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Ed Mayne on Vanocur Show
This Sunday’s “On the Record with Chris Vanocur” will feature State Senator Ed Mayne, who openly discusses his battle with lung cancer and shares other insights about life and politics. It airs Sunday morning at 9:30 on ABC 4.
Washington Watch
Hatch: Wrong Immigration Proposal
Sen. Orrin Hatch underscores "his opposition to the comprehensive immigration reform measure (S. 1639) by voting to block the bill from receiving a final vote. This marks the second time this week that Hatch has opposed the bill, stressing that while he believes Congress must address the nation's immigration problems this proposal is the wrong way to do it" (see press release).
Cannon: Senate Can't Solve Issue
Rep. Chris Cannon says of the defeat of the motion to invoke cloture on the immigration reform bill before the Senate: "Legislation, conceived in secrecy, and dedicated to the proposition that only Senators can solve this issue, cannot long endure. An issue of such import demands the participation and support of the American people. Deciding what it means to be an American is the right of every citizen of this nation and no one, not even the US Senate, can change that" (see press release); the House approves "an appropriations bill amendment [sponsored by Colorado Rep. Mark Udall] that would bar the Bureau of Land Management from issuing commercial oil shale leases in Colorado, Wyoming and Utah. ... The amendment survived an attempt by [Rep. Cannon] to get another amendment approved that would have canceled out Udall's proposal. Cannon's attempt failed" (Grand Junction Daily Sentinel) (see also related Cannon press release).
Matheson Can't Block COLA
The House kills Rep. Jim Matheson's bid to get a direct vote to block the congressional cost-of-living pay raise, which is automatically awarded every year unless lawmakers vote to block it (Associated Press).
Bishop Provision Approved
The House approves an eminent domain provision filed by Rep. Rob Bishop that "would protect private property rights near public lands. The amendment, made to the Interior Appropriations bill currently under consideration by the House, prohibits the federal land agencies from using funds contained in the annual spending bill to condemn land" (see press release).
Today in Political History
June 29, 1956: President Dwight Eisenhower signs the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, officially creating the United States Interstate Highway System. (Source: NBC5)
June 29, 1995: The shuttle Atlantis and the Russian space station Mir dock, forming the largest man-made satellite ever to orbit the Earth. (New York Times)
Wise Words
"Failure is an event, never a person."
--Anonymous
Utah Trivia
-- Utah was acquired by the United States in 1848 in the treaty ending the Mexico War.
-- Utah has 11,000 miles of fishing streams and 147,000 acres of lakes and reservoirs.
-- Utah covers 84,900 square miles of land and is ranked 11th largest state in the United States.
-- The federal government owns 65% of the state's land. (Source: 50 States)
National Politics
Best Stories From …
-- The Politico: "The bitter fight over a comprehensive immigration overhaul has pushed President Bush and his fellow Republicans to the brink of divorce -- and, for the first time, the opportunities for reconciliation appear severely limited."
-- Washington Post: "Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is not wavering on immigration. This week, he continued to stand firm with President Bush in seeking a Senate compromise on the issue in the face of intense opposition from core activists in the Republican Party. His advisers refer to such a stance as one of the signatures of his political career: principled stands on tough issues. And even they concede that, this time, it's costing him dearly."
-- Roll Call: Columnist Mort Kondracke: "If Mae West's famous adage applies to American voters, Democrats should sweep the 2008 elections -- if they don't blow it. The adage, of course, is: 'When caught between two evils, I pick the one I haven't tried before.' The evil Americans haven't tried in a while -- since 1994, in fact -- is Democratic rule of both the White House and Congress."
-- Chicago Tribune: Columnist Steve Chapman: "Americans have many reasons for gloom. The war in Iraq has yet to turn around, we can't agree on a solution for illegal immigration, and Lindsay Lohan isn't cute anymore. We also have one reason to be happy: the economy. But right now, we're in the middle of a good funk, and we don't want to let any sunshine spoil it."
SUWA: Protect Tenmile Canyon
The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance says the once-idyllic Tenmile Canyon, a tributary of the Green River near Moab, is being destroyed by ATV use, and urges its members to "[c]ontact the Moab BLM. At a minimum, your query will remind the Moab BLM that Tenmile Canyon is neither out of sight nor out of mind and that sooner or later, the agency will be called to account for the destruction it has promoted in this once-splendid place" (see press release).
Blog Watch
-- Rep. Steve Urquhart notes: "On KVNU, Attorney General Mark Shurtleff responded to my request that he and the Gov., as prominent McCain supporters, get serious with Sen. McCain about his campaign's repeated Mormon-baiting. General Shurtleff said that he would talk with Sen. McCain about the matter ... Bravo! Whether it is accidental or intentional, it should stop. I think the world of Mark, and I'm very pleased that he will have that conversation."
-- Utah Taxpayer says the proposed voucher program would help solve "Utah's education-taxpayer dilemma. Each time a student switches from public school to private school because of vouchers (worth between $500 and $3000), Utah's public schools have one fewer child to educate, and they have between $4500 and $7000 more to spend on the rest of Utah's children. In other words, vouchers decrease the number of students in Utah classrooms and increase the amount of money available for other students. Utah policy makers rightly see vouchers as one of several tools we need to avoid another tax increase" (for more on the voucher issue, see Steve Urquhart and Jeremy's Jeremiad).
Lighter Side
"An optimist is a person who takes a skillet on a fishing trip."
--Anonymous (SL Tribune Cryptoquote)
Casual Friday
Fishing Report
The weatherman is already using the term dog days of summer. Normally, dog days don’t show up until August, when we get one oppressively hot day after another. This year we may get 2.5 months of sizzling weather.
Trout and many other fish will be going deeper now, as they seek cooler temperatures. They will be vulnerable during the early morning and late evening hours, when they venture shallow to feed. During the heat of the day anglers will need to use weighted lures, downriggers and other techniques to get down to the fish.
The high country is opening up early. There’s still considerable snow in the highest Uinta Mountain passes, but even that is melting fast and conditions are 2-3 weeks earlier than normal. You’ll be able to roam the Uintas freely by mid-July.
The highest lakes on Boulder Mountain are already open and fishing well. I’ve been working hard to create an on-line guide to the Boulders, complete with interactive maps and descriptions of lakes. It still needs considerable work. I hope people who know and love that area will share their insights and photos, to help me create a valuable service.
-- Dave Webb (Read my complete fishing report).
Outdoors Report
-- Morning News takes a hike up Ben Lomond Peak
-- Waterskiing heats up this weekend in the Tribune
-- Ski resorts offer summer fun in the Morning News
-- Explore Bowman Trail in the Tribune’s Hike of the Week
-- Changes in fees for fishing and hunting in the Morning News
-- Check out the Tribune’s Outdoor Notebook and Recreation Roundup for sports and recreation activities this week
-- Find out about upcoming events in the Morning News’ Outdoor Notes
-- For the latest wildlife news and information and the fishing report visit the DWR website
New Films
-- Ratatouille: Tribune review
-- Live Free or Die Hard: Tribune review
Concerts
-- Crescent Super Band, Friday, 8 p.m., Kenley Amphitheater, Layton
-- Music of Crawford Gates," Sterling Singers, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Abravanel Hall, free
-- Western Shadows, cowboy poetry and music, Friday, 8 p.m., Brigham Young Historic Park, free
-- Deseret Chamber Singers, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Temple Square Assembly Hall, free
-- John Tesh, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Ogden Amphitheatre
-- Lunch Bunch Concert Series, weekdays, noon, Gallivan Plaza
-- Organ Recitals, every Saturday, noon, and every Sunday, 2 p.m., Temple Square Assembly Hall
Theater
-- “1776” through June 30, Rodgers Memorial Theatre
-- “The Importance of Being Earnest” through June 30, Draper Historic Theatre
-- “Seussical, the Musical” through June 30, Old Barn Community Theatre, Collinston
-- “Fiddler on the Roof” through July 2, Empress Theatre
-- “Les Miserables” through July 7, Pioneer Theatre Company
-- “The Sound of Music” through July 7, Outlaw Trail Theater, Vernal
-- “The Little Shop of Horrors” through July 28, Terrace Plaza Playhouse
-- “The Rainmaker” through July 28, Hale Centre Theatre
-- “The Spitfire Grill” through August 1, Old Lyric Repertory Company
-- “Cash on Delivery” through August 2, Old Lyric Repertory Company
-- “Picnic” through August 3, Old Lyric Repertory Company
-- “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” through August 4, Hale Center Theater, Orem
-- “The Member of the Wedding” through August 4, Old Lyric Repertory Company
-- “I Fall to Pieces: The Life and Music of Patsy Cline” through August 6, Bumbleberry Theatre, Springdale
-- “Saturday's Voyeur: The Rocky Show” through August 12, Salt Lake Acting Company
-- “Less Miserables: A Revolution of Comedy” through August 25, Desert Star Cabaret Theatre
-- “Candida” through August 31, Utah Shakespearean Festival
-- “Coriolanus” through August 31, Utah Shakespearean Festival
-- “King Lear” through September 1, Utah Shakespearean Festival
-- “Lend Me a Tenor” through September 1, Utah Shakespearean Festival
-- “The Matchmaker” through September 1, Utah Shakespearean Festival
-- “A Pirate's Life: Groovin' on the Seven Seas” through September 1, Pickleville Playhouse, Garden City (Bear Lake)
-- “Twelfth Night” through September 1, Utah Shakespearean Festival
-- “Cinderella” through October 17, Tuacahn Amphitheater
-- “My Fair Lady” through October 19, Tuacahn Amphitheater
-- “42nd Street” through October 20, Tuacahn Amphitheater
-- “It's Showtime!” through October 27, Bumbleberry Theatre, Springdale
-- “Twist the Night Away” through October 28, Bumbleberry Theatre, Springdale
-- “Nunsense A-Men,” Desert Star Theatre
-- “The Taffetas,” Desert Star Theatre
Museum Exhibits
-- Albert Tissandier: Drawings of Nature and Industry in the United States Exhibition, Museum of Utah Art & History through June 30
-- 83rd Annual Spring Salon, Springville Museum of Art, through July 8
-- Brian Kershisnik: Painting from Life Exhibition through July 1, Head Trip: Around The World in Forty Hats Exhibition through August 12, Utah Museum of Fine Arts, University of Utah
-- Life After Death: New Leipzig Paintings from the Rubell Family Collection Exhibition, through September 29, Salt Lake Art Center
Et Cetera
-- Antelope By Moonlight Bike Ride, Friday, 10 p.m. – 1 a.m., Antelope Island State Park
-- Downtown Farmers’ Market, Saturdays through October 20, 8 a.m., Pioneer Park
-- Utah Shakespearean Festival, through October 27, Cedar City |
