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The Week Ahead
It’s the first week of crispy October, a month of football, hunting seasons, crunchy leaves, Halloween . . . and voucher ads. We’ll all tire of the advertising blitz before the month is over. See the legislative calendar for a few legislative meetings this week, and the Utah Policy.com calendar for all the week’s political events.
Monday Profile
Robin Riggs: Lawyer, Lobbyist and Instant Father
By GM Jarrard
 He grew up around mechanics and hung out in a garage. From his earliest years, he learned to use tools and worked with his hands. And he wasn’t afraid to get them dirty. His role models wore greasy overalls and taught him more than just auto mechanics. It wasn’t until he was nearly through law school that he earned a paycheck wearing a coat and a tie. Maybe that’s why Robin Riggs is so comfortable around all kinds of people — and why everybody who knows the big, burly lawyer and confidant of governors and policy wonks counts him a personal friend.
Today, Robin Riggs, attorney at law, is vice president and general counsel for the Salt Lake Chamber. If you looked up that title in the dictionary, it would have his picture there. But, as just described, he wasn’t born into power. It sort of found him.
Ironically, power often gravitates to those who don’t really seek it. Riggs is one of those people. While a law student at BYU many years ago, the part-time grease monkey and son of a used-car salesman was approached by a professor who suggested Riggs take a state government job and register concurrently in the school’s new masters of public administration program while in law school. Basically, it would mean he would take four years instead of three years to get his law degree. But, when he was finished, he would also have an MPA attached to his name — along with the J.D. Unlike many of his peers, he wasn’t married, so why not, he thought. For Robin Riggs, it would be the proverbial road less traveled (Getting married, however, would be a longer, more circuitous journey).
One of his college mentors was BYU Prof. Karl Snow who also happened to be a state senator. So, because of his year-long, part-time internship working in state government and his acquaintance with Snow, Riggs found himself with an edge over other graduates upon commencement and was offered a permanent position in the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel. His love of politics was joined at the hip with his law training and work in government. (Read entire profile)
Chaffetz Runs for Congress
Jason Chaffetz will announce this morning his plans regarding a 2008 congressional bid against incumbent Rep. Chris Cannon. In a statement e-mailed Sunday evening, Chaffetz said he has been “testing the waters” since last January to decide whether to seek the GOP nomination in the 3rd Congressional District.
Chaffetz is president of Maxtera Utah, Inc., and is former chief of staff and campaign manager for Gov. Jon Huntsman. He will make his announcement at 10:30 a.m. at the West Jordan City Hall, 8000 S. Redwood Rd.
Washington Watch
Hatch: Yes to CHIP
Sen. Orrin Hatch says of the Senate's reauthorization of the Children's Health Insurance Program by a vote of 67-29: "The CHIP program works for America's children. ... When something works we must do everything in our power to continue its success. ... I urge the President to let it stand, so we can help four million more of our nation's children. This is what it is all about -- helping those who cannot help themselves" (see press release).
Bennett: No to CHIP
Sen. Bob Bennett votes against the CHIP reauthorization proposal, saying it "goes well beyond the original intent of providing low-income children with health insurance, and takes us one step closer to government-run healthcare. Instead of providing waivers for adults or unintended incentives for parents to drop private coverage for taxpayer-supported insurance, as this plan does, Congress should focus on identifying and enrolling more eligible children" (see press release).
Matheson: Fight Microbes
Rep. Jim Matheson introduces legislation calling for "a coordinated strategy to address the alarming health threat of drug-resistant microbes" (see press release).
George Washington & the Mormons
(Note: Mike Winder, West Valley Council member, has written a book about U.S. presidents and the LDS Church. UPD will publish a daily factoid about each president.)
After Joseph Smith taught the doctrine of baptism for the dead, George Washington was baptized into the faith posthumously in the Mississippi River, with the Prophet’s brother, Don Carlos Smith, acting as proxy. (From Mike Winder’s Presidents and Prophets: The Story of America’s Presidents and the LDS Church)
Mayoral Race Update
The Utah Chapter of the Sierra Club has endorsed Ralph Becker for SLC mayor. For more info, click here. Dave Buhler will add to his mayoral “to-do” list at a press conference on Thursday as part of his “Doer Not a Dreamer” series. Time/place to be announced.
Today in Political History
October 1, 1776: Thomas Paine publishes Common Sense.
October 1, 1979: The United States returns sovereignty of the Panama Canal to Panama.
October 1, 1974: The Watergate trial begins (Source: Perspicuity)
Wise Words
“If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace.”
-- Thomas Paine (Source: brainy quote)
Leadership Tip
Leaders as Problem Solvers
Delegate authority… Give ownership of the problem to those who must implement the solution. Provide the team with guidance, but leave the details to the employees. Let them fill in the blanks. Good leaders learn to let go. They trust their people to do their jobs. At the same time, the leader needs to "be in the loop"—informed of progress and available for consultation.
Adopt a solution…Selecting the right solution is often the logical outcome of the creative process; people know the possibilities and the outcomes, and can decide amongst themselves what is best for the organization. The ease of selection, however, does not mean the solution will be easy to implement, only that it was readily apparent as the right choice.
Implement the solution… Once the solution is formulated, the leader must find the resources to implement it. New training may be required. The leader should gather all resources necessary and make certain people have the authority and support to do what they need to do. (Source: About.com)
National Politics
Best Stories From …
-- The Hill: "Former President Bill Clinton and his one-time adversary former House Speaker Newt Gingrich have found something to agree on. They both said Sunday that they view Mike Huckabee as the most likely Republican dark horse candidate for the GOP nomination."
-- The Politico: Gingrich decides not to run for president just as his staff was preparing to launch a campaign fundraising website.
-- New York Times: Columnist Frank Rich wonders if Hillary Clinton is "the new old Al Gore."
-- Washington Post: "Senate Democrats' failure to reach agreement with wavering Republicans on legislation to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq forced party leaders to concede [Friday] that they are running low on options for altering President Bush's war strategy this year."
Lighter Side
A traveler wandering on an island inhabited entirely by cannibals comes upon a butcher shop specializing in human brains. A sign in the shop reads:
Artists’ Brains $9 lb
Philosophers’ Brains $12 lb
Scientists’ Brains $15 lb
Economists’ Brains $79 lb
The traveler exclaims, “My, those economist brains are expensive!” And the butcher replies. “It’s the tight supply. Do you have any idea how many economists it takes to get a pound of brains?” (The Economist’s Joke Book, by Jeff Thredgold) |
