News Highlights

Article: "A spat over hunting access on school trust lands spilled into Washington as concerns from hunters groups and intervention from Rep. Jim Matheson threatened to stall a proposed land swap that trust-land officials have been pushing for years" (Salt Lake Tribune).

Tribune editorial argues that state legislators shouldn’t be able to pocket left-over campaign cash.

Quote of the Day

"Our members care about great rates, being treated well and convenience. We feel we can deliver on all three of those things at at least as high a level as we are now, or higher."

-- Scott Q. Jorgensen, Beehive Credit Union president and CEO, on the credit union’s consideration of converting to a mutual savings bank so it can grow and expand without restriction (Deseret Morning News). See also Tribune story.

School Choice Update

While the school choice debate rages in Utah, it’s interesting to read about what’s happening elsewhere. Check out this Wall Street Journal column by Brendan Miniter on school choice in South Carolina.

Rudy Giuliani Fundraiser

An evening honoring former New York City Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani will be held Friday, March 30 at the home of Kelly and Steven Harmsen to benefit the Giuliani Presidential Exploratory Committee. A host reception with photo opportunity will be held from 6-6:30 p.m. costing $2,300 per person or $4,600 per couple. A cocktail reception costing $1,000 per person will be held from 6:30-7:30 p.m. For more information, contact Kristy Coleman, krjcoleman@gmail.com, 801.604.6303.

Today in Political History

March 6 1836:  In the Battle of the Alamo, 189 Texans fighting for independence from Mexico are killed while defending a mission fortress above the San Antonio River. (Source:  National Journal 2007 Calendar of American Politics)

March 6 1980:  The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is created. (Source: perspicuity.net).

Wise Words

"First of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself -- nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.”

--Franklin D. Roosevelt, First Inaugural Address, March 4, 1933 (Source: quotationspage.com)

Communications Tip

How to Resolve Conflict

“If you view conflict as something that shouldn't happen, something that harms relationships, it becomes negative. And then you avoid it and hope it will go away. But if you see conflict as a fact of life, an opportunity to strengthen relationships, you have a way of resolving conflict by turning it into something creative.” (Source: Witt Communications)

National Politics

Symbiotic Relationship

In his NationalJournal.com column, media writer William Powers notes how politicians and journalists need each other to keep campaign stories flowing. John Mercurio writes about the economy and the presidential race.

Lighter Side

Yesterday’s Dilbert cartoon in the Washington Post.

Blog Watch

• Paul Rolly reports: "Five people, including Salt Lake County resident Doug Kitt, filed an application for petition in the Utah Lietentant Governor's Office late Monday afternoon seeking to overturn the Legislature's passage of HB38, directing Salt Lake County restaurant tax money to the Salt Lake Real soccer stadium project in Sandy. ... The petitioners have until April 9 to gather 91,996 signatures in order to get the referendum on the ballot. To qualify, they need to get at least 10 percent of voters in 15 of Utah's 29 counties who cast ballot in the last governor's race. This is the second effort for a referendum to overturn an act passed by the Utah Legislature since the session ended last Wednesday. A petition drive is already underway to get on the ballot a measure to appeal legislation approving vouchers for parents who send their children to private schools."
• Frank Staheli says of the voucher referendum issue: "There has been a lot of scuttle lately about putting a referendum on the next state ballot so that the people can decide how their education dollars are spent. Interestingly, I thought that's just what the legislators did, was allow the people (read: parents) to decide how their children's education monies are spent. From my perspective, then, the only unsettled question is whether people who don't have children in school should be required to pay for those who do. Is that what the referendum would ask?" (see also The Utah Amicus, Utah Taxpayer, and The Senate Site).
• Mick Stockinger says of this Alex Beam column about the "weird" doctrines and practices of Mitt Romney's Mormonism: "What is really happening at the moment is that the liberal-left is belatedly expressing an interest into something they've long ignored. They figure because they don't know what a Mormon is, neither do you -- rather silly considering that the Mormons have been working the room for 180 years. The fact is that the 'weirdness' has great shock value, generating interest in the church that would be very hard to get any other way. When I travel and people hear I'm from Utah, I inevitably get all sorts of questions about 'my wives'. When was the last time somebody asked about your Methodist beliefs? Yeah, I though so. What Beam doesn't realize is that unless he and his anti-Mitt crew can define him by the weirdness, all they are doing is generating a lot of interest in his campaign" (see also Article VI Blog).

Elected Officials Birthday List

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Editor: Paul Hollingshead
News: Golden Webb
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Utah in the National News

Article: "EnergySolutions, a Utah company that owns or manages radioactive-waste sites including one in South Carolina, said it hired a senior government official as its top lobbyist in Washington, D.C. Jill Sigal, the Energy Department's assistant secretary for congressional and intergovernmental affairs, will become senior vice president of government relations. In a written statement Monday, Sigal said she wants to help EnergySolutions become a 'successful global nuclear firm'" (Associated Press).

Mitt Romney Watch
Newsweek columnist Howard Fineman notes the unique background of one Romney supporter: "Ruth Malhotra ... just turned 23. Her parents were born in Calcutta and New Delhi. They emigrated to the United States so that he could teach. They converted from Hinduism to Christianity. Now Ruth -- not a Hindi name, for sure -- is a devout Southern Baptist and a member of the Rev. Charles Stanley's megachurch, one of the largest and most influential in the country. Her '08 candidate? Mitt Romney! So here we have: an Indian Southern Baptist evangelical daughter of Hindus with a mixed Georgia-Delhi accent working hard for a Mormon Harvard-trained patrician whose faith she regards as a 'cult' --her words -- but who, in her mind, represents the GOP's best chance for keeping the White House in Republican hands. 'I like his business mind set,' she told me. Is this a great country, or what?" (Newsweek) (for more Romney coverage, see The Politico and The Virginian-Pilot stories and Sylvia Smith and Alex Beam columns).

Local Headlines

Salt Lake Tribune

- Trust officials strike deal with state on land swap

- Draper weighs future of vacant amphitheater

- Petitioners seek to nix soccer stadium tax law

- EnergySolutions hires D.C. lobbyist

- Governor names workforce director

- Logan utilities chief seeks contract for coal-fueled power from Delta

- SLC Council to meet earlier

- Rebecca Walsh: Fun stuff, but fame often fickle

- SLC airport on-time rate takes a hit

- Credit union may switch to be a bank

- Editorial: Managing charters: Legislators should keep watchful eye on schools

- Editorial: Cash cow: Riding herd over legislative campaign funds

Standard-Examiner

- Hooper leaders hope for resolution

- Op-ed: Members of Ogden's homeless population need a new shelter

- Editorial: Smokers, brace for another hit

Daily Herald

- Are school vouchers a done deal?

- Santaquin looking to expand roots in agriculture

- Editorial: Online safety via education

KCPW

- City Council To Discuss Non Discrimination Ordinance

- Antique Shop Owners Upset Over HB 402
- Saxton Wants To Regulate "Payday Lenders"

St. George Spectrum

- Jennifer Weaver: Stowell makes splash in Senate

Deseret Morning News

- Funding to benefit vets

- Provo Council to mull huge complex tonight

- Judge mulls open-meeting suit

- Huntsman picks general counsel

- Oil company rebuffed on Glen Canyon bid

- Classrooms go high-tech

- Beehive Credit Union might convert

- Marjorie Cortez: Without immigrants, farms turn to inmates

Please submit calendar items to Daily@UtahPolicy.com

- Mar 6: First Lady Mary Kaye Huntsman to Announce Cyber Bullying as New Power in You Focus, 10 a.m., Taylorsville High School, 5225 S. Redwood Road.

- Mar 6: Midday Metro at 10 a.m. on NPR Utah, KCPW 88.3 FM, features Peggy Egan and Lori Maximenko, bed and breakfast owners along Highway 89, who oppose a coal mine that will put more than 300 double coal trucks on the two-lane heritage highway; Frank Rees on a new recovery skills center at the Utah State Hospital; To join the conversation, call 801-355-TALK or email midday@kcpw.org during the show.
- Mar 6: RadioWest on KUER FM 90: "An Ordinary Man," 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. During the Rwandan genocide in 1994, hotel manager Paul Rusesabagina protected more than 1200 Tutsis and Hutu moderates who were in danger of losing their lives to homicidal mobs. Rusesabagina's actions were the subject of the film "Hotel Rwanda." RadioWest looks at Rusesabagina's new autobiography.
- Mar 6: State Legislators representing Washington, Iron and Kane County recap the 2007 Session in panel forum during a Southern Utah Home Builders Association luncheon, 11:45 a.m., Gardner Center Ballroom, Dixie State College, St. George. Cost for lunch is $13 and non-SUHBA members should RSVP by Monday, March 5.  For more info contact 435-674-1400 or visit www.suhba.com.
- Mar 6: Gov. Huntsman to attend the Blue Healthcare Bank Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, 12 p.m., Blue Healthcare Bank, 200 Civic Center Drive, Sandy.
- Mar 6: Lt. Governor Herbert to address members of the Utah Water Users Association, 12 p.m., Dixie Center, 1835 Convention Center Drive, St. George.
- Mar 6: Hinckley Forum "Media and The First Amendment," 12:30 p.m., Hinckley Caucus Room, Orson Spencer Hall, room 255. George Freeman, New York Times Assistant General Counsel. Co-sponsor – ASUU and The New York Times.
- Mar 6: Lt. Governor Herbert to address attendees of the Southwestern Utah Planning Authorities Council, 1 p.m., Five County AOG Offices, 1070 West 1600 South, St. George.
- Mar 6: Gov. Huntsman to attend KSL's Primary Children's Medical Center Radiothon, 4:45 p.m., Primary Children's Medical Center.
- Mar 7: 11th Annual Legislative Appreciation Luncheon hosted by the Davis County Republican Women, 12 p.m., Centerville City Offices Building, 250 North Main Street, Centerville. A $12 donation is requested to cover the cost of lunch. All Davis Senators and Representatives attending will give a brief overview of the 2007 Legislative Session. For more info contact Trudie Biggers at 801-546-6835 or trudimus@msn.com.
- Mar 7: Gov. Huntsman to give welcoming remarks at the Speedskating World Single Distance Championships, 7 p.m., Rice Eccles Stadium Tower.
- Mar 8: Gov. Huntsman to give brief remarks at Volunteers of America Event, 5 p.m., Utah's Center for Women & Children, 697 West 4170 South, Murray.
- Mar 8: Gov. Huntsman to attend the "Power in Parents" Conference, 7 p.m., Cottonwood High School.
- Mar 9: Hinckley Forum "Putin's Russia: A View from the Inside," 10:45 a.m., Hinckley Caucus Room, Orson Spencer Hall, room 255. Ludmilla Selezneva, Professor of History and Politics, Humanitarian University of Television and Broadcasting, Russian State Economic Academy (Moscow).
- Mar 9: Gov. Huntsman to Visit American Fork Jr. High School Utah History Class, 2 p.m., American Fork Jr. High School.
- Mar 9: Lt. Governor Herbert to attend the Benefit for Trolley Square Victims, 7 p.m., Hard Rock Cafe, Salt Lake City.
- Mar 10-11: Beyond Ballots or Bullets Workshop, Hampton Inn, 1511 South 40 East, Provo. For more information about this two-day workshop to develop freedom strategies contact info@freeamerica.ws, or to register visit www.freeamerica.ws/.

- See the entire calendar