News Highlights

House committee OKs bill that would create Utah's first general government voucher program for private school tuition (Deseret Morning News and Salt Lake Tribune).

Big changes in downtown transportation are proposed in study (Tribune and Morning News).

Quote of the Day

"I don't watch the polls. I just try to do the right things for the right reasons. If I make decisions based on polls, I probably shouldn't be in office."

-- Salt Lake County Peter Corroon, whose approval rating has shot up since he shot down the Real soccer stadium deal (Morning News).

Wow! What a Presidential Election

I’ve been watching politics for 35 years and I’ve never seen a presidential election with such intrigue and interesting dynamics as the one under way right now. I don’t remember a time when the presidential contest was so wide open on both sides, with nary an incumbent president or a vice president in the mix.

Here are some things that make this race especially fascinating:

• There is no clear favorite or anointed candidate on either side. Yes, there are frontrunners (John McCain and Hillary Clinton), but they face many obstacles on the quest for the nominations and by no means have the nominations locked up. The lack of an overwhelming favorite means many candidates are in the race and more will likely join.
• The numerous primary elections stacked so early in 2008 means serious candidates must have their campaign going full swing right now. And if three or four big states move their primaries to February, the pace of the campaign this year will accelerate even more. Campaigns face incredible challenges putting together viable campaign organizations so they can be competitive in so many states all at once.
• For the first time ever, a woman candidate is considered viable, and is even the frontrunner for a presidential nomination. Hillary Clinton elicits amazing emotions pro and con. Her star power, combined with the fact that she’s a former First Lady – Bill Clinton’s “wronged wife,” no less – would all by itself make this race fun to watch.
• For the first time ever, a black candidate is considered viable. Barack Obama is fresh, immensely attractive and charismatic, a superstar among Democrats.
• The Mormon factor, with adopted son Mitt Romney among the Republican frontrunners and doing better than most people expected, makes the presidential contest especially interesting for Utahns.
• This race is highly unpredictable and what will happen is anyone’s guess. There is ample opportunity for frontrunners to stumble, for a relatively unknown candidate to emerge. The uncertainty adds to the intrigue.  

Washington Watch

Hatch: Hearing Sends Wrong Message

At a Senate hearing on whether Congress has the power to end the Iraq War by withholding funding, Sen. Orrin Hatch says: "Some who say they support our troops turn around and talk about defunding them. Or others talk about splitting appropriations hairs to fund certain troops but not others. ... We have authorized whatever force is necessary to fight this war, and then some talk about de-authorizing certain uses of that force. The message to our troops is that we no longer support them or their mission" (see Hatch press release and FOX News, New York Times, The Hill, and AXcess News stories); Sens. Hatch and Herb Kohl announce the Antitrust Subcommittee agenda for 2007 (press release).

Regional Politics

Pine Beetle Wreaks Havoc

Beetles killing pine trees in the West might threaten grizzly bears, says a former U.S. Forest Service researcher who worked in Utah, and global warming adds to the problem (New York Times).

Wise Words

“Politics is the gentle art of getting votes from the poor and campaign funds from the rich, by promising to protect each from the other.” 

-- Oscar Ameringer (Source: Quote Garden)

Blog Watch

Paul Rolly reports: "The decision to pass the tuition tax credit bill that reportedly will cost Utah taxpayers more than $14 million over the next two years was made behind closed doors by House leadership Monday. ... After heavy arm-twisting and confronting about a half dozen fence-sitting legislators with survey results in their districts indicating their constituents want vouchers, House leaders conducted their head count and determined they have the votes to pass the bill. The Senate has passed voucher legislation before, so once it passes the House, it is expected to land on Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.'s desk." (for more on the voucher bill, see Utah Taxpayer and The Utah Amicus) (for more Legislature-related posts, see The Senate Site, Utah Democratic Caucus, Phil Windley, Chronicle of Ideas, Lincoln's Legislative Blog, Red Pills, Davis County Watch, and UtahOpinions).... Holly Mullen explains why, "at least anecdotally, Orem seems like a damn creepy place to live".... Ten Big Questions For interviews Providence Mayor Randy Simmons.... At Out of Context, Robert Gehrke notes: "Mike Leavitt is getting a colorful pitchman to help convince kids its time to put down the Ding Dongs and get off the couch. Shrek, the movie star ogre, will appear in a series of public service announcements backed by the Department of Health and Human Services. Shrek and the HHS Secretary are slated to unveil the ads this Thursday. Who better to reach kids than a 400-pound flatulent green ogre? (That's a reference to Shrek, not Leavitt)".... ABC News' Terry Moran says of Mitt Romney: "He is personable and smart. He's done his homework. He takes tough questions without blinking and dodges them like a member of the great Average Joe's squad --  just as all top politicians do these days. And he's already got what seems to be a crackerjack team on the ground. Watch for him; he's a real contender" (hat tip: Article VI Blog) (see also Hotline On Call, Political Radar, and Jeremy's Jeremiad).

Elected Officials Birthday List

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Utah in the National News

Article: "Environmental groups warned Tuesday that plans for more coal-fired power plants in the Southwest will worsen the threat of global warming and undermine the states' conservation efforts. A report by Environmental Defense and Colorado-based Western Resource Advocates says the greenhouse gas emissions from the roughly dozen coal-fired plants planned or recently built will be the equivalent of 12.5 million cars driving around the Southwest for a year. ... The report singles out about a dozen coal-fired power plants already built or being considered in Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada and Utah" (Associated Press) (see also related Rocky Mountain News story).

Mitt Romney Watch
 Article: "Just a few months ago, word on the street was that Mitt Romney had an 'evangelical problem.' His quest for the Republican presidential nomination was dead on arrival, the thinking went, because the Christian right -- essential to putting him in the White House -- wouldn't endorse a Mormon. Then, as he began to emerge as a serious contender for the hearts and minds of the true believers, Romney got hammered for his flip-flop on abortion and metamorphosis from a left-of-Ted Kennedy gay-rights advocate to the only governor in American history to compare his own state unfavorably to Sodom. But none of this has stopped some of the Christian right's most influential power brokers from offering endorsements and strategic help, signaling that Romney is doing more than pandering on abortion and gay marriage. He's on board to change the courts and their interpretation of the Constitution" (American Prospect). Lengthy Wall Street Journal article (subscription required) published Tuesday details Romney’s fundraising success prior to becoming subject to federal campaign finance laws. (for more Romney coverage, see ABC News, The Hill, LifeNews, and Associated Press stories, and Peter S. Canellos column).

Local Headlines

Salt Lake Tribune

- Legislation: Proposal to repeal tuition law may be back on House floor today

- Legislature: Vouchers one step closer

- Council turns attention to parking

- Worker says complaint led to firing

- Transit planners envision major change downtown

- Legislation: Vote may ban lighting up around kids

- Legislation: Toughing it out

- Legislation Briefs

- Legislature: House committee supports big pay raise for treasurer

- Legislature: New plan would offer flat rate to more

- County battles over restaurant taxes

- Utah House panel OKs abortion ban

- Rolly: On the Hill, Fat Boys never lose

- Old rail bed could evolve into an interurban trail

- Editorial: Town and country: City customers should not subsidize rural gas rates

- Editorial: No need for politics: Making school boards partisan would hurt education

Standard-Examiner

- Tie kills bill: Legislation would have denied illegals in-state tuition

- Editorial: Drawing the shades on tanning

KSL Editorial Board

- Utah Education Savings Plan

Park Record

- Rep. says bill won't target Summit County

Tooele Transcript Bulletin

- Bills aid ag students, farmers, fishermen

- Sen. Goodfellow champions Erda skydiving operation

- EnergySolutions pushes bill to limit changes to license

- County's low-income dental clinic will fill need, stir debate

- Editorial: Dangerous junction deserves immediate fix

Logan Herald Journal

- City building shuffle moving forward

Davis County Clipper

- Bill would strip $250K from county coffers

- Allen: ‘Constitution issue at stake' over vouchers

- Bell ‘going to swing' gift reform

- Document adds woes for Rosses

- Barker takes cancer fight to Utah State Legislature

- No agreement reached over disputed 80 acres

- Centerville buys new bike trail

- Richard J. Watson: School vouchers fuel great debate between parties

- Todd Weiler: School vouchers fuel great debate between parties

KUER
- Utah's Death Penalty Standard Changing

KCPW

- Utah Set to Challenge Roe v. Wade

- UVSC on It's Way to UVU

- Tie-Vote Kills Immigration Bill - For Now

- Real Salt Lake Stadium May Not Be Dead Yet

- Police Might Be Able To Check Immigration Status

- Mayor Corroon Speaks Out About Stadium Deal

Deseret Morning News

- Corroon action praised

- Fairpark option in play for Real

- Committee passes school-vouchers bill

- Salt Lake to unveil transit plan

- 'UVU' clears first hurdle

- Utah needs university, UVSC chief says

- Tuition repeal loses but could be revived

- Audit sought on effect of illegal immigration

- Lee Benson: 6-year-olds on OHVs — seriously?

- Lake may make a big splash

- PFS files suit seeking to store nuclear waste

- Draper denies TRAX referendum

- Oil-shale project nears Uintah test phase

- Tax cuts are in the works

- House committee votes to criminalize abortion

- State Senator introduces bill for the third time to require voters to prove citizenship

- Transportation panel unanimously approves new license plate

- Panel tables wrongful death bill

- Committee OKs bill on taxation exemption

- Magazine cover-up bill passes out of panel

- Religious-expression bill gets a preliminary OK

- Legislation to regulate Segways moves ahead

- House passes bill to let banks charge travelers ATM fees

- Teen-tanning bill passes Senate, goes to House

- Senate backs measure to give health departments $2M for emergency preparedness

- Resolution on Internet porn gets unanimous OK from House

- Job incentives mulled

- Development summit set

- Board OKs $50,000 to promote Park City

- Editorial: Boost cancer institute funding

Please submit calendar items to Daily@UtahPolicy.com

- Jan 31: Legislative meetings scheduled throughout day. See Legislative calendar for details.
- Jan 31: County Officials Day at the Legislature, Utah State Capitol.
- Jan 31: Community Leaders Forum for the draft downtown transportation master plan, 7:30 a.m., Radisson Hotel, 215 W South Temple, Salt Lake City. The draft will include proposed recommendations for light rail alignments, bus service and passenger centers, bicycle and pedestrian enhancements, parking management, downtown shuttle, and traffic and vehicle access. To RSVP email Camille@downtownslc.org.
- Jan 31: And Justice for All presents "Solving Social Problems—Legal Avenues for Success," 7:30 a.m., Downtown Hilton Hotel, 255 S West Temple.. Continental Breakfast & Program to learn more about efforts to provide civil legal aid to low-income individuals and families and the release of the report “The Justice Gap:  The Unmet Legal Needs of Low-Income Utahns.” For more info or to RSVP (by Jan. 25th), call 801-924-3183.
- Jan 31: Midday Metro at 10 a.m. on NPR Utah, KCPW 88.3 FM, features an update from Capitol Hill with KCPW’s Julie Rose; Stewart Ralphs of the Legal Aid Society of Salt Lake on the Justice Gap study released this morning; Harvard history professor David Armitage on the Declaration of Independence and how it’s affecting politics today. To participate, email midday@kcpw.org during the show.
- Jan 31: Gov. Jon Huntsman to address Women's State Legislative Council, 11:45 a.m., State Office Building Auditorium.  Program then presented by Business & Labor, Workforce Services Committee.  “Transportation needs & funding as it relates to Business & Economic Development.” Visitors Welcome to attend. For more info visit www.wslcofutah.org.
-Jan 31: UDOT open house to discuss the I-15 NOW expansion project, 4 to 6:30 p.m., Farr West City Offices, 1896 North 1800 West. The project will widen 10 miles of I-15 from Riverdale to Farr West in Weber County.

- See the entire calendar