Washington Watch

Hatch: Shift to Electric Vehicles

At a Senate Finance Committee hearing on transportation energy issues, Sens. Orrin Hatch, Maria Cantwell, and Barack Obama highlight their bipartisan effort "to begin a shift in our nation's transportation sector away from conventional liquid fuels and toward electrons." Says Hatch: "We are facing a global energy crunch, and the fact that our transportation sector is around 97 percent dependent on oil is just plain dangerous. We have to act now and we have to be creative. In my view there is no solution more practical or urgent than enacting policies that would begin to shift our transportation sector away from liquid fuels and toward a greater reliance on electrons" (see press release).

Cannon: One Step Closer to 4th Seat

Rep. Chris Cannon says of the successful passage in the House of the DC voting rights bill: "This is one step -- an important one -- toward gaining the representation in Congress Utah has been denied for the past four years. Many strongly held questions and constitutional concerns have been raised about this legislation. As I have said repeatedly, the only thing clear about the Constitutionality of this legislation is that it is unclear. Between the House and the Senate and the White House and probably the Courts, we have a system that will sort out those questions. [Thursday's] passage will allow that sorting out to continue, and hopefully bring us closer to gaining a congressional seat we deserve."

National Politics

Best Stories From . . .

-- New York Times: Partisans on both sides of the abortion debate predict that the Supreme Court's partial birth abortion ban decision will "escalate the drive for new abortion restrictions in state legislatures and push the issue of abortion rights -- and the Supreme Court -- squarely into the 2008 presidential election."

-- New York Sun: Columnist Ryan Sager says the official responses of the Big Three GOP presidential candidates to the Supreme Court's abortion decision offers "a window into the state of the [presidential] race -- and into the role that abortion plays in defining the Republican Party."

-- RealClearPolitics: Columnists Dick Morris and Eileen McGann report that "[t]here has been a sudden and highly significant shift in the Democratic Presidential race: Hillary Clinton is rapidly losing her frontrunner position to Barack Obama as her negative ratings climb. ... Hillary isn't wearing well. It seems as if the more people see her, the less they like her. Now, for the first time, her low likeability levels are costing her votes, as Democratic party voters are abandoning her to support Barack Obama."

-- Washington Times: In op-ed, Gary J. Andres says the most troubling thing about the majority Democrats' first 100 days in Congress is their "confusion between the politics of elections and the responsibilities of governing. Nowhere is this bewilderment more evident than in the realm of foreign policy.”

Today in Political History

April 20, 1971:  The United States Supreme Court upholds the use of busing to achieve racial desegregation in schools. (Source:  NBC5) 

April 20, 1983:  Social Security legislation signed by President Ronald Reagan delays the cost-of-living increase for 6 months, boosts payroll deductions beginning in 1984, gradually raises the minimum retirement age to 67 by 2027, requires that new federal employees join the system, and mandates that some benefits of higher-income retirees be subject to federal incomes taxes. The reforms are designed to assure the system's solvency for the next 75 years. (Source:  perspicuity) 

Wise Words

"There's a great deal of talk about loyalty from the bottom to the top. Loyalty from the top down is even more necessary and is much less prevalent. One of the most frequently noted characteristics of great men who have remained great is loyalty to their subordinates."

-- General George S. Patton, Jr  (Source:  military-quotes) 

Utah Trivia

Fillmore was Utah's first territorial capitol and was named for U.S. President Millard Fillmore. The statehouse was never completed, but the first wing remains Utah's oldest governmental building and now serves as a state museum. (Source:  50States) 

Blog Watch

-- At the Senate Site, Weber State professor Taowen Le posts some facts about China's Liaoning Province and describes the objectives of the Utah legislative delegation's upcoming visit there.

-- Utah Senate Democrats notes: "Senator [Ed] Mayne was at the Capitol [Wednesday] attending his meetings, confirming the governor's appointments, and enjoying lunch with our caucus. (In case you just tuned in, Senator Mayne announced last week he has lung cancer and has begun chemotherapy.) On the Senate floor, he asked for a Personal Privilege to address his colleagues in the Senate. Senator Mayne thanked his fellow senators and the staff for their expressions of concern in the form of telephone calls, cards, etc. With the assistance of an excellent medical team, colleagues, friends, and family (particularly the female caretakers of the family!), he has a positive outlook. Way to go Senator Mayne!"

-- Utah Taxpayer posts part 2 of its response to this anti-voucher op-ed by Rep. Kay McIff.

-- At Utah State Democratic Party, Wayne Holland responds to this op-ed by Sen. Bob Bennett about the history and future of the Utah Democratic Party.

-- At Window on Washington, Eunice Moscoso reports: "Lynne Cheney, wife of Vice President Dick Cheney, spoke of her Mormon lineage at a special naturalization ceremony Tuesday at the National Archives. She told the soon-to-be-Americans that 'it takes work to create a country and work to keep a country, and part of that work lies in appreciating our history; and it is our history, whether our ancestors were here or not in the early days.' Cheney said that some of her forebears were Mormon immigrants from Wales who came in the middle of the nineteenth century, 'long after George Washington and the other Founding Fathers had departed from this life.' She added: 'But what the founders accomplished affected those immigrants mightily'" (hat tip: Article VI Blog).

Casual Friday

Fishing Report

Stormy weather hampered fishing for many anglers during the past several days. Others adjusted to conditions and found good success.

Fly fishermen on streams often do better when it is a little stormy. The spring Blue Wing Olive hatch is more profuse when it is overcast, and fishing can be very good even if there is a light rain. But nobody does well when it pours rain or when it is really windy. The Provo, Green, Weber, Ogden and many other streams have been fishing well. Reservoir shore fishing for trout will also be good during the coming weeks.

Bass fishing at Lake Powell has been hot when the weather is stable, but it slows when a cold front moves across. Striper action has been consistently good, and will stay good for the next several weeks. The long range forecast suggests warmer, more stable weather later next week. It that holds, get down to Powell for some great fishing. See Dave Webb’s complete fishing report.

For the latest wildlife news and information and the fishing report visit the DWR website

Provo River Clean-Up

The annual Provo River Clean up is this weekend, sponsored by Western Rivers Flyfisher. Take a little time to give back to a resource that offers us great fishing. For more information call the shop or drop them an e-mail: 801-521-6424 or info@wrflyfisher.com.

Outdoors Report

-- Tribune’s lowdown on purchasing new hiking boots

-- West Yellowstone cycle tour in the Morning News

-- Morning News on Bonneville cutthroat recovery efforts

-- Explore Holbrook Canyon in the Tribune’s Hike of the Week

-- Find out about upcoming events in the Morning News’ Outdoor Notes

-- Check out the Tribune’s Outdoor Notebook and Recreation Roundup for sports and recreation activities this week

-- For the latest wildlife news and information and the fishing report visit the DWR website

New Films

-- Hot Fuzz: Tribune review

-- Fracture:  Tribune review

-- In the Land of Women:  Tribune review

Concerts

-- Dame Gillian Weir, organist, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Salt Lake Tabernacle, Temple Square, free, but tickets are required (801-570-0080)

-- “Rhythm in Your Rubbish,” Utah Symphony, Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., Abravanel Hall

-- Ballet West presents “Giselle,” through April 21, Capitol Theatre

-- “The Best of Sondheim,” Utah Symphony, Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m., Abravanel Hall

-- Brahms: “A German Requiem,” Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Libby Gardner Concert Hall

-- Ken Cowan, organist, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Salt Lake Tabernacle, Temple Square, free, but tickets required (801-570-0080)

-- West Valley Symphony, Saturday, 8 p.m., Granger High School Auditorium, 3690 S. 360 West, $5

-- NOVA Chamber Music Series, Sunday, 3 p.m., Utah Museum of Fine Arts

-- Madeleine Festival, Sundays through May 20, Cathedral of the Madeleine

Theater

-- “The Sound of Music” through April 21, Rodgers Memorial Theatre

-- “Suor Angelica/Gianni Schicchi” through April 21, University Lyric Opera

-- “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown” through April 21, Empress Theatre

-- “Rounding Third” through April 22, Salt Lake Acting Company

-- “Wine and One-Acts” through April 28, Pygmalion Productions

-- “Barefoot in the Park” through May 5, Heritage Community Theatre

-- “The Jungle Book” through May 5, Academy Theatre Company

-- “Facing East” through May 6, Plan-B Theatre Company

-- “Seussical the Musical” through June 2, Terrace Plaza Playhouse

-- “Phantom of the Grand Ol' Opry” through June 9, Desert Star Cabaret Theatre

-- “Thoroughly Modern Millie” through June 9, Hale Centre Theatre

Museum Exhibits

-- The 3rd Annual Arte Lation: A Celebration of Latino Art in Utah Exhibition, La Loteria: An Exploration of Mexico Exhibition, both exhibits run through April 20, Kimball Art Center

-- Resonance and Return: Social Documentary Photography, 1935-Present Exhibition through May 19, Salt Lake Art Center

-- From Above:  Images of a Storied Land Exhibition through May 20, Utah Museum of Natural History, University of Utah

-- The Quiet Landscapes of William B. Post Exhibition through May 28, Museum of Art, Brigham Young University                                    

-- Brian Kershisnik: Painting from Life Exhibition through July 1, Utah Museum of Fine Arts, University of Utah                                           

Et Cetera

-- Gallery Stroll, Friday, 6 – 9 p.m., downtown

-- Salt Lake City Marathon, Saturday, The Gateway

-- Tulip Festival through April 28, Thanksgiving Point

-- The Organ Loft Spring Silent Movie Series, through May 25