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Calculate Your Carbon Footprint
What is your impact on the environment? The Nature Conservancy has created an innovative carbon calculator to help individuals and families determine how their everyday choices contribute to climate change. Check it out at the TNC Carbon Calculator web site. The calculator takes into account home energy, driving and flying, food and diet, and recycling and waste.
Dave Livermore, who runs the Utah TNC office, said climate change is one of the single greatest threats to TNC’s mission. “It’s clear that it will take action from each and every one of us to slow climate change.” He encouraged Utahns to try out the carbon calculator to determine ways they can reduce energy use.
A Bull of a Market
Utah economist Jeff Thredgold’s Tea Leaf economic update this week focuses on the stock market hitting record highs. “This rise complements my long-term view that the stock market has—and remains—the place to be,” says Thredgold. “We remain bullish on the stock market…and bullish on America!”
Washington Watch
Hatch Outlines Tech Priorities
Sen. Orrin Hatch joins the Senate Republican High Tech Task Force in outlining priorities for the 110th Congress to strengthen the American economy and improve quality of life through technological advancement. Says Hatch: "Our economy depends on innovation. Over the last several years we have enjoyed economic prosperity, largely driven by the technology sector. However, the future success of the United States in today's global marketplace boils down to this simple question: Do we have the technology we need to win?" (see press release).
Matheson Followed Hoyer's Advice
Profile of House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer includes the following anecdote about Rep. Jim Matheson: "Though he resists taking no for an answer, Hoyer has earned a reputation for being very good at saying no and for telling people exactly what can and cannot be done. The first time Rep. Jim Matheson (D-Utah) met Hoyer was early in the morning for breakfast at the Salt Lake City airport. It was the summer of 1997 and Matheson was mulling a run for Congress. He hoped Hoyer was ready to offer his help. Instead, Hoyer graciously told Matheson, he had come to ask him not to run. Matheson took his advice, stayed out of the 1998 race, which the Democratic candidate ultimately lost. The first thing Matheson did, in deciding to push ahead in 2000, was call Hoyer, who this time offered his full support. 'He was the advocate when I had none,' said Matheson" (The Hill); Matheson says the nation's need for K-12 math, science and technology teachers will begin to be addressed by H.R. 362 -- the '10,000 Teachers, 10 Million Minds' Science and Math Scholarship Act -- which was passed by the House Tuesday (see press release).
CPPA Newsletter
The University of Utah's Center for Public Policy & Management has posted its latest Policy Perspectives newsletter. This edition features an analysis of Utah's recent tax reforms as well as articles on government ethics and water policy.
Ralph Nader at Hinckley Forum
Ralph Nader will speak this Friday on the subject of "Building Democracy: Challenging Corporate Power" in the Hinckley Institute of Politics Caucus Room (OSH 255, University of Utah campus) at 11:30 am. The speech will be co-sponsored by the S.J. Quinney College of Law.
Today in Political History
April 26, 1986: The world’s worst nuclear disaster occurred in Chernobyl USSR. 31 die immediately, many more later from radiation sickness.
April 26, 1906: "Five Civilized Tribes Act" becomes law. This act sets up the Dawes Commission which ultimately becomes the Bureau of Indian Affairs. (Source: perspicuity)
April 26, 2000: Vermont Gov. Howard Dean signs the nation's first bill allowing same-sex couples to form civil unions. (Source: NBC5)
Wise Words
“He who wishes to fight must first count the cost. When you engage in actual fighting, if victory is long in coming, then men's weapons will grow dull and their ardor will be dampened. If you lay siege to a town, you will exhaust your strength. Again, if the campaign is protracted, the resources of the State will not be equal to the strain. Now, when your weapons are dulled, your ardor dampened, your strength exhausted and your treasure spent, other chieftains will spring up to take advantage of your extremity. Then no man, however wise, will be able to avert the consequences that must ensue... In war, then, let your great object be victory, not lengthy campaigns.”
-- Sun Tzu, the Art of War (Source: military-quotes)
Political Trivia
Q: After first petitioning Congress for admission as a state, how many years did it take Utah to achieve statehood?
A: 47 years. Petitioning began in 1849, but Utah did not become a state until 1896. (Source: History for Kids)
National Politics
Best Stories From . . .
-- The Politico: Rudy Giuliani warns that "if a Democrat is elected president in 2008, America will be at risk for another terrorist attack on the scale of Sept. 11, 2001. But if a Republican is elected, he said, especially if it is him, terrorist attacks can be anticipated and stopped. 'If any Republican is elected president -- and I think obviously I would be the best at this -- we will remain on offense and will anticipate what [the terrorists] will do and try to stop them before they do it,' Giuliani said."
-- Washington Post: Sen. John McCain is hoping for a fresh start after formally launching his presidential bid Wednesday in New Hampshire, "the state that vaulted him to national prominence eight years ago .... McCain will restart his campaign in New Hampshire .... then go to South Carolina, where he was thrashed by the Bush forces, and to Iowa, which he skipped during his first campaign. After a stop in Nevada, he will end with a rally in his home state of Arizona" (see also related Joe Scarborough column).
-- New York Observer: In op-ed, Steve Kornacki notes: "To say that Harry Reid's pronouncement that the war in Iraq is 'lost' stirred a media frenzy last week is an understatement. Which was understandable. After all, Republicans have been straining to caricature their foes as surrender-happy coddlers of 'the enemy.' Mr. Reid, the Democratic Senate Majority Leader, seemed to be playing right into their hands. But there is reason to believe that his provocative -- if arguably clumsy -- rhetoric is the product of a correct calculation that the public is warming to the more aggressive Democratic posture on the war" (see also related Austin Bay column and Wall Street Journal editorial).
Lighter Side
Best of Late Night Humor
Jay Leno: All the big candidates were out campaigning on the big Earth Day weekend. They had some good ideas. John McCain suggested we bomb Iran using hybrid planes. ... John Edwards got two $400 haircuts in Beverly Hills. He said he only went to the expensive stylist because they are friends. Friends? What kind of friend charges $400 for a haircut? ... During appearances in Denver, John Kerry re-opened the door to running for president in 2008. You know, somebody should really lock that door. It just keeps swinging open and closed. ... Mitt Romney has announced that his son Tagg Romney has joined the campaign. No word from the other kids—Skip, Jump Rope and See Saw. ... According to a news report out today, on average, 2006 was the safest year for airlines. It’s mostly due to JetBlue. You can’t have an accident if you never leave the runway.
Utah’s Top Issues
Here’s our list of significant political issues, generated by observing what’s hot in the news media, what’s on the agenda of various policymaking groups, and what’s being discussed among opinion leaders and policymakers. We welcome suggestions and input from UPD readers. E-mail daily@utahpolicy.com.
Hottest of the Hot
- Timing of UEA ballot referendum to erase HB148, the voucher legislation.
- Attorney General opinion on HB174, which amended HB148 and could keep vouchers alive even if HB148 is repealed.
- Pending court case on vouchers
- Guns on campus
- UTA route changes and fare increases
- RSL demands on soccer sports complex
Emerging
- Sales tax ballot proposals for transportation projects in Davis, Weber and Box Elder counties
- Salt Lake City mayoral race.
- Proposal from K-16 Alliance for lengthened school year and more flexibility, which could help solve teacher and classroom shortages and increase salaries significantly for teachers willing to work more days.
- Clean air campaign by Utah doctors
- Lake Powell pipeline to Washington/Iron counties
- Global warming/environment
- School district breakup/downsizing
Mature
- Snake Valley water pumping for Las Vegas
- Downtown SLC massive construction/sky bridge
- Immigration
- Affordable heath insurance
- Mitt Romney presidential campaign
Getting Old (but not totally resolved)
· SITLA land sales
Oldies But Goodies
- Transportation funding
- Ethics reform
- No Child Left Behind
- Healthcare reform/Medicaid
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