Don’t get me wrong, I liked the old site just fine; however, the new feel and accessibility of the Utah Taxpayers Association website is… awesome.  Check it out.

Today, a trusted friend called me and mentioned that the word on the “street” was that I had endorsed a specific candidate for one of four open leadership chairs for the Utah County Republican Party.

I feel compelled to clarify my current position.  Only two candidates to date have received my official endorsement.  The first is Taylor Oldroyd for County Party Chair.   Having known Taylor for a while now, I feel comfortable with his vision of where the party needs to go as we reinforce conservative principles and platform in our local party group.  He has volunteered considerable personal time to chair the committee to organize the Lincoln Day Dinner.  He is well known in statewide political circles which, believe it or not…makes a difference.

The other candidate is Lynn Taylor for County Party Treasurer.  Lynn’s family and I have been acquainted for over a dozen years now.  He is a committed, bright, focused leader.  His military background in project management will be a valuable asset as he works with the finances of our party.  He will also provide excellent input to the executive administrative aspects of this job.

To date, I have not made any other commitments to support or endorse any other candidates for our county party races.

As we begin the Interim months of the legislature (April-Mid January), Speaker David Clark has made the following assignments to Rep. Craig Frank:

First, Rep. Frank will serve as the House Co-Chair with Senator Pete Knudsen over the Government Operations Committee.  (Rep. Fred Hundsaker will simultaneously Co-Chair with Senator Pete Knudsen a combined committee of the Political Subdivisions Committee.)   All members of this combined Interim committee will serve as members of the Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Interim Committee.   Rep. Frank is currently the House Chair for the Government Operations Standing Committee that meets during the regular General Legislative Session (Fourth Monday in January until the second Thursday in March).

Second,  because the Education Committee meets at the same time as the Government Operations and Political Subdivisions committee, it was necessary to move Rep. Frank’s assignment from Education to Transportation.  So, Rep. Frank will serve during the Interim on the Transportation Interim Committee.  Interesting to note is that Rep. Frank served on the Transportation Committee during his first 19 months in the legislature before his assignment was switched to Education.

Third, Rep. Frank’s national committee assignment has been changed from CSG (Conference of State Governments) to NCSL (National Conference of State Legislatures).  His assignment with CSG was on the Fiscal Affairs Committee spanning the past four years.  His new assignment, consistent with his chair assignment in the legislature, is on the Re-Districting and Elections Committee of NCSL.  This year’s meeting is in Philadelphia, July 20-24.  Rep. Frank looks forward to representing the State of Utah with this assignment change.

Last, Rep. Frank has been assigned by the Speaker to sit on the Governor’s Commission on Strengthening Utah’s Democracy.  This commission formed by the Governor last year to study ethics in state government will meet periodically to study and make recommendations regarding how to make government better.  Rep. Frank’s first order of business will be to educate the Commission on the fact that our state and national governments are a representative republic.

Once again, Rep. Frank looks forward to these new opportunities to serve his constituency and the State of Utah.

Wednesday Evening, April 15, 2009 from 7-9 pm, Rep. Craig Frank (H57) will host a 2009 General Legislative Session Wrap-up.  This event will take place at the Lincoln Academy (Public Charter School) located about one-half mile northeast of the LDS Mount Timpanogos Temple at 1582 W. 3300 North, Pleasant Grove, UT.

Confirmed legislators:  Sen. John Valentine (S14), Rep. John Dougall (H27), Rep. Ken Sumsion (H56), and Rep. Frank.

Special Guest:  US Congressman Jason Chaffetz (R-UT)

Light refreshments will be provided.  Questions about this event, please call (801) 362-3171.

Just a quick reminder:  This event will begin promptly at 7 pm.  Even though the legislators attending this event are from northern Utah County, this event is open to the public.  I’d like to thank the Administration of Lincoln Academy for the use of their facility.  Also, my thanks to Holly Richardson (hollyonthehill.wordpress.com) for helping to organize this event.

See you there.

In light of the recent vote by the Salt Lake County Council (County of the First Class) to create a “study committee”  to determine the feasibility of opening a new Salt Lake County funded hotel, I thought it might be prudent for this state committee (board) to study the issue, simultaneously.

Fortuitous?  I believe so.  SB45 Inventory of Competitive Activities by a Local Government (Sen. Howard Stephensen), passed by the state legislature in the 2008 General Session, asks local governments to step back and ask themselves the appropriate question:  “Is this REALLY the PROPER ROLE of government?”

Between now and April 15th, there will be a number of Tea Party events throughout Utah.  Take advantage of these events to exercise your First Amendment right to speak freely and frankly about Federal Bailouts, TARP, and gross-negligent, uncontrolled spending by Washington DC.   Hundreds of protestors have already confirmed their attendence at the Tea Party scheduled for the Downtown Salt Lake City Federal Building Plaza.

(The above picture was taken at the Utah State Capitol during the 2009 General Legislative Session.   Rep. Craig Frank, sponsor of HJR17, addresses the crowd during the Rotunda Tea Party.)

Each year, about this time, I receive in the mail from the Tax Foundation a small booklet that ranks the states (and sometimes Washington DC) within  various categories.  Here’s how UTAH stacks up.

Total Income per Capita…$ 35,971  (45th)

Tax Freedom Day…April 21 (17th)

Individual Income Tax Index… 6.59  [13th]

Sales Tax Index…  5.21 (23rd)

Property Tax Index…  6.64  (2nd)

State General Sales Tax and Use Tax Rates… 4.95% (34th)

State Gasoline Tax Rates… 24.5 cents  (24th)

State Cigarette Excise Tax Rates…  69.5 cents (pack) [33rd]

State Debt per Capita…  $2,269  (35th)

State Spending per Capita… $4,890 (34th)

State and Local Tax Burden per Capita… $3,446  (35th)

State and Local Property Tax Collections per Capita…  $738  (40th)

State and Local Debt per Capita… $6,029  (28th)

People per Household (2006-2007)…  3.08 & 3.11 respectively (1st)

These are just a few of the statistics available throught the Tax Foundation.