It didn’t seem to matter that an obvious majority of Americans opposed the Panama Canal giveaway. (Mail to Washington was overwhelmingly against the treaties). The Senate proceeded anyway to vote 68-32, barely the two-thirds majority required, to ratify the proposal to transfer the canal to Panama in the year 2000. It didn’t seem to matter… Continue reading Canal Vote in Retrospect
Category: Politics
Election Turnout – Small Cities Set Example
Hats off to the smaller cities and towns of Central Utah – they really got out the vote Tuesday! While some of the major cities were allowing a minority of the voters to make the decisions at the polls, many of the little towns really showed the election spirit and appreciation for the right to… Continue reading Election Turnout – Small Cities Set Example
Postscript on CUP Fight
With President Carter’s signature on the public works bill, the appropriation for the Bonneville Unit of the Central Utah Project apparently is secure for another year. The news brought relief to a lot of people here in arid Utah who would second this brief statement issued to the press by Rep. Gunn McKay, D-Utah: “I’m… Continue reading Postscript on CUP Fight
Review of Postal Salaries
Attention has been drawn to salaries of postmasters as a factor in the postal department deficit. The whole subject of finding ways to economize seems timely, with a proposal afoot to boost the cost of stamps for first class business mail to 16 cents. In Utah it costs the U.S. Postal Service well over $2.5… Continue reading Review of Postal Salaries
Common Situs Picketing Not in Public Interest
The verbal exchange the other day between Labor Secretary Ray Marshall and Utah’s Sen. Orrin G. Hatch gave a clear glimpse of battle lines drawn in the fight over the controversial common situs picketing bill in Congress. The bill would permit striking construction workers to picket – and possibly shut down – an entire project… Continue reading Common Situs Picketing Not in Public Interest
Utah’s Property Tax Bill – How Is It Shared?
Tax burdens for the average Utah property owner have become increasingly heavy in recent years – and they’d be heavier still if it weren’t for the big percentage of the total tax paid by owners of commercial and industrial property. According to studies by the Utah Foundation, private tax research organization, owners of business and… Continue reading Utah’s Property Tax Bill – How Is It Shared?
Let’s Have RoII Call Vote – On Federal Pay Issue
If leaders in Congress are really serious about a new much-publicized ethics program they will veer away from a backdoor salary boost for top federal officials and decree a congressional vote on the controversial proposition. This is something they apparently aren’t planning to do. Washington reports say neither house of Congress plans action before the… Continue reading Let’s Have RoII Call Vote – On Federal Pay Issue
PubIic’s Stake in Bill on Open Meetings
Too many cooks can “spoil the soup” – and in a way that’s what happened to the so-called open meetings bill in the Utah House of Representatives. The House passed a diluted version of HB 84 by a vote of 66-3 after representatives weakened the enforcement section by cutting out criminal penalties for intentional violations and… Continue reading PubIic’s Stake in Bill on Open Meetings
County Zoning Hearing – Extra Session Encouraged
The Utah County Commission will hold an important public hearing in the South Courtroom at the County Building next Monday, Jan. 31. It’s a hearing to consider approximately a hundred amendments to the 1975 Revised Utah County Zoning Ordinance. Commissioners adopted the ordinance last Dec. 22 on a 2 to 1 vote. On the same… Continue reading County Zoning Hearing – Extra Session Encouraged
3-Term Utah Governor – Rampton Era Closes
Governor Calvin L. Rampton leaves office Monday noon after an unprecedented three terms at the helm of Utah state government. He will be succeeded by a fellow Democrat. Scott M. Matheson, a newcomer in politics. The 12-year Rampton era has been memorable in many ways, and as “Cal and Lucybeth” move from the governor’s mansion we believe… Continue reading 3-Term Utah Governor – Rampton Era Closes