Attack ads – circa 1800

(h/t Ben Winslow, Fox 13)

Happy Trick-or-Treating!

Sharon Angle’s “Our Turn” ad

Bye-bye Harry

Senator Liljenquist vying for top Senate spot

This morning, Ric Cantrell, Chief Deputy of the Utah Senate, confirmed that Senator Dan Liljenquist (R-Davis) filed to run for President of the Senate. Known for his willingness to tackle tough issues like pension and Medicaid reform, Liljenquist is a rising star on both the state and national scene.

Until the story broke yesterday, current President Michael Waddoups seemed on track to cruise to re-election. Waddoups was elected in 2008, ousting then-president John Valentine by one vote.

Senator Liljenquist has remarked in the past that he “came to the Senate to get things done.” He took on reforming the state retirement program earlier this year when it became clear the pension system was unsustainable. He is now working on reforming Medicaid, another system currently on-track to bankrupt our state in a few short years.

Leadership elections for both the House and Senate will be held Thursday, November 4th in closed caucuses.

Meet Scott Bell

In the often-overlooked races for school board, there are a couple of candidates you need to get to know. Scott Bell of Orem is one of them. He is running for a seat on the Alpine School District board.

A life-long Utah County resident, Scott received his BS in Accounting, Cum Laude, from UVU. His education and degree have facilitated his work to educate others in Accounting and Technology. A guest lecturer at the University level and an internationally published speaker, Scott is the co-founder of a successful local business and has first hand experience in Management, Finance, Technology, Budgeting, Fundraising, and Growth-management.

Scott enjoys being a Mentor for the Alpine School District Internship Program. He received the honor of being recognized as the Utah Chief Technology Officer of the Year as well as being spotlighted in Utah Valley Magazine as one of the Top 40 Entrepreneurs under 40. Scott’s real world experience in running a successful business will give him an edge in meeting the needs of the families and students in Alpine School District.

Bell believes parents are key to a child’s education and they should be actively engaged at home and with teachers to ensure each child’s needs are being met. His two school age children have used Alpine School Districts K-12 Online program, available to all parents in Alpine School District who desire or require alternative educational avenues for their children. He and his wife are currently homeschooling two of their children and Bell believes this will allow him to bring a unique and much-needed perspective to the board. The K-12 program is one used in classrooms throughout the district.

Bell – running against a 12-year incumbent – believes in things that should resonate well this cycle – fiscal discipline, accountability, a newcomer with a fresh perspective and a commitment to question the status quo, opposition to federal interference with programs like “No Child Left Behind” and “Race to the Top“. His message is garnering support all over the district and he has an impressive list of grassroots endorsements.

Polls show him at a dead heat with the establishment-backed incumbent JoDee Sundberg. It’s time for a change in the Alpine School District board. Scott Bell is the man to get the job done.

Gov Christie tells it like it is

Gosh, I love this guy. We need more elected officials who are willing to tell it like it is. And even more, who are willing to do the heavy lifting, not just spout partisan rhetoric.

Amendments A, B, C and D

There are 4 proposed amendments to Utah’s Constitution on the ballot this year. To even be placed on the ballot, these proposals must have passed with 2/3 of the legislators voting for them. They have gone through some rigorous processes to end up in front of you on November 2.

Amendment A is the “card check” or “Save Our Secret Ballot” amendment. The language on the ballot is simple.

Shall the Utah Constitution be amended to specify that elections currently required to
be by secret ballot include elections under state or federal law for public office, on an initiative or referendum, or to designate or authorize employee or individual representation?

Unless trumped by federal law, this provision would require that the specified types of elections be held by secret ballot. I blogged about that bill earlier this month. For a list of all elected officials and candidates who support Amendment A, go here. YES on Amendment A.

Amendment B clarifies residency requirements for legislators who are appointed to fill a mid-term vacancy. The language reads:

Shall the Utah Constitution be amended to:
• specify the residency requirements for a person appointed to fill a vacancy in the office of state senator or state representative; and
• prohibit a person appointed to the office of state senator or state representative from continuing to serve in that office if the person ceases to be a resident of the district for which the person was appointed?

Simply put, if you are a STATE legislator, you must reside in the district which you represent. YES on Amendment B.

Amendment C has to do with water rights. It provides a property tax exemption for certain property owned by nonprofit entities if the property is used to irrigate land, provide domestic water, or provide water to a public water supplier. This amendment prevents double-taxation. It passed out of the legislature unanimously. The question at the ballot box is:

Shall the Utah Constitution be amended to provide a property tax exemption to nonprofit entities for their:
• water rights and specified facilities used within the state to irrigate land, provide domestic water, or provide water to a public water supplier; and
• land occupied by and, under certain conditions, immediately adjacent to some of those facilities?

YES on Amendment C.

Amendment D relates to the creation of an ethics committee. It is perhaps the most controversial of the four amendments. This measure is a response to the citizens initiative being promoted by Utahns for Ethical Government.  It is NOT that initiative we’ve all heard about many times.  This proposed committee is intended to provide an impartial panel to hear complaints about ethics violations by legislators. The language on the ballot reads:

Shall the Utah Constitution be amended to:
• establish a five-member legislative ethics commission whose members may not include sitting legislators or registered lobbyists;
• authorize the commission to conduct an independent review of complaints alleging unethical legislative behavior; and
• authorize the Legislature to provide for:
• procedures and requirements for filing a complaint;
• the qualifications, appointment, and terms of commission members; and
• commission duties, powers, operations, and procedures?

From the voter pamphlet, page 34, we read

The Constitution of the State of Utah requires that, “Each house shall be the judge of the election and qualifications of its members, and may punish them for disorderly conduct.” This provision, which can also be found in our inspired U.S. Constitution, is critical to maintaining a healthy government and ensuring appropriate checks and balances between each branch of government.
Constitutional Amendment D preserves that power and creates a Legislative Ethics Commission with the authority to independently review alleged unethical behavior in the Legislative Branch of government. This provision is patterned after the Judicial Conduct Commission, which has been well-tested and effective in the Judicial Branch.

Arguments against this amendment include both that it does not go far enough on the one hand and on the other, that it is unnecessary. The reasoning behind the latter is the legislature has an adequate process for dealing with ethical lapses and that you simply can not legislate ethics.  Considerably more detail on this commission and how it will function can be found in the resolution passed during the legislative session.

I must agree with Speaker Dave Clark who said: “Unfortunately, trust in government throughout the world is low.”  Because it is, this commission becomes a necessary addition state government.  I do not think this is a perfect solution, but it is an acceptable solution.  Certainly we need some confidence that valid ethics complaints will be dealt with in an impartial and appropriate manner.  I encourage you to vote YES on Amendment D.

She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named

Joe Miller, running for Senate in Alaska, has a new Halloween ad out against his key opponent, Lisa Murkowski, trying to run a write-in campaign. Murkowski lost in the primary to Miller, but can’t bring herself to let go of her Daddy’s seat. It hasn’t been a good week for her, though. An Alaska judge ruled today that election officials can NOT hand out lists with names of write-in candidates, NOR can they verbally provide the names. Bye-bye Lisa.

Alex Sink, cheating in Florida

Democrat Alex Sink is running to be Florida’s governor. In a recent CNN debate, she had campaign help texted to her, a clear violation of the rules of the debate. Her Republican opponent, Rick Scott now has a new campaign ad.

Alice Baker, 79 yo patriot, makes ad for Morgan Philpot

This is one of the coolest things I have ever heard. Alice Baker, inspired patriot, paid for and cut a radio ad for Morgan Philpot because she is tired of Matheson selling Utah down the river. Go, Alice!