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Congress Gets All Riled Up
Utah Rep. Chris Cannon is the leading House Republican dealing with the brouhaha over the U.S. attorney firings. He was the only Republican invited to a meeting between the White House Counsel and Democrat Judiciary leadership on Wednesday. He said he wants to make sure that the investigation moves along to make the facts known so it can be determined “if this is a political charade or not” so Congress can move on to deal with real issues. A lengthy New York Times story mentions Cannon's involvement.
The flap over the U.S. Attorney firings is another great example of how Congress can do only two things: Nothing and Overreact (as Sen. Bob Bennett has said). Congress can’t deal with the big issues that really threaten the country’s future, like energy independence, the federal budget deficit/out-of-control spending, immigration, the Social Security/Medicare/Medicaid crisis, and the health care crisis.
But Congress can work itself into an absolute frenzy over the Bush administration dismissing political appointees. Clearly, the administration was ham-handed in the firings, but this is a tempest in a teapot in the big scheme of things. Nevertheless, lots of members of Congress want their faces before the camera, making shrill denunciations, demanding hearings and issuing subpoenas.
Attend Economic Summit ‘07
If you are interested in attending the Governor's Utah Economic Summit '07 on March 22, you can still get in for the discount rate of $100 (rather than paying $150 at the door), if you register online using the Zions Bank promo code: zb100. The latest edition of the Zions Business Resource Center newsletter notes that the promo code is good through tomorrow. Register online here.
Solid Economy Ahead
In his weekly Tea Leaf economic update, Utah economist Jeff Thredgold provides a springtime view of the nation’s economy, predicting moderate growth, less red ink in the federal budget, a tight labor market (especially for skilled workers), modest inflation (tied to energy prices), realistic home prices and a powerful global economy.
The bottom line: “U.S. economic growth during the past 36 months has been solid. Stable growth is likely to continue. In addition, we expect: another 12-digit budget imbalance…slowing employment gains…modest inflation pressures…relative stability in both short- and long-term interest rates…soft coastal housing markets, with more solid interior performance…and an anxious but impressive global marketplace.”
Washington Watch
Bennett Rejects TSA Provision
Sen. Bob Bennett says he voted against The Improving America's Security Act because it "includes language that will allow TSA workers to unionize. Such collective bargaining rights, which are appropriate in most circumstances, are not wise when addressing terrorist threats. I could not in good conscience vote for a bill that will put American lives in danger" (see press release).
National Politics
Today's Best Stories
-- Wall Street Journal: Editorial compares and contrasts the Bush administration's firing of eight U.S. Attorneys with the Clinton administration's simultaneous firing of all 93 U.S. Attorneys in March of '93.
-- New York Times: Editorial says the U.S. Attorneys scandal "is just part of Bush administration's sordid history of waving the bloody bullhorn of 9/11 for the basest of motives: the perpetuation of power for power's sake."
-- USA Today: Columnist Judy Keen wonders if John Edwards' populist, "us vs. them" message will resonate with voters in '08.
-- National Journal: Columnist Charlie Cook says Hillary Clinton is "playing her own game, solidly and competently, almost serenely, betting that [Barack] Obama's aura will fade as the caucuses and primaries near."
IRS to Tax Certain CU Activities
Credit union taxation continues to be a big issue at the federal level. American Banker (subscription required) reports that for the first time in more than a decade, the Internal Revenue Service is wading into the controversial area of credit union taxation.
Last week the IRS narrowed an exemption afforded state-chartered credit unions, forcing them to pay federal taxes on income earned from some products and services. The IRS continues to scrutinize about 20 other activities that may not be related to a credit union’s core, tax-exempt mission of “promoting thrift and providing low-cost credit.” These taxable activities could include fees earned from automated teller machine fees charged to nonmembers, marketing mutual funds to members, and marketing other insurance and financial products.
Credit unions are vowing to sue the IRS, and the agency's move is emboldening the banking industry, which has fought for years to force credit unions to pay taxes. But in a separate ruling Monday, the IRS exempted an insurance product for the first time.
Banks have long argued that large credit unions have abandoned their original mission of serving low-income people who have a common bond, and therefore they should be taxed like other financial institutions.
UDOT Open House
UDOT is hosting an open house to provide input on potential alternatives for the Mountain View Corridor in Utah County today from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Sego Lily Elementary School, 550 East 900 North in Lehi. For more info, click here.
Today in Political History
March 15, 1820: Maine is admitted as the 23rd U.S. state. (Source: perspicuity)
March 15, 1977: The U.S House of Representatives begins a 90-day test to determine the feasibility of showing its sessions on TV. (Source: National Journal 2007 Calendar of American Politics)
Wise Words
“Our political institutions work remarkably well. They are designed to clang against each other. The noise is democracy at work.”
-- Michael Novak (Source:Quotes)
Utah Trivia
The small Utah city of Levan is “navel” spelled backwards. It is so named because it is in the middle of Utah. (Source: 50states. UPD doesn’t vouch for the veracity of this trivia item. The Utah League of Cities and Towns local government directory says Levan could be French, Latin or Piute, meaning East of Sunrise, Land of the Sunrise, Rear Rank of a moving Army, Frontier Settlement, or Little Water.)
CPPA Policy Brief
The University of Utah's Center for Public Policy & Administration has posted a new Policy Brief, which looks at Utah's low child immunization rate and discusses efforts to increase the rate.
Greens Oppose Lease Plan
The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance and other environmental groups have filed a lawsuit to block "plans to reinstate expired oil and gas leases within the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, and two Wilderness Study Areas for the purpose of allowing environmentally disastrous 'tar sands' exploration and development." Says SUWA attorney Stephen Bloch: "BLM's decision to try and breathe new life into these leases is illegal and directly contradicts the agency's normal procedures. This outrageous decision unnecessarily exposes tens of thousands of acres of Utah's most sensitive lands to one of the world's most destructive mining technologies" (see press release).
Lighter Side
Best of Late Night Humor
David Letterman: “Top Other New York Times Allegations Against Al Gore”: In addition to “An Inconvenient Truth,” wrote “Big Momma’s House 2”; Against CO2 emissions, yet he insists on exhaling carbon dioxide; Ordered his vice presidential limousine stocked with Yoo-Hoo and caramels; Al Gore, al-Qa’ida? Not a coincidence; “Al” is short for “Alice”; Real reason polar bears are endangered—he’s eating them.
Jay Leno: Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel—he’s a Republican—called a press conference to announce he’ll be making a decision about running for president sometime later in the year. So, he called a press conference to say maybe later in the year he’s going to say something important. This is the kind of bold, decisive leadership this country needs. ... Last week NASA fired that crazy astronaut Lisa Nowak. Apparently there was no place at NASA for an unstable woman. The good news? Today she was hired as co-host of “The View.” ... Rudy Giuliani has defended Newt Gingrich, saying it’s OK Newt had an affair and that no one is perfect. That’s when you know the Republicans are in trouble—when a guy with three marriages and an affair is defending the guy with three marriages and two affairs, so they can team up and beat a Clinton. |
