News Highlights

Gov. Jon Huntsman views income tax rate reduction to be addressed in special session next Tuesday a “first step.” He’d like to see further rate reductions (Deseret Morning News).

At his education summit, Gov. Huntsman emphasizes the importance of early childhood education, and says early grades should have a 20-student class size limit (Salt Lake Tribune); Huntsman says the goal of the summit is to "harmonize our direction in education policy. It's an attempt to find the crosscutting issues that everyone feels strongly about and then to make the priorities that we all together work on" (Standard-Examiner).

39 Ogdenites compete to fill a vacancy on the city council (Tribune and Standard-Examiner).

Quote of the Day

“If the Legislature were to grant all these, Utah education would be a no-frills sedan that could take the state well along the road to economic well-being with an educated population needing fewer welfare programs and a pared-down correctional system and enticing businesses with a quality workforce.”

-- Tribune editorial endorsing State School Board “wish list” for spending additional education money.

Return to Proper Federalism

How dysfunctional is the budget process in Washington? In a NationalJournal.com column Stan Collender tells the sad tale. If the Utah Legislature acted this way it would be an enormous scandal. In some ways, Congress is a broken institution and the need for devolution to the states is enormous. Congress has no fiscal discipline. If you ran your household finances or your business the way Congress runs itself, you'd be in deep trouble, maybe in jail. Congress holds business to a far higher standard than it applies to itself.

Part of the problem is that the job Congress has carved out for itself is simply not doable. Congress considers every problem and issue in the world within its jurisdiction. The result is a lot of meddling in areas where it has no business, while the biggest problems go unresolved. Some of the duties Congress has usurped from the states over many years should be returned to them. Congress will only function well if its job description is restricted to truly federal matters.

The Point is Rate Reducation

The Wall Street Journal on Sept. 7 published an editorial (paid subscription required) entitled “Goodby, Taxachusetts” noting that many Democratic politicians in Massachusetts want to cut the state’s income tax flat rate to 5%. Surrounding states have been cutting their tax rates and Massachusetts must do the same to stay economically competitive.

Utah finds itself in a somewhat similar situation, which is the reason for the special session Gov. Huntsman will call for next Tuesday. While a lot of people are complaining that the tax cut resulting from an income tax rate reduction will be paltry for most taxpayers and they would just as soon leave the money for education and transportation, the point of this effort isn’t a tax cut.

The point is a rate reduction that will keep Utah competitive long-term in being an attractive place to live and do business.

Blog Watch

Rep. John Dougall says a Mary Peters-helmed Dept. of Transportation would be good for Utah... tag-strategia discusses the Utah Foundation's Sept. 7 forum on education finance and reform... At New West, Tracy Medley says: "Utah is an island ... when it comes to gasoline. With five refineries producing more than a billion gallons of gasoline each year and another refinery's worth of gas coming from a pipeline in Wyoming, Utah doesn't rely on sources beyond its own back yard. What's more: Utah and her surrounding states provide the majority of their own crude oil. This means that Utah's gasoline needs are met almost exclusively by oil that is both culled and refined in the Intermountain West. This knowledge was a boon throughout the summer when gas prices in Utah were some of the lowest in the nation, though one might question why they weren't lower. But, now as the rest of the country's gas prices continue to drop while prices in Utah linger well above the national average, we're beginning to wonder"... Wilf Sommerkorn comments "on an amazing juxtaposition of two opinion pieces that appeared on the editorial pages of the two main Salt Lake dailies in the last few days" (see also here)... At Out of Context, Robert Gehrke says: "Some things speak for themselves, so below is an excerpt from [Sen. Orrin Hatch's] interview [yesterday] with Fox News: 'I'll never forget, I was chatting with one of the top professors in the country, and he said, "I don't like Bush, I don't like the war." And I said, "Oh." I said, "How long has it been since we've had a major terrorist incident in America?" He thought it over and then he said, "Well, 9/11." I said, "Well, why is that?" And he thought it over again and he, frankly, had to say, "Well, I guess it's because we're taking it to them over there and all around the world and that we've stepped up our surveillance and all of the other things that we need to do to protect America."' Behold, the irresistible force of Sen. Hatch's awesome persuasive power, reducing one of the nation's top minds to a puddle of intellectual goo in just 18 words. By the end of their 20-minute conversation, the liberal egg-head was clucking like a chicken. Professor No-name McStrawman, was unavailable for comment. This just goes to show why a college education isn't worth what it used to be" (see also here)... Betsy's Page says of Mass. Gov. and likely '08 presidential candidate Mitt Romney's Mormonism: "The media needs to get over its Mormon obsession. Wait until we can see some tangible sign that his religion is harming him. ... It is the media that is fixated on this question. They're the ones who bring it up all the time. They're the ones who will be waiting, hawk-eyed for any indication that those evangelicals and their latent prejudices will surface and keep this candidate from winning. And, I suspect, that if there is no such prejudice, they'll still keep coming back to the subject over and over just to remind conservative Christians that they're expected to be biased against Mormons" (hat tip: Article VI Blog) (see also here).

Numbers Game 

Jason Chaffetz, former chief of staff and campaign manager for Gov. Jon Huntsman, hands out an interesting business card. The front is pretty standard, with his name, contact information and business (Maxtera, LLC). On the back, Jason has listed “Other Important Contacts” with their phone numbers:

The White House, 202.456.1414

The Pentagon, 703.428.0711

Donald Trump, 212.832.2000

David Letterman, 212.975.4321

Steven Spielberg, 818.733.9600

Oahu Surf Forecast, 808.973.4383

Alex Chaffetz, 970.261.2050

I don't know if any of the numbers are good, but the one that will probably get Jason in the most trouble is the Alex Chaffetz number. I assume Alex is Jason's brother and he'd love to get a few hundred phone calls from UPD readers. Jason, by the way, is seriously looking at running for Congress in the 3rd District in 2008.

Elected Officials Birthday List

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Utah in the National News

Skull Valley Goshute chairman Leon Bear says the feds' rejection of a plan to store N-waste "on his tribe's sovereign land recalls 19th century U.S. violations of Indian treaties" (Reuters).

Local Headlines

Deseret Morning News

- More tax cuts? Huntsman says a $70 million slash is 'first step'

- Gas prices 5th highest in U.S.

- Job growth slipping

- West Nile slows, but wear DEET

- County to hire skeeter fighter

- Banner supports BYU's Jones

- Correction: Steven Jones

- Draper OKs the Corner Canyon plan

- County tables talk of Net pact payment

- Bluffdale delays vote on firing of director

- Pioneer Park to get Salt Lake funding

- 80 groups oppose Dixie lands act

- 21 firms sign up for China trade mission

- Governor rejects 4 director finalists

- N. Utah summit Sept. 28 at USU

- Op-ed: Orrin Hatch: Kids' health needs overlooked

Standard-Examiner

- Education Summit focuses on global future for children

- Ogden City Council At-Large Seat A applicants

St. George Spectrum

- Transportation open house held by county

- New councilors sworn in

- Editorial: Divine Strake fight not over

Tooele Transcript Bulletin

- N-waste storage plan grows dim in Skull Valley

- Tooele colleges work to increase options

- Defense bill will bring funds to depot, Dugway

Daily Herald

- Orem to acquire land by eminent domain

- County will discuss grant uses

- Utah job growth remains strong, but slowing

- Editorial: A big win for Utah

KCPW

- Former SLC mayor to head new human rights center at U

- Hundreds lose food stamps

- Skip the lines: Vote by mail

- Education summit 'likely a first'

- BLM says letters had some influence in PFS decision

Davis County Clipper

- Byway designation to enhance GSL

- Water chief blasts river group's proposal

- UTOPIA to start late in Centerville

- Miller stresses value of all people

- Blow to nuclear storage hailed

- $10 million Ok'd for Hill Air Force Base

- Layton Council plans bond sale

- HAFB project will add thousands of jobs

- Davis unemployment rate dips

- County's economy diversifies

- Gregory J. Sanders: Movie causes viewers to question events of 9/11

- Todd Weiler: Movie causes viewers to question events of 9/11

- Rolf Koecher: Focus of debate should be aiding Iraqi people

Salt Lake Tribune

- Governor pitches smaller class sizes

- Council may skim Liberty Park funds for Pioneer Park

- Agency seeks private help

- Driving's cheaper almost anywhere else in U.S.

- Aspen die-off sends quake through West's scientists

- Advocate group defends teacher

- N. Salt Lake appoints new mayor

- Small-district study grows

- Your health: Valley unready for a flu crisis

- Cut in restaurant tax proposed

- Recycling rule getting fresh look

- Rolly: 'Shadow' spices up campaign

- 39 jostle for Ogden City Council vacancy

- Worker shortage cools job growth

- Salt Palace solar panels praised as an energy-conscious practice

- Editorial: No-frills education: Board 'wish list' addresses real needs

Please submit calendar items to Daily@UtahPolicy.com

- Sept 13-15: Utah League of Cities and Towns Annual Convention, Salt Lake Sheraton City Centre, Salt Lake City.
- Sept 13: Midday Metro at 10 a.m. on KCPW 88.3 FM features conversations Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon, with topics ranging from soccer stadium financing to solar power; Attorney General Mark Shurtleff on his trip to the Holy Land as part of the Israel Advocacy Initiative; and Terry Schow, director of the Utah State Division of Veteran's Affairs, on this week’s meeting of state VA directors in Salt Lake City, and the implementation of HB 407, which provides counseling for families of veterans. Email midday@kcpw.org.
- Sept 13: Gov. Huntsman to attend Zermatt Resort Grand Opening, 11 a.m., Midway.
- Sept 14: Fifth session of the 2006 Sutherland Transcend Series, 8:30 am. Breakfast Keynote presented by Sen. John L. Valentine, president of the Utah State Senate. Morning Seminar and Afternoon Workshop by Dr. Quinn McKay, respected professor, consultant and author of three books on ethics and integrity.  Topic: "Ethical Fitness – Being an Authentic Leader.” The first twenty registrants will receive a copy of Dr. McKay’s most recent book, The Bottom Line on Integrity, prior to the session. Contact Stan Rasmussen at 801-355-1272 or si@sutherlandinstitute.org .
- Sept 14: Water Issues Task Force, 9 a.m., room W125.
- Sept 14: Hinckley Institute of Politics Forum: Understanding Mexico’s Election Crisis, 10:45 a.m., Orson Spencer Hall, Room 255. Guests include Claudio Holzner, Assistant Professor, Political Science Department, U of U; Allison Rowland, Professor of Public Administration at CIDE, Mexico City, visiting professor at the IPIA (Institute of Public and International Affairs), U of U; Raul Lopez Vargas, Ethnologist and Social Activist from Mexico City; Susie Porter, Associate Professor of History and Gender Studies, U of U.
- Sept 14: Gov. Huntsman to testify before Congress, 2 p.m., Washington D.C.
- Sept 15: Gov. Huntsman to attend HB 407 Event with Terry Schow, 10 a.m., Fort Douglas Military Museum.
- Sept 15: Hinckley Institute of Politics Forum: Immigrants Transforming Utah: Entering a New Era of Diversity, 12 p.m., University of Utah, Orson Spencer Hall, Room 255. Guest is Pam Perlich, senior research economist, University of Utah’s Bureau of Economic and Business Research, David S. Eccles School of Business Co-sponsor- The Institute for Public and International Affairs.
- Sept 15: Salt Lake County Republican Party Constitution Day Picnic, 5 to 9 p.m., Wheeler Farm, 6351 South 900 East, Murray. Free Food and Entertainment for the entire family. Invited guest include Sen. Hatch, Rep. LaVar Christensen and Attorney General Mark Shurtleff. County and Statewide Republican Candidates will also attend. For more information, contact Ozwald Balfour at 801-842-5630 or ozmedia@msn.com.
- Sept 15: Salt Lake County Northeast Quadrant Constitution Party meeting, 7 p.m., Home of Gary & Carolyn Alder, 4046 S 700 W, Salt Lake City.
- Sept 16: LDS Home Educators Conference, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Salt Lake Community College Larry Miller Campus. Paul Mero, President of Sutherland Institute, will speak on "Home Schooling and Freedom." Paul and his wife, Sally, have been home schooling their six children for the past 18 years.
- Sept 16: Green Party Honk 'n' Wave for Peace "U.S. Out of Iraq, Now," featuring Bob Brister, Green Candidate for Utah's 2nd Congressional District, 9 to 10 a.m., NW corner, intersection of State Street and 6400 South. For more information see www.bristerforcongress.org.
- Sept 16: Weber County Constitution Party meeting, 10 a.m., Main Library, 2464 Jefferson Ave., Ogden.
- Sept 16: Green Party Honk 'n' Wave for Peace "U.S. Out of Iraq, Now," featuring Bob Brister, Green Candidate for Utah's 2nd Congressional District, 10 to 11 a.m., NW corner, intersection of State Street and 6400 South. For more information see www.bristerforcongress.org.
- Sept 16: Lt. Gov. Herbert to address attendees of the Silver Beaver Awards Dinner, 4 p.m., BYU Wilkinson Center Main Ballroom, Provo.
- Sept 18-22: America's Legislators Back to School Kick-Off Week. For more information see legislature website.
- Sept 18: Retirement and Independent Entities Interim Committee, 9 a.m., room W135.
- Sept 19: Utah International Trade Commission, 9 a.m., room W125.
- Sept 19: Lt. Gov. Herbert to speak at the Department of Water Resources "Slow the Flow" end of watering year press event, 11 a.m., State Capitol Complex, Salt Lake City.
- Sept 19: Legislative Management Committee, 11 a.m., room W135.
- Sept 19: Hinckley Institute of Politics Forum: Campaign 2006 The Race for Senate District 2, 2 p.m., University of Utah, Orson Spencer Hall, Room 255. Scott McCoy (D) v. Joseph Jarvis (R).

- See the entire calendar