Tonight:

The Tim DeChristopher trial kicks off today.  As always, some are saying his act of civil disobedience, blocking oil and gas leases being rush through by the Bush admin in 2008, makes him a hero.  Some say he is a criminal who hurt Utah’s economy.  Which side are you on?  Why?

No hearing for McAdams state-wide anti-discrimination bill, and the Food Tax is back!

The Trib’s Lee Davidson gives an insider look at special interests on Utah’s Capitol Hill, and the continuing challenges to access for those with less to offer legislators.

Iran’s government: still crazy.

A joke Michael posted on Facebook today begins: A CEO, a tea partier, and public union employee walk into a restaurant… We’ll have a discussion about influence in politics, and what forces are driving the debate sparked by happenings in Wisconsin.

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Tonight’s show was pre-recorded so that we can spend some quality time with Sen. Orrin Hatch, who is visiting USU for a townhall style Q & A event, courtesy of the USU College Republicans.  The event kicks off at 3:30, and is open to the public.  Details here.  We’ll play the highs (and lows?) and discuss the event on Monday.

We’ll revisit our interview with Sen. Karen Mayne, who’s “worker classification” bill is posed to make vast changes to Utah’s construction industry (for the better!), and discuss the budget battles happening in Wisconsin and the federal debates.

The FTP Movie Show will be taking a breather this week as well.  Andy, I’m told, was swamped with lawsuits other obligations, and will return next week.  If you’re jonesing for Andy’s pre-Oscar pics, visit AndyattheMovies.com.

Podcasts of this and previous shows are available here.

Tonight:

Today the Utah legislature approved a moratorium on historic-district designation by Utah cities.  TYRANNY! Or: not to controversial of a move, just an opp for an interesting thought exercise hearing city leaders throughout the state speaking out against the state legislature, using the same rhetoric we hear from legislators when they talk about the federal government.  Hypocrisy, or an illustration of the nuances of debates over governing powers?

Jon Huntsman Jr goes shopping, ends up joining the revolution in China.

Senator Steve Urquhart is the sponsor of SB97, legislation that would create a “mission based” funding structure for Utah’s higher education institutions.  We’ll speak to Senator Urquhart today at 5pm (for real this time) about the legislation, and how the changes could effect Utah colleges.

AP digs into 2010 Census data and discovers that nearly a quarter of US cities are, literally, disappearing.

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Tonight:

Salt Lake Tribune writes up a recent poll showing westerners in Utah, Colorado, more increasingly believe environmental protections are important, and can be balanced with a health business climate.  What’s causing the shift in attitude?  How do you strike the balance?

Today, Utah Senators approved SJR9, a bill that would — if it passes the house — give Governor Herbert control over school board via appointments.  Currently, these positions are elected.  Some say this is a way to “fix” Utah’s public education, others worry it’s just a move to ensure school boards and legislators always (ALWAYS!) agree.  Both Knudson and Hillyard voted for the change, but Governor Herbert has said he may veto the measure.  What say you?

Random creepy trivia: Your cell phone is controlling your mind.

President Obama announced this morning that the Department of Justice would no longer defend the Defense of Marriage Act.  We’ll get reactions from local groups both in favor and opposed to DOMA at large on what this means for all sides of the marriage equality / traditional marriage battles, including California’s Proposition 8 measure.

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Tonight:

This week’s Mero Moment via Sutherland Institute President Paul Mero deals with HJR37, the “state spending cap” bill.  Hear why the Sutherland Institute is pushing this one, and weigh in yourself.  Boom/Bust budgeting has definitely been a pattern, even here in Utah.  Would a spending cap level things out?  Are there other solutions?

This first of this week’s legislative spotlights will be with Sen. Jerry Stevenson (R-Layton), a member of the Senate’s Education Committee, and a Senator working on a solution to SLC’s unpopular “police fees” for unincorporated counties.  Tune in at 5pm.

We’ll revisit the issue of “civility” in political discussions, especially as it pertains to this show, Twitter, Facebook, and even legislator’s voicemail boxes.

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Tonight:

Article in the Trib explaining that state legislators have kicked the can down the road on unemployment insurance funds… for 20 years! Here’s a chance for a “low taxes vs. government services” debate, with a twist:  When we reach that critical mass, and the talk becomes an actual choice, what will Utahns choose?  And why are many Utah legislators trying convince voters “You can have both!  Low taxes, all of these great services, and all you have to do is vote for me!”  Also, Sen. Hillyard is excluded from this criticism.  Always the pragmatist.

Tunisia, Egypt, now Libya… the uprisings against poor government has the world asking: what’s next?  Some say the uprisings may be headed to China.  What does it mean for the rest of us?

A Pew survey on support among Americans for unions or corporations paints an interesting picture:

• Union support grows the lower down the income scale you go, support for corporations grows the higher a person’s income.
• Support for unions and corporations both wanes as — ironically — it’s perceived either is gaining influence over our politics.
• Unions support has been at a low for years, and corporations are headed down there quickly.

Is there an inherent populism in American politics? (h/t Jesse Harris)

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USU College Republicans in the inbox:

United States Senator Orrin Hatch

will be speaking on the Utah State University campus

Friday February 25th, 2011

3:30 – 5:00 p.m.

Emma Eccles Jones Education Building Room 131

Senator Hatch will briefly address students, faculty, and the general public as well as respond to questions

For questions or media inquiries - contact Terry Camp @ 435-512-1326 or terry.camp@aggiemail.usu.edu

CacheValleyDaily.com:

Is there a measure going through the legislature that you would like to discuss with one or more of your local lawmakers? Northern Utah residents have a chance to do that Saturday during the weekly Breakfast with Legislators.

The event starts Saturday at 7:30 a.m. in the Cache County Administrative Building’s multi-purpose room. A continental breakfast will be served and all of the legislators are expected to be there.

Tonight:

We’ll kick things off with an interview done earlier today with Steve Milloy, author of Green Hell: How Environmentalists Plan to Control Your Life.  Milloy recently penned this op-ed in the Washington Times:

Having witnessed Republicans wilt from EPA reform in 1995, when then-EPA administrator Carol Browner outwitted a hapless Newt Gingrich, there should be concern that Republicans are easily intimidated by the EPA and activist bullies. It was easy for Republicans to oppose the Waxman-Markey cap-and-tax turkey, but most know little about other environmental controversies and would just as soon talk about something else.

But the GOP needs to gird itself for battle. The EPA is coming for our jobs, electricity and economy. The Obama administration is preparing to make cap-and-trade look like a walk in the park compared to EPA regulation. Its regulatory apparatus is running amok.

Cut the EPA‘s budget. Cut it in March. Close down the federal government if necessary. Save us now.

Milloy argues that despite the 40 year history of improvements to air and water quality, and stopping oil pollution in America’s rivers, the EPA’s responsibilities would be better handled by the states, and that by trying to regulate greenhouse gasses, the EPA is “going rogue.”  An American Lung Association survey says 3 of 4 Americans disagree.  Do you?  Listen in at 4, and we’ll open the phones up for comment immediately after the interview.

All out revolt has erupted in Wisconsin, with Teachers, Police and Fireman unions showing up in droves to oppose WI Governor Walker’s budget, which workers say would strip them of bargaining rights.  The “uprising” is also spreading into OH.  But the story behind the story: many similarities between what’s happening in Wisconsin, and the pending budget battle between the GOP House and President Obama.

Senator Steve Urquhart is the sponsor of S.B. 97, a bill impose “mission based” funding for Utah’s higher education institutions.  What is “mission based” funding, and why should you love it (or hate it)?  Watch Sen. Urquhart explain it in 60 seconds, then join us at 5pm, when Sen. Urquhart joins us live.

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MEDIA ADVISORY
February 16, 2011

CONTACT:
Howard Stephenson
801-815-6800

SENATOR STEPHENSON TO UNVEIL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN

WHAT: Senator Howard Stephenson will unveil his plan to overcome the
misalignment between education choices and Utah careers. Following
Senator Stephenson*s remarks, IBM will provide a demonstration of the
first phase of the LifeApp.

WHEN: Thursday, February 17th, at 1:00 p.m. 

WHERE: Capitol Board Room, east end of the 2nd floor, at the Utah State
Capitol

                         # # #

NOTES:

1. The press conference will be broadcast online at
http://www.senatesite.com.  Select the Citizen 2.0 tab, then click on
"Live Stream"

Tonight:

Frequent caller and long time friend of FTP Don from Wyoming will be joining us in studio, in person, to talk about the most rare of western relics: the real cowboy.  Today’s cowboys, Don tells us, have iPhones and NetFlix, but they still honor an old fashioned way of life we could all learn from.  And as a Logan native turned Wyoming devotee, he also has a lot to say about recent changes to Utah’s fireworks laws.

A teacher in PA has been suspended for blogging about her “lazy, whiny students.”  Parents who found the post are calling for her job.  At issue is the question of free speech, and whether or not we will allow both students and public employees to be human in the “everything is public” Facebook age.

Are industry backed “IP Laws” to fight piracy and illegal distribution holding up the next big technological innovation in America?

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Tonight:

We’ll kick things off with another installment of the Mero Moment, bumped temporarily from it’s original 5pm slot to make way for the Legislative Spotlight each week.  Tune in for the latest conservative musings of Sutherland Institute President Paul Mero.  Lively discussion (always) follows.

The polls are giving a hint at what the 2012 GOP presidential primaries might look like.  One poll shows that candidates like Mitt Romney and Huntsman may have a “birther” problem.  We’ll run through the latest numbers, and, with your help, do some tea leaf reading.  Who’s going to come out on top?

The Senate Site offers up a toolbox for following the legislative session.

State Senator Karen Mayne (D – District 5), sponsor of a landmark “Worker Classification” bill that everyone from construction firms to immigrant rights advocates are calling “a very big deal” joins us live from Capitol Hill.  Utah Policy:

Mayne, wife of the late Sen. Ed Mayne, who was also president of the Utah AFL-CIO, says that Utah’s construction industry is being turned on its head by a few disreputable firms that signed up their workers, from sheetrockers to framers, as “owners” in the firm, and as such the company didn’t have to pay workers compensation, unemployment insurance, withholding taxes and such for them.

The real owners of the construction companies were giving the workers tiny parts of the company, such small shares that in reality they didn’t own anything of value at all, she told UtahPolicy.

Avoiding all those taxes, the firms were able to under-bid “legitimate” contractors who were paying all of that overhead.

Her bill aims to close that loophole.  We’ll get the inside story, tonight at 5pm.

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Tonight:

It’s Valentines Day.  Per listener request, we’ll run down some suggested activities for the single folk.

President Obama and the GOP have both released budget proposals.  In a strange twist,  the GOP budget cuts more from defense spending than the President’s.  Progressives are calling Obama’s proposal “irresponsible” and the GOP’s “ridiculous.”  Conservatives are saying Obama’s doesn’t go far enough, and the GOP’s may go too far.  Is there a middle ground to be had?  Will either proposal be anything like the final result?

Check out this video from the Utah Agriculture and Land Commission.  Balancing the use of and protection of land, air, and water in Utah goes a lot deeper than the ‘EPA Sucks!’ battle cried of our politicians.  As the ranchers here argue, if we aren’t responsible, a big piece of Utah’s economy could be gone.

Crowd sourcing backfires (or does it?) on the city of Austin, TX.

Today the Montana legislature abolished the death penalty to save the state millions of dollars.  The Utah legislature had a debate on a bill “declaring/reminding” everyone that we are a Republic.  Yeah.  We’ll take a look at the activities of those western states currently in session and see if Utah needs to get more serious.

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Free cellphone encryption is coming to Android users in Egypt courtesy of San Francisco software maker Whisper Systems.

From here: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/02/10/android_encryption_egypt/

A little too late, but nice to see American ingenuity at work.

Tonight:

The Jerry Sloan resignation presser is happening right now.  We’re streaming it live, and will revisit the highlights at 4pm.  Some are saying Sloan’s resignation came down to either Sloan or Deron.  It’s also rumored Sloan turned down a plea from Gail Miller to stay.  What does this mean for the future of the Jazz?  We’ll take your questions and comments at 4.

Best game show answer ever?

Free internet.  From space!

Senator Dan Liljenquist is touted as the ‘go-to’ guy on Utah’s Medicaid reforms (See the 60 second overview) , and many of you may remember him from 2010′s pension reforms.  Liljenquist will join us to discuss his proposed reforms, and take your questions.  Some of mine: Caps on Medicaid spending can control the state’s costs, but what will stop those costs from being dumped on those in need of care?  And how, specifically, will we fill the proposed Medicaid “rainy-day” fund?  We’ll find out, today at 5pm.

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Podcasts of this and previous shows are available here.

Podcasts from our legislative spotlights so far (brought to you by The Senate Site and Utah Senate Democrats):

- Sen. Pat Jones: Health and human services budget, Utah Saves, and her “second parent” bill vote.

Listen/Download.

- Sen. Peter Knudson: Understanding “base budgeting” and “structural imbalance.”

Listen/Download.

Tomorrow, our guest legislator will be Senator Dan Liljenquist on Medicaid reforms.  Tonight, I’ll be absent, but Michael will be joined by guest host Andy Rasmussen, part of the group responsible for the Legislator’s Town Hall meetings happening every Saturday morning here in Cache Valley.

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Tonight:

This week’s Mero Moment by Sutherland Institute President Paul Mero tackles federal spending levels, which haven’t decreased since 1954) and the many many promises to bring it down throughout the past century.  Join in the discussion.

On a related note: Which government program do you personally use?  None?  Are you sure?

This is crazy!

State Senator Pat Jones (D – District 4) joins us live at 5pm to discuss the Health and Human Services budget, prescription drug changes, and the minority position on the legislative session so far.

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Tonight:

Listener suggested: A SLC couple racks up $5,671 in parking fines.  They knowingly violated parking ordinances, but there are no free parking options nearby their home.  As Tom writes: What is fair? What is good policy? What is effective? If you were in charge of tickets in Salt Lake and could reduce this couples traffic ticket liability, would you? If so, by how much? If not, why not?

We’ll be joined in studio by former Logan City Councilwoman and State Board of Education member Tami Pyfer to find out about the Logan Citizen’s Academy kicking off this April. How can you sign up, and why should you? Find out at 5 o’clock.

And while we have Tami in studio, we’ll take the opportunity to get her take on the legislative session so far, especially as it applies to education in Utah.

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Tonight:

Per listener request, we’ll dig a little deeper into happenings in Egypt,  and listen to some reports from journalists receiving less than a warm reception from Mubarak’s security guards.  Some are calling for Obama to pick a side, and call for Mubarak to step down.  Should he?

Base Budgeting and Structural Imbalance.  Scary words, huh?  They’ve been the hot topic of legislative debate this week.  At 5, Senator Peter Knudson will join us to explain what both of these concepts are, and why they are important to managing the state.

A bill in the legislature striving to force hotel owners to allow paying customers to carry or store their weapons on site while staying.  What ensued was a debate over gun rights and property rights: which trumps which?  Legislators when with property rights, and we’ll discuss why.

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Podcasts of this and previous shows are available here.