Tom Burr, Salt Lake Tribune’s Washington DC office, posted a story about the Highest Court In the Land.  Kim and I went on a brief tour in 2007 of  ”the Highest Court” with Mike Lee, clerk for Justice Samuel Alito.

Fun to hear about some of the game playing going on upstairs.  This was a great article, Tom!

This speech, by Neal A. Maxwell at Brigham Young University, is even more pertinent today than it was the day it was delivered…thirty years ago.

“… irreligion as the state religion would be the worst of all combinations. Its orthodoxy would be insistent and its inquisitors inevitable. Its paid ministry would be numerous beyond belief. Its Caesars would be insufferably condescending. Its majorities—when faced with clear alternatives—will make the Barabbas choice, as did a mob centuries ago when Pilate confronted them with the need to decide.

Your discipleship may see the time when such religious convictions are discounted. M. J. Sobran also said, “A religious conviction is now a second-class conviction, expected to step deferentially to the back of the secular bus, and not to get uppity about it” (Human Life Review, Summer 1978, pp. 58–59).

This new irreligious imperialism seeks to disallow certain opinions simply because those opinions grow out of religious convictions. Resistance to abortion will be seen as primitive. Concern over the institution of the family will be viewed as untrendy and unenlightened.”

Read the entire speech,  A More Determined Discipleship.

An article identified this morning in the Utah Policy Daily e-newsletter, originally written for CG TODAY ONLINE NEWS, reinforces the arguements made by icaucus.org in my last post…

The Independence Caucus has a series of on-line videos you’ve gotta see.  Turn off the TV for an hour and get prepared to be BLOWN AWAY!

Although I supported most of the “Ethics Reform” proposals, I didn’t support the one year moratorium on Legislators becoming contract lobbyists (link HERE) for the twelve month period following their exit from the House or the Senate.  Why?  For a number of reasons including this explanation from the Daily Herald Editorial Board.  Link HERE for Editorial.

I’m still not convinced that such a statute would stand up to judicial scrutiny.  Can you really tell someone what they can and can’t do for employment?  (If that employment is reasonable and not obscene?)  Currently, the framework of a democracy presupposes that a law created by a legislature and signed by the governor IS constitutional…that is until it is challenged within a lower court and potentially challenged/appealed to a higher court.  Eventually, the ultimate deciderer is a Supreme Court as to whether a law stands up to constitutional scrutiny.  Here’s a good example.  So, there’s really no way to test my hypothesis until this law is challenged…if it’s ever challenged.    The time and resources are beyond my financial capabilities.  Any of my other 103 legislative colleagues up for a challenge? 

Here’s a summary of “Ethics Reform” bills/statute passed by the 2009 Utah State Legislature.  Link HERE.

Yesterday morning’s Grand Opening of the new Wal*Mart store across from Lone Peak High School was attended by hundreds of excited would-be-patrons.

Catch the Fox 13 News report by Nineveh Dinha…link HERE.

Government unchecked would find a way to tax WATER…more.  Check your property tax notice next time it comes to your home…if you still have a home…look under the special districts assessment section…there it is…water development and delivery tax (fee)…see, I told you…government taxes water.  Now check your city utility bill…water…culinary and secondary…taxed.  Everywhere you turn…it’s there…hidden fees and taxes…some of them aren’t so hidden…you get statements…in the mail…you “volunteer” to pay them…you write the check…

Part of the point…STOP THE MADNESS!  We’re done.

When will government “Throttle” back their unquenchable urge to find new and “better” ways to tax the citizens into poverty (or socialism)?

You had to know the Salt Lake Tribune Editorial Board would end up here.  (Link HERE.)   Hopefully…they’re just joking…REALLY.

The Associated Press has written a more comprehensive article on targeted tax policy (and Caffeine and Tobacco products, too).

Read this posting yesterday in the Daily Herald.  Link HERE.

On my desk last night was placed a “warm” copy of the 2009 General Session Appropriations Summary.  You can get yours by linking HERE.

This summary gives a “blow-by-blow” accounting of where the State Legislature (and the Governor) spent your future tax dollars (FY10).

Thanks for your interest.