These are classic discussions published back in July 2006
Gubernatorial Succession
If a vacancy occurs in the Governor’s office, what should happen?
Under the Utah Constitution, the Lieutenant Governor would fill the vacancy just until the next general election. Then, the people would be allowed to elect their Governor.
This past session, a proposed Constitutional Amendment was run that would change things – making it so that that the Lieutenant Governor would fill the entire 4-year term, rather than just the remaining time until the next general election. (Some claim that such a scheme would merely clarify what the Constitution currently means; I don’t see it that way).
Figuring it made sense to follow the federal pattern of the VP or Lt. filling the unexpired term, I voted for that bill, focusing on extraordinary situations that could create a vacancy in the Governor’s office, like death or disability. Recent events, however, have caused me to rethink the issue.
Rumors are circulating that Gov. Huntsman endorsed Sen. McCain’s presidential bid in... (read more)
Editorial Writing
Slant plays little role in making editorial writing good or bad. The writing either solidly and clearly makes a point or it doesn’t. In my opinion, editorial writing should be slanted. Otherwise, what fun is it and what purpose does it serve? But, to be more than dressed-up tabloid fodder, the writing needs to be disciplined.
Thursday, the Spectrum published an editorial condemning President Bush’s decision to veto the bill dealing with federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. It should not surprise my seven faithful readers that I support the President’s position on this issue and, therefore, disagree with the editorial.
However, the editorial was written excellently. It solidly makes its point that the President got this one wrong. It does not content itself to preach to a choir or merely cloud the issue by degrading motives or intellectual pedigrees; rather, in scholarly fashion, it seeks to pursuade those open to reason, by elaborating... (read more)
Gov. Huntsman Endorses Sen. McCain
It looks like Gov. Huntsman has endorsed Sen. McCain for President. I can readily see why the two would be drawn to each other. But I wonder why the Governor would make such an endorsement so early.
Tax Reform
A few months ago, Rep. John Dougall developed an income tax reform idea as we talked in my office. We agreed that it would make sense either to have a flat tax or to simply drop the top rate on our existing system. “What about creating a bifurcated system and doing both?” he asked. “Drop the rate a bit on our current system, set up a separate flat tax system, and let each taxpayer pick which one he wants to use.”
I told him he was crazy and that it wouldn’t have a prayer of moving forward.
The Governor and Senate leadership now endorse the idea. Further proof of my political genius.
What?
George Pyle, a member of the Salt Lake Tribune editorial board, wrote an editorial Sunday that was very weird (and I’d be tempted to say offensive or perhaps even libelous, except that it doesn’t fully lend itself to be understood).
Last Thursday, the Trib’s editorial board basically called St. George a hole that shouldn’t grow anymore. See here.
I invited the Trib’s editorial board to come take a closer look. I wrote, “I am happy to arrange lodging and meals and put together an itinerary of some places that I think few spots on earth could rival.” George Pyle called me that day and asked if I was serious. Good for him, I thought, responding that I was serious and that I appreciated his call.
Sunday George wrote that he googled my blog and that I had bribed the editorial board, but then he clarified that he didn’t actually google my blog and that I hadn’t bribed the editorial... (read more)
Transportation Research
I took a friend’s rented Shelby GT-H for an inspection of the state’s transportation infrastructure. Sweet.
Unfortunately, the research was inconclusive. To really assess the situation, I’m afraid I’ll still need to test how the roads handle a Shelby/AC Cobra 427 S/C or a 1966 GTO. C’mon, someone, be civic minded and give me a call.
As for second-, third- or fourth-hand, breaking-down pieces of junk, I’ve tested the heck out of our roads with those.
Preterm Births
My youngest girl has lost her first 2 teeth, can swim 3 laps at the public pool, and is very excited to start the first grade. As I’ve discussed elsewhere on this site, she was born at 26-weeks gestational age, weighing about 1.25 lbs.
The D-News and the Trib had articles on an apparently steep increase in the percentage of premature births. Looking at some of the background data (which, given the times and places of the research, might include my girl), it appears that researchers don’t have an explanation for the increase. This troubling trend has significant human and financial implications.
Last month, Sara and I went on a tour of the beefed-up Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Dixie Regional Medical Center. A lot has changed nationally in NICUs in just a few years. NICUs are brighter and louder (doctors previously believed that much lighting at all could cause retinopathy and that much sound at... (read more)
How Long Should the Lt. Gov. Serve as Governor?