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Note to readers: On Friday the computer server that sends out Utah Policy Daily crashed and when it came back up it sent out extra copies. Sorry for the inconvenience.
The Week Ahead
Salt Lake County grapples with Real soccer stadium funding this week. The County Council and Mayor Peter Corroon must make final decisions. (See my opinion in Monday Musing below.)
The Legislature rolls along as week three begins. See committee agendas and connect to audio and video at the Legislature’s calendar page. See also weekly schedules for the House and Senate. For other political events this week, see the UPD calendar.
Monday Musing
Soccer Stadium a Good Investment
Seldom is any big undertaking risk-free, and such is the case with Salt Lake County funding support for the Real soccer stadium. But despite the findings of the Debt Review Committee, this is a risk worth taking. Salt Lake County political leaders should find a way to do it. The value to the broader Utah community over the long term is far greater than the minor amount of money the county would obligate.
I can’t imagine 10 years from now, when Major League Soccer and the related development in Sandy are a big part of Utah’s entertainment, social and cultural infrastructure, that anyone will be unhappy that county leaders stepped up and did something bold and visionary. This is an investment in Utah’s long-term future and the risk is small compared to the benefit. Utah is growing rapidly, as is the popularity of soccer, and having a second major league franchise in the state is absolutely worth the small investment by the county.
Nothing much good happens in life without vision and a little risk. Salt Lake County ought to look long term and not let this prize get away. Step up and get it done.
Washington Watch
Hatch: Review Airlines Merger
In letter, Sens. Orrin Hatch and Herb Kohl encourage Attorney General Alberto Gonzales "to consider closely the antitrust implications of a proposed merger between US Airways and Delta, should the transaction move forward" (see press release).
USTAR Watch
U. Hires Researchers
University of Utah hires three researchers under the Utah Science, Technology and Research (USTAR) initiative, who will focus on high-speech wireless communication, medical imaging, and underground storage of carbon dioxide gas. See Tribune story.
Regional Politics
Colorado Considers Caucus Move
Article: "Colorado Democrats are considering moving up the state's caucuses to the first week of February 2008 in an effort to be politically relevant in the next presidential election. If Colorado moves its caucuses from the third week in March to Feb. 5, however, it would join more than a dozen other states that have either already moved their caucuses or primaries up to the same date, or are thinking about it. As a result, some political observers say, Colorado probably becomes insignificant" (Denver Post).
UDOT Open House
UDOT is hosting an open house this Tuesday to discuss proposed improvements to Interstate 80 from Kimball Junction to Silver Creek Junction. The open house will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Richins Building Library auditorium at Kimball Junction (see press release).
Court Watch
Analyzing Legislation
By R. Chet Loftis from Kirton & McConkie law firm
Court Watch will be back next month. But this month, with the bills out and the Legislature in full swing, I thought it might be helpful to touch on some things to keep in mind when tracking and analyzing legislation that don’t show up in the bill itself.
First, it really helps to understand the context of a bill. The Utah Code is organized according to Title, Chapter, Part, Section, and Subsection. Bills amend the law at the section level. Consequently, to understand the overall impact of a bill, it is important to have a general sense of where those sections fit into the part, chapter, and title that they come within. Here’s how you do it. Let’s take Section 36-1-101. The first two digits of “36-1-101” represent Title 36, Legislature. The middle digit in “36-1-101” represents Chapter 1, Legislative Districts. The highlighted “1” in “36-1-101” represents Part 1, Utah State Senate. Put together as a whole, “36-1-101” identifies the section itself and “36-1-101(1)” denotes Subsection (1). Knowing the context of a bill not only helps in analyzing it but also in lobbying for or against it. You can access the entire Utah Code here.
Second, it is important to know what a bill is doing to a section. It may be “enacting” a new section of law. It may be “amending” or renumbering an existing section. Or it may be repealing an existing section. There can be legal and political significance in enacting a new section versus amending an existing one. But what is really critical is to take special notice whenever a section is being repealed. The effect of a “repeal” is to take the entire section out of the code. The language of the repealed section, however, is not in the bill. Consequently, if you want to know what is being taken out you must go out and look for it.
Three other quick thoughts. First, try not to get in the habit of skipping existing language in a bill just because it does not have a line under it or through it. That language can be just as important as the language in play -- and it is fair game. Second, spend extra time analyzing a “substituted” bill. Unlike an amendment, a substituted bill does not show the changes between it and the original version. Third, be really careful when making amendments to a bill. My experience as a drafting attorney and lobbyist is that this is where the lion’s share of unintended consequences occur.
Today in Political History
Jan. 29, 1901: George White, the last black member of Congress after Reconstruction, delivers his farewell address. “This, Mr. Chairman, is perhaps the Negroes’ temporary farewell to the American Congress; but let me say, phoenix-like he will rise up some day and come again.” (Source: National Journal 2007 Calendar of American Politics)
Wise Words
“Conservative, n: A statesman who is enamored of existing evils, as distinguished from the Liberal who wishes to replace them with others.”
-- Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary (Source: Quote Garden)
Rocky's Speech, 2007 Goals
The Salt Lake City Mayor's Office has posted the speech Rocky Anderson delivered at the anti-war rally in Washington, D.C., over the weekend, and also Anderson's administrative goals for 2007.
Blog Watch
Ted Wilson, former SLC mayor and avid climber, writes about “mountains and life”.... Paul Rolly reports: "In the latest effort to squeeze out the last few votes needed to pass the House, proponents of a voucher bill to give tuition tax credits to parents with children in private schools are conducting polls in the districts of legislators still on the fence to show them their constituents want the bill. … Some speculate it is a last-minute pressure tactic to bring the last one or two votes into line. The Senate has approved voucher bills in the past and seems poised to pass this one. Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. has said he will sign a 'reasonable' voucher bill that holds public education harmless" (for more on the voucher issue, see Steve Urquhart, The Utah Amicus, and The Political Spyglass; for more Legislature-related posts, see The Senate Site, Utah Taxpayer, Out of Context, Lincoln's Legislative Blog, Jeremy's Jeremiad, UAC Blog, and Red Pills).... Frank Staheli explains why he's opposed to raising the minimum wage.... Holly Mullen says of Rocky Anderson's speech in D.C. over the weekend: "Rocky is right about this dismal and hopeless war. He's been right all along. Even here in Utah, which supported Bush by 93 percent in the aftermath of September 11, the president's approval rating is dipping. ... The Administration's mantra of 'if yur not fur us yur agin us' might have worked at the start of this whole mess. It might have bullied some into submission, and chilled us into shoving our First Amendment rights into a drawer. Not any more. Just watch" (see also The Warren, COL Takashi, and Part of the Plan).... In an email interview with New Hampshire blogger S. F. Martin, Gov. Huntsman says of his support for likely '08 presidential candidate John McCain: "Senator McCain is a war hero who is widely recognized for his service and sacrifice to the nation. In many ways, Senator McCain has given more in the way of service to this country than most others who have occupied leadership positions in our nation's recent history. People respect and admire his selfless service to causes larger than simply one's own. ... My message is simple: Senator McCain should join the 2008 presidential race. In Ronald Reagan fashion, he has the values and international leadership to put the pieces of this nation back together while strengthening our world-wide alliances".... Hotline on Call reports: "EX-MA Gov. Mitt Romney delivered a wide-ranging speech to the National Review Summit Saturday evening in which he introduced himself to dining conservatives. He used the speech to explain [why he] changed some of his positions on social issues while in office. ... He also made sure the crowd knew of his opposition to gay marriage and civil unions, and called himself a Ronald Reagan conservative on abortion who, like the former President ... 'learned with experience'" (see also The Caucus, The Corner, and Part of the Plan).
Avoid Parking Hassles at Capitol
The biggest complaint about the Utah Legislature has nothing to do with public policy or the character of lawmakers. It’s all about parking. Finding a parking spot near the Capitol complex is simply horrendous, especially with the cold weather. People are walking long distances and filling up side roads.
But there is an alternative to driving and hunting for a parking spot. The Capitol Preservation Board and Utah Transit Authority have collaborated to provide a circulator shuttle bus that runs about ever 15 minutes. Route 23 winds through most of downtown and to the Capitol, starting around 6 a.m. and ending about 6:30 p.m.
On the UTA Web site is found a route map and schedule for Route 23. TRAX riders can pick up the Route 23 bus near the Courthouse TRAX station between 4th and 5th South on Main Street. There are bus stops in various locations downtown.
Drivers can park free all day in the parking lot across from the Triad Building downtown (300 West South Temple) and catch the Route 23 shuttle there. It is the site of the 2002 Olympics Medal Plaza. You should communicate your intention to visit the Capitol to the parking lot attendant.
Utah’s Top Issues
With the Legislature underway, issues too numerous to list will be addressed. We will update this list as issues get hot and emerge to the top of the agenda. This list was generated by observing what’s hot in the news media, what’s on the agenda of various policymaking groups, and what’s being discussed among opinion leaders and policymakers. We welcome suggestions and input from UPD readers. E-mail daily@utahpolicy.com.
Hottest of the Hot
- In-state tuition for children of illegal immigrants
- Real soccer stadium funding
- Education funding
- Utah’s 2008 budget and the big surplus
- House/Senate/Governor differences on tax cut/tax reform
- Vouchers/school choice
- Transportation funding and tolling on highways
Emerging
- Teen driving bill
- School nurse shortage
- Education achievement gap of disadvantaged students
- Western states primary
- Cyber-safety issues (cyber predators, child pornography, identity theft, Internet scams, etc.)
- Snake Valley water pumping for Las Vegas
- Minimum wage increase
Mature
- Downtown SLC massive construction
- Immigration
- Washington County land sales
- Open space funding
- Affordable heath insurance
Oldies But Goodies
- Ethics reform
- No Child Left Behind
- Healthcare reform/Medicaid
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