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Keep Your Money Two Extra Days
The IRS has issued a reminder that 2006 federal tax returns must be filed, and any taxes owed must be paid, by Tuesday, April 17. Traditionally, the deadline is April 15. This year, however, taxpayers nationwide will have extra because April 15 falls on a Sunday and the following day, Monday, April 16, is Emancipation Day, a legal holiday in the District of Columbia.
Vouchers: Off to Court We Go
Utah’s voucher laws are surely headed for court and two trigger points exist for lawsuits. The first will be the end of April when HB148 (the original voucher law) and HB174 (which amended HB148) would normally take effect. By mounting a successful referendum petition drive to put repeal of HB148 on the ballot, the anti-voucher activists have probably suspended implementation of HB148 until voters next year approve or repeal it at the ballot box.
However, HB174 remains on the books with plenty of substance to be put into effect, according to an AG’s opinion. The State Office of Education is obligated to implement that voucher law. The implementation after April 30 could trigger a lawsuit by voucher opponents.
A second likely trigger point could occur when the Office of Legislative Research writes ballot language for HB148. Assuming enough signatures are certified by the Lieutenant Governor’s Office to place the law on the ballot, then Legislative Research is charged with drafting the actual language that will appear on the ballot. People in the Legislature say the language is likely to state that parts of HB148 would be repealed if the referendum passes, but parts that remain in HB174 would stay on the books and be implemented. The anti-voucher activists probably won’t like that language and would fight it in court.
Utah vs. Google
The blogosphere is in an uproar over Sen. Dan Eastman’s SB236, which passed and was signed by the governor. It is intended to protect the value of trademarks, but critics say it is unconstitutional, would destroy key word advertising, and makes Utah look foolish. Check out the numerous comments on Eastman’s SenateSite blog posting and a few other prominent blogs like Slashdot, Eric Goldman, and Electronic Frontier Foundation. Matthew Prince, a law professor, has defended the law in a first Senate Site posting and a second. See also AP article by Paul Foy.
Washington Watch
Hatch: Restrictions Handcuff Science
Sen. Orrin Hatch endorses the Stem Cell Research and Enhancement Act of 2007 (S. 5), "which would authorize the use of federal funding from the National Institutes of Health for embryonic stem cell research." Says Hatch: "It would be preposterous to put handcuffs on a surgeon trying to operate or an OB trying to deliver a baby, yet this is exactly the impossible bind in which we have put our nation's researchers. By forbidding federal funding for ethical stem cell research, we have shackled the hands of our nation's health scientists" (see press release).
Hinckley Mayoral Forum
The University of Utah's Hinckley Institute of Politics is hosting the last of three meet-the-candidates forums today with SLC mayoral hopefuls Ralph Becker and Dave Buhler at 11 a.m. in the Hinckley Caucus Room, Orson Spencer Hall, Room 255. The forum will also be broadcast on KUER's "Radio West" program.
National Politics
Best Stories From . . .
-- Los Angeles Times: Columnist Jonah Goldberg argues that even though Sen. John McCain "has a maddening habit of proving his political independence by winning accolades from the New York Times editorial board," conservatives should consider their options. "By any measure, Rudy Giuliani is the more liberal candidate -- indeed, the most liberal serious candidate Republicans have fielded in decades. But because Giuliani made the right enemies -- chief among them those vexatious New York Times editors -- conservatives respect him, even though they disagree with him on almost everything. And they give the cold shoulder to McCain, who agrees with them on most of the important things. ... [T]he double standard ... seems more than a little self-indulgent" (see also related E.J. Dionne column).
-- New York Post: Columnist John Podhoretz warns Giuliani that he's "blowing it": "I still think you stand the best chance among the candidates in the Republican field of winning the general election in 2008, and I think you have it in you to be a great president. But something strange is going on with your candidacy -- something that doesn't reflect the conduct and behavior of the Mayor Giuliani whose ferocious competence and clarity are what have led me to advocate your nomination for more than a year now. ... As a presidential candidate, you seem to be winging it these days -- giving off-the-cuff, ill-considered answers to delicate questions. If you keep winging it this way, you're going to fly off a cliff" (see also related Roger Simon column).
-- CBS News: In an appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman, Sen. Barack Obama makes it clear he's not interested in running for vice president: "Letterman asked Obama if there had been any discussion of the Illinois senator sharing the Democratic ticket with New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. 'No, you don't run for second,' Obama said. 'I don't believe in that.' Letterman offered that a Clinton-Obama combination 'would be a powerful ticket,' to which Obama replied: 'Which order are we talking about?'"
GOP Gen X Networking Lunch
The next networking lunch for Generation X Republicans is scheduled at the Rio Grande Café 270 S. 455 W., Thursday, May 3, 11:30 a.m. Participants buy their own lunch. RSVP to Mike Winder, 801.633.1300, or mike.winder@winderfarms.com so he can give Rio Grande a rough head count. Pass this invitation on to any who may be interested.
Today in Political History
April 11, 1951: General Douglas MacArthur is fired by President Truman over differences in how the Korean war should be conducted. (Source: perspicuity)
April 11, 1980: The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issues regulations prohibiting sexual harassment of workers by supervisors. (Source: NBC5)
Wise Words
“It has been left to our generation to discover that you can move heaven and earth to save five minutes and then not have the faintest idea what to do with them when you have saved them.”
-- C.E.M. Joad (Source: Quote Garden)
Campaign Tip
Build Your E-Mail List
Just about every campaign these days has a web site. Some campaigns spend a few hundred dollars on their web site, others spend thousands. Regardless of how much you spend, one of the most valuable elements of your web site will always be the email list it generates. And the best way to build your email list is to have a simple email subscription box on your site. You can offer campaign updates, newsletters, alerts or anything else. The important thing is to have the ability to collect the email addresses of people who visit your site. (Source: Campaign Tips)
Blog Watch
-- Utah Senate Democrats reports on the health of Sen. Ed Mayne.
-- Jesse Harris says of the "oncoming voucher brawl": "I fear this issue is going to be nasty. I'm talking '2004 presidential election' nasty. I expect name-calling, scheming, lying, intimidation, accusations and all of the worst elements of a political conflict. The stakes are high: most polls show the sides of the issue in a dead heat with the pro-voucher segment gaining some momentum. It's critical for both sides to get as many people in their camp as possible and make sure they get to the voting booth on time. It's never the slam-dunk issues that prove divisive: it's the ones where it's anyone's game. ... Personally, I'll be talking to people I know to let them know that I support the voucher program and why I do. I'm sure many of you will be doing the same (though some of you for the opposite argument). Let's all commit ourselves to try to avoid name-calling, avoid harsh invective and stay on-topic during this long discussion process. And for Pete's sake, don't burn out on it. There's at least 10 months before anything is going to happen" (see also BoardBuzz, The Wall of Separation, and The Utah Amicus).
-- At Out of Context, Thomas Burr reports: "When Vice President Dick Cheney gives the commencement address at Brigham Young University later this month, there's a question whether the school will award him an honorary doctorate, frequently a typical 'gift' to famous speakers at many colleges. BYU isn't saying yet whether it will dole out a degree to the Veep, whose visit to the Mormon Church-owned Y has spawned protests and controversy. 'Details will be forthcoming,' the school's PR shop says. A little research shows the university doesn't always gives its commencement speaker an honorary doctorate: April 2006: honorary doctorate to Elder Merrill J. Bateman. April 2005: former Education Secretary Rodney Page spoke, but did not get an honorary degree. April 2003: Elder Robert D. Hales and Elder Russell Ballard presented with doctorate of Christian service. April 2002: former Seattle Seahawks owner Ken Behring spoke and given an honorary doctorate. So the question remains whether Cheney will get an honorary degree. And, if so, what would it be? International diplomacy? Public Relations? Energy Policy? Environmental Science?"
Lighter Side
See Mitt Romney political cartoons at Lost Nation.tv and Yahoo/RealClearPolitics (Pat Bagley cartoon). |
