Special Interests, or Why Philpot = Vouchers

Much has been made about how much of Jim Matheson's campaign funding has come from PACs.

However, Morgan Philpot's campaign has gotten help from PACs. But, they did it in a way that is nearly impossible to track just how much PAC help they are getting.

First, there was the ad run by "B Alice Baker" who usually goes by Barbra Baker. She spent $50,000 of her own money to run the radio ads.

She says that "Both parties have been at fault with ignoring how to maintain freedom, and getting bigger and taxing more and spending more." However, the only talking point she has in her ad is that Jim Matheson votes with the Democratic Leadership 90% of the time. In other words, according to her radio ad, she's voting for Morgan Philpot because he's a Republican.

Which kinda makes her statement to KSL seem fishy.

So, who is Barbra Alice Baker? She's the owner of Challenger Schools, and was a big proponent of vouchers. Remember vouchers? That initiative that Utah voters defeated by more than a 3 to 2 margin. In fact, it was defeated in every single county.

However, the biggest special interest running Philpot's campaign for him is FreedomWorks. FreedomWorks is a big backer of....

Vouchers.

Another big proponent of vouchers is FreedomWorks. FreedomWorks is behind those often illegally-placed Matheson=Pelosi signs you see around town, and most of the Philpot signs you see as well.

What is Morgan Philpot's position on vouchers? Well, the guy who invented the Utah Republicans' Web Communications Committee can't seem to give any communication on his web site about his view on education. Which can only lead us to assume one thing:

Philpot = Vouchers.

-Bob

VIDEO: Peter Corroon on Education

Read Peter Corroon's plan for Education.

Or, you can read Herbert's "Plan."

The choice is clear who has a better plan. Corroon tells you what he'll do. Herbert says he'll do something.

My vote goes to Peter Corroon.

Did Morgan Philpot Violate Federal Election Law?

No, I'm not talking about the radio ad, even though that set off some BS detectors at my house.

No, I'm talking billboards.

Press Release from Utah Democratic Party (h/t Amicus)

Salt Lake City, UT—Utah Democratic Party Chairman Wayne Holland said today he is asking election attorneys to file a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) regarding questions about a discrepancy on 2nd Congressional District candidate Morgan Philpot’s campaign filing regarding billboard rentals.

Holland said that Philpot’s FEC report shows a payment of $2,854 on October 1 for billboard rentals. Based on what other campaigns are paying for billboards and the number of signs Philpot has displayed, Holland says the campaign disclosure is off by a significant amount.

“Federal campaign law is clear. In-kind donations from companies are not allowed. Mr. Philpot is on leave from his job with an outdoor advertising company. He must pay the going rate and whether he has done so is the focus of our complaint,” said Holland.

Holland said the Philpot campaign has several freeway “bulletin” signs, which rent for roughly $1,000 a month each, plus at least nine “30 sheets” around the 2nd Congressional District. Similar billboard rentals by Utah Democratic candidates in state and local races have totaled between $28,000 and $30,000.

Holland said the complaint will be filed with the FEC, triggering a formal investigation by that agency.

“As someone seeking to hold the public trust of elected office, Philpot needs to be held accountable to the law,” said Holland.

My Election Predictions 2010

Any idiot can make election predictions on election night and be wrong. A real idiot does it a week earlier.

So, with polls closing in 168 hours, here are some election predictions:

Republicans take the House, but by a narrow margin. Say, 225 GOP members.

Likewise, the Democrats keep the Senate, but only as long as Joe Lieberman can be kept handy, as he is the GOP's 50th member.

Here in Utah, Gary Herbert takes 55% of the vote. That's close for Utah.

Sam Granato loses by less than 20.

Incumbent parties win all of the Legislative races.

Salt Lake County Council remains 5-4 Dems.

BREAKING: Corroon Raises More Than Herbert

In the latest campaign finance reports filed today,covering the time from August 27 through October 21, Peter Corroon raised more money than Gary Herbert.

That's right. Corroon raised $765,556.03 compared to Herbert's $748337.30.

Moreover, Corroon reported 2440 individual contributions compared to 425 for Herbert.

That means Corroon's average contribution was $313.75 while Herbert's were $1760.79.

Don't let Gary Herbert's big money donors take this election from you! Vote Peter Corroon for Utah Governor.

-Bob

Obama is the very model of a modern U.S. president!

(h/t: Roger Ebert)

Best Campaign ad of 2010

This ad comes from the race for California Governor. It's like they hired the same consultants or something.



(h/t JMBell)

Sheryl Allen on Education

Utah Representative Sheryl Allen (R-Bountiful) is the current Democratic nominee for Lt Governor. She is a lifelong educator. Here she is talking about education:

Gary Herbert Hates Panguitch, Bryce Country, Tourism

Utah is a Pretty, Amazing State. One of my favorite places in the state is Bryce Canyon National Park. Not only is it beautiful, but the air both there and in surrounding communities is clean and wonderful.

And, that is why I am troubled by the decision to build a strip coal mine (Utah's First) just 10 miles from the park.

And, Acting Governor Herbert greased the wheels for it to happen.

300-400 large coal trucks per day will travel
this road thanks to Gary Herbert
(Photo credit: Tricia Simpson)

Yes, up to 150 jobs will be created. But, how many jobs will be lost in the tourism industry as people stop coming? After all, the strip mine comes with 3-400 truck trips per day. And those truck trips come with noise pollution and increased air pollution from their emissions. Not to mention the emissions and dust from the strip mining operations to begin with.

Not only will the state and county and city all lose tax revenues from the loss of tourism dollars, but there will be increased costs to all for repairs that will need to be made to US89 in the area.

After all, heavy trucks cause more damage to roadways than smaller cars and trucks.

There was an excellent Opinion piece published over the weekend by the Tribune regarding this issue. It was written by Bobbi Bryant, a business owner in Panguitch.

An excellent read is a column by the Tribune's Peg McEntee back in June.

Just another in a series of reckless decisions by Gary Herbert in his 14 months in a leadership position.

Peter Corroon on the issues: Natural Gas

Some benefits of Clean Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles vs those that burn gasoline, via the US Department of Energy:

• Reduces carbon monoxide emissions 90%-97%
• Reduces carbon dioxide emissions 25%
• Reduces nitrogen oxide emissions 35%-60%
• Potentially reduces non-methane hydrocarbon emissions 50%-75%
• Emits fewer toxic and carcinogenic pollutants
• Emits little or no particulate matter
• Eliminates evaporative emissions

Also, from the DoE, some CNG vs Diesel info:

In a study of CNG and diesel United Parcel Service (UPS) delivery trucks, CNG trucks produced 75% lower carbon monoxide emissions, 49% lower nitrogen oxides emissions, and 95% lower particulate matter emissions than diesel trucks of similar age.

CNG is awesome. That is why I'm glad that Peter Corroon has included CNG into his Energy Plan:

• Positioning Utah on the cutting edge of new automobile technologies by pushing for further expansion of the availability of CN G-fueled vehicles in Utah.
• Protecting Utahns operating under Utah’s new CNG conversion law from federal EPA interference.
• Converting more of the state passenger fleet to CNG vehicles, reducing particulate and greenhouse gas emissions by 95 percent and significantly lowering the fuel costs borne by the taxpayers.
• Aggressively pursuing incentives to continue expanding CNG fueling stations and infrastructure, while including the support of a temporary state-tax moratorium on all CNG fuel purchases.
• Encouraging development of more efficient natural gas combined cycle power plants. 

• Providing incentives through utility rebates to encourage the sale of higher-efficiency furnaces.

Reducing emissions make the air we breathe cleaner, and therefore making Utahns healthier.

Also, increasing demand in Natural Gas will create more production jobs. That will have a significant impact in places like Uintah County, Utah's largest Natural Gas producer, where unemployment nearly tripled in 2009 compared to 2008.

Improving the lives of Utahns both financially and physically sounds pretty good to me. That is why I'm excited to vote for Peter Corroon for Utah's Governor.

-Bob

New Corroon Ad: It's Like They Read My Mind

I've been ranting and raving to people for weeks about how this ad needed to be made. 90% of what I said is in this ad.

Mitt Romney, Peter Corroon, and Utah's lack of civic participation

At Last Night's Town Hall debate, KSL's Bruce Lindsay pointed out in a question that Utah ranks 48th out of the 50 states in voter turnout (based on percent of citizens over 18 who turn out to vote). Acting Governor Herbert said that the solution to the problem was ethics reform. I missed Mayor Corroon's answer.

However, I think that Mitt Romney hit the nail on the head. From a post on this blog in 2007:

"I just came back from living in a state that was overwhelmingly Republican," Romney told the [Commonwealth] magazine [in July 2002]. "And a single-party system generates problems, in my view. In that state, the more extreme wing of the dominant party begins to have more and more political sway, and that de-energizes the great mainstream of citizens. They get turned off by politics and offended by the politicians and become less engaged in the political process."

Of course, in 2002, Romney was running to be the Republican Governor of an overwhelmingly Democratic state.

Hmmm, sounds familiar.

-Bob

Alton Coal and Gary Herbert

In last night's town hall debate, Acting Governor Gary Herbert said that Mayor Peter Corroon's claims that Herbert got a donation from Alton Coal the same day that officials from Alton Coal met with him and got their permit fast-tracked were false.

Well, it appears, according to the AP (via FOX13) that there is some truth to the matter:

Utah gov. given $10K by coal co. seeking permit
By PAUL FOYAssociated Press Writer
5:25 PM MST, February 3, 2010

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - On the same day Gov. Gary Herbert sat down with a coal company that complained regulators were taking too long to issue a strip-mining permit, his campaign aides were cashing a $10,000 check from the company. The donation from Alton Coal Development LLC was revealed in a Jan. 11 filing by Herbert's political-action committee.

Alton's pleas did not go unanswered. At the September meeting, according to a memo obtained by The Associated Press, state regulators agreed to fast-track a decision for Alton to operate the mine near Panguitch, despite opposition from residents.

Herbert's office said Wednesday he never ordered regulators to give their approval and didn't know about the company's donation.

A Panguitch shop owner characterized the payment as a blatant effort by the coal developer to influence a decision by the Herbert administration.

"It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out," said Bobbi Bryant, owner of the gift and coffee shop Bronco Bobbi's, who said she was opposed to the strip mine because the operation would send coal trucks as often as 300 times a day through the small tourist town about 200 miles south of Salt Lake City.

"There's a lot more people down here against it than officials want you to know," she said.

A Utah regulator who was in the meeting with Alton and Herbert has said the governor never instructed him to make any particular decision and instead inquired, 'When do you think you will get it out?'

John Baza, director of the Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining, said he then decided to hurry things up.

Regulators from the division showed up in Panguitch days later "saying they felt pressure to get some reports or inspections done for the approval," according to Bryant.

Environmental groups are seeking to block the mining, saying the strip mine would raise dust and foul air quality 10 miles from Bryce Canyon National Park, which is known for its magnificent views, pristine air and sparkling night skies. Bryce Canyon's superintendent also has objected.

The decision by regulators is under review by a state board.

"This mine will damage the pristine air and water quality and wildlife of the area, increase dangerous truck traffic and have negative impacts on tourism and the visitor experience at Bryce Canyon National Park," said Clair Jones of the Utah Sierra Club.

A 33-page agency memo said the result of Alton's meeting with the Republican governor was to fast-track a decision by regulators. The memo was written by Priscilla Burton, a chief environmental scientist for the Division of Oil, Gas and Mining, who noted regulators had a full year to make a decision.

"However, the applicant had an audience with the Governor on Sept. 17, 2009, with the result that the permitting process will end on October 15, 2009," Burton wrote. The mining approval was issued four days later.

While campaign records indicate Alton made its $10,00 donation on the same day it met with Herbert, the check actually arrived four days earlier and was deposited in a bank on the day of the meeting, Herbert spokeswoman Angie Welling clarified Wednesday.

Welling reiterated that Herbert "did not direct" anyone in the Division of Oil, Gas and Mining to "take any particular action with regard to Alton Coal Development's project." Nor was Herbert aware of the donation, and he did not accept the check at the meeting, Welling said.

Herbert "is a longtime supporter of energy development in the state of Utah, particularly coal development and clean coal technology," Welling told the AP in one of a series of e-mails Wednesday. "As such, it should not be surprising that a company such as Alton Coal would choose to support Governor Herbert."

Welling also sought to clarify that neither Herbert nor anybody in the governor's office was aware of a check Alton sent to a campaign office across town.

"Fundraising is entirely a function of the campaign. Those of us who staff and schedule meetings are unaware of who is contributing or how much they've contributed," she said.

James J. Wayland of Naples, Fla., a 50-percent owner of Alton Coal Development LLC, didn't immediately return a phone message Wednesday.

Methinks the Acting Governor doth protest too much......

Rob Miller's Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia

I just wrote a really angry, horrible post that simply reinforces some people's opinion of me.

I'm not going to post it right now. I may send some of you an email about it, but that is about it.

Well, until the election is over. With a few Diet Cokes and the sting of defeat coursing through me, I may just hit the post button.

But, on with this post. You see, Rob Miller over at the Amicus posted one of the funniest things I've read this campaign season:

No, I don't think Mike Lee is the Antichrist, but maybe four of his contributors do. While I was browsing through Mike Lee's FEC report I noticed that Dennis Albers, a self employed investor from Piedmont, CA contributed $666 to Mike Lee's campaign. I giggled at the thought but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have written a blog post on the contribution if I had not noticed that Amy Friedkin, a self employed activist from San Fransisco, CA, Russ Holdstein, a self employed investor from Kentfield, CA and Amnon Rodan, CEO of Rodan and Fields from Oakland, CA had made the same $666 donation.

SATAN! NOOOO!!!!

Of course, we all know Satan lives in California, and he has 4 personalities. Now that Mike Lee knows who these personalities are, he can ride his white horse to California and kill the Devil on his way to Washington to save the Constitution (except the 14th and 17th Amendments).

-Bob

P.S. Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia is the fear of the number 666. You're welcome.

Dear Newspapers: Don't Fire Spellcheckers

Hey, Newspapers! If you want to be taken seriously, learn how to spell people's names. Especially in headlines:

I'm done

Two years ago today, I wrote a blog post with this same title.

I was taking a step away from things, especially politics. My life depended on it. It ended up not being a long break, but it was necessary.

The reasons for the break were not discussed two years ago. I won't discuss most of those issues today.

However, I will discuss the breaking point.

You see, many f my friends break down into to categories: Gay and Mormon.

And, two years ago, these two groups were fighting it out with one another over gay marriage. Both side were responding to each other with hate and intolerance. And it was bothering me to the point of depression. Suicide was on the table.

So I stepped back, looked at my life, and found a way to move forward.

Now, there is once again much hate and intolerance being expressed. However, one side is reaching out in love. The other side is reaching out in hatred and intolerance.

If you can accept me for who I am, fine. However, I can't change my religious beliefs any more than I can change who I love and am attracted to.

I've long stood up and defended your rights. However, if you keep saying mean and ignorant things about me and my people, I am done with you.

I am done standing up to defend non-discrimination ordinances.

I'm done defending your rights to civil unions.

I'm done.

Tolerance is a two-way street. Since you want it to be one-way only, I'm not going to even give you that.

-Bob

P.S. To hear one side speak, 30 seconds of General Conference was the entire weekend's message. I encourage everybody to back and listen to/watch/read the whole 10 hours, and see what Mormons really believe.

Back to the Future, 1990 Edition

Salt Lake County Ballot, circa 1990

Let's jump in the time machine and go back a few years. 1990 to be exact.

BYU was getting ready to debut their new 7'5" Freshman center Shawn Bradley. The Utah Jazz opened their first full season under Jerry Sloan against Jeff Hornacek's Phoenix Suns in Tokyo Japan. The Jazz were also celebrating their last season playing in the Salt Palace before moving into what was then called "Larry Miller's new arena" in newspaper articles.

In politics, there was an unpopular President facing midterm elections. In the final week before the election, Vice President Dan Quayle and First Lady Barbra Bush came to Utah on back to back days to campaign for Republican Congressional candidates. Democrats Wayne Owens and Bill Orton won those two seats. Randy Horiuchi won his first election to the Salt Lake County Commission. Gary Herbert won his first election to the Utah County Commission (he had been appointed to the job the year before).

And that leads us to the article found on page B2 of the Salt Lake Tribune on Thursday, November 1, 1990, written by Dan Harrie:

Utah Democrats don't like playing second fiddle to Republicans on election ballots in Salt Lake County, party officials said Wednesday, and they'll fight for a share of the top spot in court.

But, not this year.

Peter Billings, state Democratic Party chairman, called a news conference to denounce County Clerk Dixon Hundley's practice of listing GOP candidates first on the ballot in all races.

"Mr Hindley's systematic and widespread exclusionary practice of denying any candidate not affiliated with the Republican Party the top spot on the ballot is clearly a violation of the equal protection clause" of the the Constitution, Mr Billings charged.

Democrats cited appeals court rulings in two other states rejecting such preferential treatment as unconstitutional.

Mr Billings said it's too late to do anything about the Nov 6 election ballots, which already have been printed. But, "we're putting them on notice if they do that again next time, we are going to bring suit."

Copies of Salt Lake County ballots dating back to 1982 show Republicans always have been given top billing.

Mr Hindley was not available for comment Wednesday.

Mr Billings says Mr Hindley has been one of the biggest abusers of placing candidates of his own party first. The practice, however, appears to be a long and widespread tradition in Utah.

Tooele County Attorney Dennis Ewing said in a telephone interview, "In Tooele County, we list Democrats first."

Mr Ewing, a Democrat, said that practice has been in effect throughout his 17 years in office and "probably before my time," because of Democratic dominance in that county.

Mr Billings said Democratic county clerks should be held to the same standard he's demanding for Mr Hindley. And he promised the party will "work to cure any misuses in other counties."

In the Illinois and North Dakota cases cited as legal precedents, courts relied on studies saying top ballot placement translated to 3 percent to 5 percent more votes.

What the article did not say is that the state Democratic Party's director of administration was Sherrie Swensen, who also happened to be the party's candidate for the position of county clerk.

So, let's move ahead 20 years to 2010. Shawn Bradley had a very successful Freshman year at BYU, left on an LDS mission, then had a great NBA career. He's now running for Utah House of Representatives. Jeff Hornacek now has a jersey hanging next to one for Larry Miller in the rafters of what is now known as EnergySolutions Arena.

Randy Horiuchi is still on what is now the Salt Lake County Council.

And, ballots in Salt Lake County still have one party at the top of every race.

The difference is that Sherrie Swensen won that election in 1990. Which means Democrats have been at the top of the ballot ever since.

Ms Swensen doesn't see a problem with this. However, her Republican challenger, Jeremy Votaw, does.

And, so do I. If it was wrong when a Republican was in charge, then it's still wrong when a Democrat is in charge.

Now, my methods of changing this rule are different than Mr Votaw's. However, Mr Votaw's position on this is solid -- he wants to make elections more fair for everyone. And elections should be fair, shouldn't they?

That is why I am proud to endorse Jeremy Votaw for Salt Lake County Clerk.

-Bob

You'd think the Dnews would know better, and that Herbert would be happier....

It was the biggest no-duh moment of the campaign so far: Mitt Romney says he supports Gary Herbert. It was as obvious as saying the Capitol is made of granite. But still,you'd think the Governor would be happier about it:

And, he's been the Executive of Utah's largest government (other than the state itself) for six years, and was a candidate for that office for nearly a year before that.  And now he's a major party candidate for Governor.  So you think that,more than 24 hours after the story was first published, someone at the Deseret News would have noticed that they misspelled Peter Corroon's name.  (See-Oh-Double Arr-Double Oh-En is how I was taught back in 2004)

UTA Boss Makes more than Herbert, Corroon combined

Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon makes $138,806.

Utah Governor Gary Herbert makes $140,084.

Combined, that's $278,890 that taxpayers pay the executives of the two largest governments in Utah.

And, combined, they make $70,000 less than the boss over at UTA.

From MSNBC (via Out of Context):

Utah is among the most forward-thinking mass transit states in the United States, as Salt Lake boasts a modern and rapidly expanding light rail system that is the envy of many cities. Still, General Manager John Inglish’s salary of $350,000 last year -- exceeded the pay of top transportation bosses in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver and Phoenix. Inglish even makes more than the head of the highly scrutinized Washington, D.C., Metro system chief John Catoe, who was paid $315,000 annually before stepping down earlier this year. And it’s roughly equal to New York City transportation chief Jay Walder’s, who is currently facing calls to accept a salary cut amid fare hikes and service cuts.

I don't know how "forward thinking" UTA is, though. Yes, we have an expanding light rail system, but we also have a shrinking bus system.

-Bob

Headline of the Week: "Shurtleff: Beer group drafted my testimony"

From the Trib:

Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff testified before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday in support of a measure that would cede control of liquor sales to states, a move that comes as some groups are using federal courts to strike down state laws regulating alcohol.

After the hearing, Shurtleff acknowledged that the general counsel for the National Beer Wholesalers Association, Paul Pisano, drafted his testimony — with Shurtleff’s input.

“He gave me some information,” Shurtleff said in a telephone interview as he was boarding a plane Wednesday evening. “I was communicating with him, and he drafted it for me because I was coming straight here [to Washington, D.C.]”

Shurtleff later explained that Pisano arranged for his trip to the nation’s capital and he knew Pisano could print it out for him. An electronic copy of Shurtleff’s testimony submitted to the Judiciary Committee indicates that the author of the Word document was “ppisano.”

Pisano didn’t return a late call seeking comment.

Why write your own speech when a lobbyist can do it for you?