News Highlights

Article: "The crusade to stop the Divine Strake test explosion reached fever pitch this week with today's deadline for public comment. The federal government already had received about 3,000 comments late Tuesday. But still more ordinary Utahns and politicians vowed to speak out against the proposed detonation of 700 tons of conventional explosives at the Nevada Test Site" (Salt Lake Tribune).

Legislation by Sen. Greg Bell would provide students and faculty on university campuses some ability to keep guns out of dorm rooms and faculty offices (Deseret Morning News).

Real soccer stadium deal is on a fast track for approval by the Utah Legislature and governor (Tribune, KCPW radio and Morning News).

Quote of the Day

“Throughout history, humans have been more inclined to take from, rather than replenish the earth. So, it's refreshing to see a coalition coming together on Capitol Hill with a goal of creating an ongoing source of funding to be used for protecting, preserving and restoring some of Utah's most vital natural resources.”

-- KSL Radio/TV editorial by Duane Cardall, endorsing HB102, the Land & Water Reinvestment Act, which would dedicate a small portion of severance tax to restore watersheds, protect agricultural land and preserve critical wildlife habitat and open space. See also supportive Tribune editorial.

Romney Holds Utah Fundraiser

Mitt Romney has appointed Utah Finance Committee co-chairs, including Alan Hall, Robert Litchfield, Blake Roney and Randy Wilkinson. Romney will hold a Utah fundraising reception on Tuesday, Feb. 20, at Grand America Hotel, with a VIP pre-reception at 5:30 p.m. (contribution: $2,300 per person) and a general reception at 6:30 p.m. (contribution: $1,000 per person). Contact Karen Hammond at Karen.hammond@juno.com, 801.201.0859.

WSJ Likes Utah Voucher Plan

Following up on a column yesterday by John Fund, a Wall Street Journal editorial (subscription required) lauds the Utah House passage of legislation creating a state-wide voucher plan. It notes that Utah "may soon become the first state with a universal school choice plan" but warns opponents "can be expected to mount a furious assault in the state Senate, and then head to court."

New Media Watch

Sign of Things To Come

Interesting Washington Post story about blogging. Some two dozen bloggers spend hours every week producing blogs devoted to every aspect of the Nationals baseball team in Washington, D.C. And team officials read the blogs. Most large institutions can expect to have bloggers cover them, sometimes in minute detail.

National Politics

Presidential Politics

Washington Post media writer Howard Kurtz rounds up the latest media coverage on the presidential election, with extra focus on Rudy Giuliani. Will Americans really vote for a guy who is bald and whose name they can’t spell?

Washington Watch

Matheson: Feds' Track Record Faulty

In comments submitted to the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Rep. Jim Matheson reiterates his opposition to the proposed Divine Strake bomb test: "Given the government's past track record of dismissing health and safety risks to the public -- despite scientific data showing otherwise -- it will take a more rigorous environmental review to assure me and many Utahns that there's nothing to fear from this test" (see press release).

Hatch Promotes Sandgren

Sen. Orrin Hatch announces that he has promoted Provo native and BYU grad Matthew Sandgren "to the position of counsel on the Senate Judiciary Committee. A former legislative assistant, Sandgren will now advise the Senator on immigration, intellectual property, and pharmaceutical-related legislation" (see press release).

Ag. Commissioner Endorses Proposals

Utah Agriculture Commissioner Leonard Blackham says of the Bush Administration's 2007 Farm Bill proposals: "Overall, we like what we hear and what we've seen, because it improves the funding for specialty crops and conservation" (see press release).

Wise Words

“The reason there are so few female politicians is that it is too much trouble to put makeup on two faces.”
-- Maureen Murphy (Source: Quote Garden)

Blog Watch

Holly Mullen discusses the "kinda-sorta connection" between Mitt Romney and the Mountain Meadows Massacre.... Reach Upward is unimpressed with Gov. Huntsman's Western States Primary plan.... Paul Rolly reports: "When the Legislature passed legislation last year banning smoking in bars, it created a two-tier process. Many bars and clubs had to prohibit smoking under the legislation beginning Jan. 1, but others get a pass until 2009. One unintended consequence was that it hurt the American Legion clubs, since those were among the facilities included in the earlier ban. Veterans simply quit going to the clubs so they could smoke in the bars that can allow smoking for another two years. So Rep. Curtis Oda, R-Clearfield, has legislation that amends the law so American Legion facilities can allow smoking for another two years, then join the rest of the bars in banning the practice in 2009. That should bring the veterans back. It looks as though that bill is awfully popular with the veterans. When Oda's bill, HB273, passed out of the House Business and Labor Committee today, a group of veterans who attended the meeting immediately walked out in unison to the sidewalk in front of the State Capitol grounds and lit up their cigarettes for a group smoke. That included one happy smoking veteran who carried an oxygen tank on his back" (for more Legislature-related posts, see Utah Taxpayer, Out of Context, The Thicket, The Senate Site, Phil Windley, Tom Gregory, LocalCommentary, Jen's Green Journal, and SouthernUtahBlog).

Please submit calendar items to Daily@UtahPolicy.com

- Feb 7: Legisltive meetings scheduled throughout day. See legislative calendar for details.
- Feb 7: Dating Violence Event with Gov. Huntsman, 8 a.m., Governor's Mansion.
- Feb 7: Hinckley Forum "North Korea: Questions and Observations," 8:35 a.m., Orson Spencer Hall, Room 255, University of Utah. Guest is Kirk W. Larsen, Korea Foundation Associate Professor of History and International Affairs and Director, Undergraduate Program in International Affairs, The Elliott School of International Affairs.
- Feb 7: Midday Metro at 10 a.m. on NPR Utah, KCPW 88.3 FM, features, a legislative update from KCPW’s Julie Rose; Bob Farrington of the Downtown Alliance and Scott Beck of the Salt Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau on their opposition to SB64; Taylorsville Mayor Russ Wall and trucking company owner Dan England on their opposition to building the Mountain View Corridor as a tollroad; plus details on education funding at the Leg.
- Feb 7: Women’s State Legislative Council Health & Human Services Committee meeting on HB 235 “Abortion Law Revisions," 11:45 a.m., State Office Bldg. Auditorium. Speakers will present for and against HB 235. Also Topic HB 144 will be presented. Delegate Members and visitors welcome. Call for a guest pass 801-942-5133, email kittykaplan@msn.com or visit www.wslcofutah.org for more info.
- Feb 7: Lt. Gov. Herbert to announce award winners and present certificates at the 2007 Manufacturer of the Year Awards Banquet, 4:30 p.m., East Capitol Complex, Salt Lake City.
- Feb 7: UDOT open house to discuss improvements to State Route 108 from West Haven to Syracuse, 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., Clinton Elementary School, 1101 W. 1800 North, Clinton. 
- Feb 7: A Giant In Our City tribute dinner for Larry H. Miller, 6 p.m. reception followed by dinner at 7 p.m., Grand Ballroom, The Grand America Hotel, 555 South Main Street.  John Stockton will be the keynote, Thurl Bailey will provide entertainment, and Craig Bolerjack will act as Master of Ceremonies. The cost is $150 per person and $1,500 for a table of ten. Sponsorships available. RSVP by January 31 at www.saltlakechamber.org, giant@saltlakechamber.org or by calling 801-328-5050. Black tie is invited.
- Feb 7: Lt. Gov. Herbert to participate on a panel discussion about achieving peace within our communities, during the Westminster Peace Forum, 7 p.m., Westminster College, Salt Lake City.

- See the entire calendar

Utah in the National News

In interview with on-line environmental magazine, SLC Mayor Rocky Anderson says of his relationship with the Utah Legislature: "They wanted me dead. And probably not quickly. They wanted me to suffer before I was gone. Year after year, they made me a target during their legislative sessions. They were always threatening draconian retribution against Salt Lake City because of my position on some of these issues" (Grist Magazine).

Article: "When the baby boomers of St. George were children, radioactive ash from nuclear test explosions in Nevada regularly drifted toward the red bluffs of their town and fell like snow. They played in it and wrote their names in it on car windows. The federal government reassured the townspeople they were in no danger as it detonated 952 bombs in Nevada over four decades. But thousands of people who lived downwind of the test site got radiation-related cancer, and the town of 50,000 has its own cancer-treatment center today. So when word got out recently that the government wants to test a huge conventional bomb in Nevada, sending a mushroom cloud thousands of feet in the air, people in St. George felt an unwelcome blast from the past" (Washington Post).

Mitt Romney Watch
Columnist Kathleen Parker says of Mitt Romney's alleged pro-choice to pro-life "flip-flop": "Romney found the stem cell debate so complicated that he called in the nation's top scientists for a private tutorial. What many Americans may not know about Romney is that he's a nerd. A Harvard-educated wonk, he's the kind of guy whose class notes you could borrow (if he'd let you) and know that you got the whole story. After studying the data, Romney decided that life begins at conception. ... From that position, all other life decisions flow. If you believe that life begins when an embryo forms, then you can no longer support abortion or research that destroys embryos. ... Romney did the nerd-wonk thing: he studied, he listened, he changed his mind. Unfortunately, the flip-flop factor has shifted focus from other issues of greater concern both to Romney and most Americans, including the war in Iraq and terrorism. You have to be not dead before you can enjoy the luxury of defining life. Now there's a principle immune to flip-floppery" (RealClearPolitics) (see also related Kathryn Jean Lopez National Review column).

Local Headlines

Deseret Morning news

- Utah poised to OK a Real deal

- Proposed campus gun ban unveiled

- Utah's seniors place 3rd in U.S. for AP Exam scores

- Doubts cloud coal-plant plan

- Provo residents oppose more mining

- Video piracy is targeted in House bill

- Granite may consolidate programs

- A fund to fight lawsuits?

- Salt Lake makes Fairpark offer to Real

- State officials finalize cleanup accord

- Syracuse fires its city manager

- Syracuse High is school's official name

- Waste disposal bill passes 2nd Senate reading

- Clubs seek delay on smoking ban

- Hughes to include boxing as a conflict

- Measure addresses vote info on judges

- State seeks control of refuge, other land

- Measure would assist 'Lost Boys'

- School district bill gets preliminary OK after amendments

- Lawmaker seeks way to help residents when mobile-home parks are sold

- Asking U.S. to pull out of agreement gets OK

- Committee OKs bill to fight porn at school

- House OKs bill banning teen drivers' phone use

- Morgan wants to look at immigration costs

- House votes to raise driver's license fees

- Death penalty for killers of children is approved

- House barely passes ban on ticket quotas

- Panel OKs creation of Medicaid drug list

- GOP women traveling to Capitol Monday

- Small-business group plans day at Legislature

- Legislature urges Congress to crack down on ID theft

- Op-ed: UEA robs teachers of options

- Editorial: Tipping the land-battle scales

- Editorial: Explore tougher tax penalties

Standard-Examiner

- Got you covered

- Court: Businesses can be hidden

- Editorial: Don't federalize Utah police

Davis County Clipper

- Senate unlikely to slow school vouchers express

- Environmentalists up in arms over coal plant

- NSL land bill heads to Senate

- New Utah license plate to be unveiled in Davis

- County to grill restaurant officials

- Station Park inches closer to reality

- Barrus' energy bills progressing well

- Layton revives Adjustment Board

- Open house set for SR 108

- Her point - Parents need reminders now and then

- His point - Big brother grows more powerful

St. George Spectrum

- Receiving prairie dog clearance

- Initiative helping businesses grow

- Editorial: Bills create shroud of secrecy

Daily Herald

- House to teens: Hang up and drive

- House OKs broader use of death penalty

- Senate votes to leave radioactive waste decisions to regulators

- HPV vaccine bill defeated by House committee

- It's not easy to relocate mobile homes

- Law would not restrict parolee searches

- Water contamination settlement for Mapleton

- Editorial: Don't cut food taxes again

KSL

- Film Preview Stirring Up Religious Controversy

- Editorial: Land & Water Reinvestment Act

- Editorial: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Logan Herald Journal

- Airport master plan recommended

- Rich seeing decline in absences

KCPW

- Conservative Groups Block Cancer Vaccination Plan

- EnergySolutions Bill Clears Senate Easily

- Sandy Stadium Nearly a Done Deal

- Senate President Valentine Predicts Voucher Success, Tax Battles

- Senate Passes Stadium Vote

- VFW Posts Ask for A Reprieve from Smoking Ban

- Wasatch Front in Violation of Air Quality Regulations

- Accessing Pornography on School Property

- Money and the 2006 Elections

Park Record

- Bill would cut the phone-line on teen drivers

- Worried, officials head to D.C.

- A party on the ballot

- Expert predicts spring in economic forecast

- Station eyed for housing

- Editorial: School impact fees back on table

KUER

- DORA Moves Ahead in Utah Legislature

Salt Lake Tribune

- Senators want to wash hands of waste site

- RSL deal: Stadium on fast track

- Soccer Stadium: Voices

- Romney to make candidacy official next week

- Test explosion foes 'down to the crunch'

- Bill to help women fight cancer stopped

- Utah's high schoolers near nation's top in A.P. tests

- Commission puts off decision on Provo gravel pit's zoning

- Close vote advances ticket quota ban

- Hats off to citizenship

- Legislature briefs

- Logan mayor wants a new cop shop

- Facility is seen as an economic engine for surrounding acreage

- Draper TRAX line foes press their petition effort

- Residents leery of coal hauling

- Panel supports giving voters more on judges

- Lawmaker proposes new campus gun restrictions

- House bills target crimes against children

- Legislature: Cell phones behind the wheel

- County seeks to amend restrictions on off-road vehicles in Factory Butte

- Rolly: Errors can take on a long life

- Riverdale council tells bingo club its number is up

- West Jordan opposes toll highway

- For mobile-home owners, some hope, more bad news

- Outdoor gadgets drew record mob

- Blue Sky program shines on five Utah projects

- Liquor sales top $204M in 1 year

- Editorial: Water and land: Bill would fund vital conservation programs

- Editorial: Animal torture: A crime that should be prosecuted as a felony

Elected Officials Birthday List

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