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Staying in Touch
Rep. Lori Fowlke provides a good example of how state legislators ought to be communicating with their constituents. Fowlke, who represents District 59 in Orem, publishes a period newsletter for her constituents and just e-mailed a new edition. It is lengthy, with a great deal of information, but it demonstrates her commitment to keeping citizens informed.
In the newsletter she discusses recent legislative activities, notes changes in leadership in her legislative district and reorganization of some of the voting precincts, discusses highway construction projects, provides information about the voucher issue, reviews a book about Benjamin Franklin, and reprints articles on tax changes and essays encouraging people to become more involved in politics.
University Economic Engines
This week's newsletter from the Economic Development Corporation of Utah features a story about the importance of Utah's colleges and universities as economic engines and highlights the 17 businesses launched by the University of Utah during fiscal 2007. "The strength of our educational institutions has an enormous influence on our economy," says Jeff Edwards, EDCUtah's CEO.
Western Water Policy
The U. of U.’s Center for Public Policy and Administration has published a new edition of its newsletter Policy Perspectives, which focuses on development of a western water policy, a wildlife biologist’s perspective on global energy consumption, women's health in Utah, and international refugees in Utah.
Letter to Children in School
In this week’s Tea Leaf Economic Update, Utah economist Jeff Thredgold reprints his “Parent's Letter to My Children in School," first published 13 years ago. “We had dozens of requests for permission to reprint more than 150,000 copies. …Just as students around the country are getting ready to go back to school, we run it again. We hope you enjoy it.”
Today in Political History
August 30, 1862: In the Second Battle of Bull Run, General Robert E. Lee defeats General Pope. This was the decisive battle of the Northern Virginia campaign. (Source: Civil War Home)
August 30, 1954: The Atomic Energy Act becomes law
Aug. 30, 1963: The hot-line communications link between Washington, D.C., and Moscow goes into operation. (New York Times)
August 30, 1967: Thurgood Marshall is appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, the first African-American justice. (Source: Perspicuity)
Wise Words
“None of us got where we are solely by pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps. We got here because somebody -- a parent, a teacher, an Ivy League crony or a few nuns -- bent down and helped us pick up our boots.”
-- Thurgood Marshall
Utah Agency Snapshot
Capitol Preservation Board
The Capitol Preservation Board was created in 1998 by the 48th Legislature to oversee the day-to-day activities on Capitol Hill, its facilities and the grounds, and the preservation, maintenance and restoration of the State Capitol Building for the benefit of the citizens of Utah.
The Board is made up of 11 members representing all three branches of government, including the Governor, Chief Justice, President of the Senate and Speaker of the House or their appointees. The Attorney General, State Treasurer, State Historic Preservation Officer and other legislators are also members of the Board. The Board is currently overseeing the renovation of the Capitol and grounds, expected to be completed this fall. (Source: Utah State Capitol)
National Politics
Best Stories From . . .
-- New York Times: "The Republican National Committee plans to penalize at least five states holding early primaries, including New Hampshire and Florida, by refusing to seat at least half of their delegates at the national convention in 2008, a party official said yesterday."
-- Washington Post: "Senate Republicans leaders called for an ethics investigation of Sen. Larry E. Craig (R-Idaho) [Tuesday} as he dug in for a legal and political fight to save his congressional career after acknowledging that he had pleaded guilty to disorderly-conduct charges stemming from an incident with an undercover police officer in an airport men's room."
-- New York Daily News: Editorial: "The world has always had its Elmer Gantrys, righteously walking the straight and narrow by day, behaving imperfectly otherwise behind closed doors after-hours. Alas for the modern Republican Party, too many of its leaders have been getting caught with their, so to speak, pants down."
-- Boston Globe: Columist Jeff Jacoby: "It's a war, and it's the Middle East, so glad tidings can go sour and there are never any guarantees. But for all the caveats, the news from Iraq has been heartening."
Blog Watch
Columnist Lois Collins writes about HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt's blog (Morning News).
Lighter Side
Best of Late Night Humor
Conan O’Brien: After months of scandals and political pressure, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales announced he’s going to resign. Gonzales said, “There comes a time when a man should resign, and that time for me was last January.”
David Letterman: “Top Reasons Alberto Gonzales Resigned”: Felt he wasn’t incompetent enough for the Bush administration; Secretly ordered himself to fire himself; Was offered the John Travolta role in the touring production of “Hairspray”; Trying his hand at failing miserably in the private sector; Didn’t want to be around for transition to the Kucinich administration; Got a sweet new job at Kinko’s.
Jay Leno: Pretty busy day in Washington today. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and Karl Rove went to U-Haul together to help each other move. ... Idaho Sen. Larry Craig, a married, conservative Republican, was arrested by a plainclothes police officer for lewd conduct in a Minneapolis airport men’s room. Today the senator’s office said it was all a big misunderstanding. The undercover police officer said the senator tried to reach under the stall to touch him, but the senator said, no, he wasn’t trying to touch him, he was only trying to pick up a piece of paper off the floor. Who picks up paper off the floor in the men’s room? I don’t even like when my shoe laces touch the floor in the men’s room. ... You know who I feel sorry for in this whole thing? The undercover cop. How’d you like to have that job? Sit in an airport bathroom all day, your pants around your ankles with a coffee and a donut waiting for guys to hit on you. ... At a political forum here in Hollywood last week, Hillary Clinton said that she does not support gay marriage. In fact, she said she’s not too crazy about straight marriage anymore, either. ... Fred Thompson said he’s still testing the waters in his bid for the presidency. He’s been testing the waters for what, like six months now? In fact, those aren’t wrinkles on his face—he’s starting to prune up from being in the water for so long.
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