are under local jurisdiction. I suggest that the most appropriate use of the local sales tax remaining after funding the transit system is these regionally significant arterial routes.”
CPPA on Global Warming
The latest edition of Policy Perspectives newsletter, a publication of the U of U’s Center for Public Policy & Administration, features articles on global warming, split-estate energy development, the coal severance tax, and Western Governors’ energy initatives.
Housing Market Continues Weakness
Utah economist Jeff Thredgold’s Teal Leaf economic update newsletter this week focuses on doldrums in the housing market. Thredgold also writes about the tendency toward excesses in all types of financial markets.
Blog Watch
At SouthernUtahBlog, Todd Seifert says: "President George W. Bush landed between 8:45 and 9 p.m. Wednesday at Salt Lake City International Airport. He's in town to speak to the annual convention of the American Legion. The state capital has been the battleground the past few days between people who support the president and people who are very much against the war in Iraq. But you wouldn't know it based on the greeting the president received Wednesday. A large crowd greeted him with shouts of encouragement, and some of them waved American flags. Granted, you wouldn't expect too many protesters at a late-evening landing. But it was still nice to see Bush receive a welcome worthy of the office. He even spoke to the crowd and said how much he enjoyed coming to Utah. But the real story for me was seeing that plane land. It was a great sight. Call me a foolish patriot when it comes to those kinds of things. Maybe it's a pride thing. But seeing that plane -- with its history and prominence in the world -- land in our state made for a good evening. No matter what you think of the president, I think it's important to be a good host. Utah got off to a good start Wednesday"... At Out of Context, Glen Warchol, who has several man-on-the-scene posts from yesterday's various anti-Bush protests and pro-troop rallies, notes: "While Rocky was leading the protest at the City County Building, at least one Democrat was in Liberty Park showing his support for the troops. 'This is more my kind of community gathering,' says Jeff Bell, [DNC Communications Director for Utah]. 'I'm from a military family and I feel comfortable here.' As speakers blast Mayor Rocky Anderson and Cindy Sheehan, Bell explains that the Bush Administration is on a 'treadmill in Iraq.' 'Their strategy never changes and more Iraqis and more troops are getting hurt,' he says. Bell is not handing out pamphlets or even wearing a campaign button. 'I'm more here today for me,' Bell says. 'My dad served, my granddad served and my great granddad served in the military. There's a wide separation between disagreeing with the administration's policies and supporting the troops'" (see also here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here)... Rep. Craig Frank conducted a podcast interview with congressional candidate LaVar Christensen... Rep. John Dougall says: "I spent 1.5 hrs at the Governor's mansion Wednesday. He was making the pitch for the importance of income tax reform to a group of 20 legislators. It was great to see him making his case to the rank and file legislators (rather than just conversing with the leadership elite). He's incredibly articulate and did a fantastic job. I'm sold! (Wait, I was sold already...)"... Wilf Sommerkorn responds to this Utah Taxpayer post on congestion pricing in Sweden... SLCSpin says: "[Senate candidate] Pete Ashdown has enough personal wealth to close the cash gap with Senator Orrin Hatch. But he doesn't. Because he's NOT Senator Orrin Hatch. Nor is he anything like those who insulate the Senator from the public, who smugly point to his riches as some sort of validation. Riches, I should add, accumulated on the backs of Utahns. So why doesn't Pete Ashdown cut himself a check? Because he understands the dangerous game of men like Senator Orrin Hatch. And he will play no part in it. The mere presence of Pete in this race is a triumph for Utahns. There is a new generation moving into the scene. Old men like Senator Hatch use millions to stay in as long as they can, but they will be forced to the side to make way for openness, communication, and the triumph of innovation" (see also here)... The Warren says of a plan to pump water from Snake Valley on the Utah/Nevada border to Las Vegas: "While final approval hasn't been given yet, it's merely a formality at this point; one could say the 'fix is in'. Why, you ask? There are two key factors: One, Senator [Harry] Reid from Nevada is holding up a bill authorizing a land transfer between Utah and the Federal government that would give Utah several thousand acres of valuable, developable land near St. George. Second, Utah Senator Bob Bennett -- a noted horse-trading politician who would likely sell the entire state out if the price was right -- is working on the bill. Based on previous observations, I'm pretty sure that means a sellout is inevitable. All Nevada would have to do is offer Utah a share of the water, the deal would be signed the next day. To put it bluntly, condos and golf courses in St. George and Las Vegas are far more valuable to Senator Bennett, Governor Huntsman, and the Utah Legislature than a few ranches out in western Utah. The residents of Callao and Trout Creek never had a chance."
Washington Watch
Hatch's Pharma Ties Questioned
Non-profit investigative journalism organization says Sen. Orrin Hatch held stock in drug companies that benefited when the Medicare Prescription Drug Act, which Hatch co-sponsored in the Senate, was approved by Congress in 2003, including "at least $3,000 worth of shares in Pfizer and Novartis, according to his 2003 financial disclosure forms." In addition, "[Hatch] and his aides took seven trips, totaling $12,000, sponsored by Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline, as well as two industry trade groups, the California Healthcare Institute and the Healthcare Leadership Council. As of May 15, when Hatch filed his 2005 financial disclosure form, the senator held at least $18,000 worth of stock in Pfizer and Novartis, the Swiss-based manufacturer of Ritalin, the attention-deficit drug. .... Hatch's office defended the senator's stock holdings, saying they represent a small percentage of his investment portfolio. The statements also characterized Hatch's pharmaceutical travel as 'legitimate activity under Senate rules,' and said, 'He likes to have open communication with industry leaders'" (The Center for Public Integrity).
Op-ed: No to Growth Bill
Op-ed opposes the Washington Co. growth bill recently introduced in Congress by Sen. Bob Bennett and Rep. Jim Matheson (The Vail Trail).
Rocky's Protest Speech
The Salt Lake City Mayor's Office http://www.slcgov.com/mayor/ has posted the speech Rocky Anderson delivered at yesterday's anti-Pres. Bush protest rally. To read it, click here.
Sutherland Supports VCA Appeal
The Sutherland Institute joins four other organizations, including the Utah Taxpayers Association, "supporting Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff in the state's appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals, 10th Circuit, over the legality of the Voluntary Contributions Act (VCA). The VCA, among other things, prohibits the State of Utah employee payroll system from being used to collect political action committee contributions" (see press release). |
