August 11, 2026

Utah Legislature Watch: The numbers

The Utah legislative session is almost over. As they say on Marketplace, “let’s do the numbers.” (as of mid-day yesterday) There have been 223 bills passed at the 2011 General Session. There were 498 House bills introduced and 132 substitute House bills. There were also 19 House concurrent resolutions, 49 House joint resolutions and four […]

the price we pay for not being born mud-turtles

“However, American conservatives are caught in the web of their careless antigovernment rhetoric. They are partially immobilized by their uneasy consciences about government power. This uneasiness derives from their libertarian tendency–from an economic predisposition pressed into service as political philosophy. This question must be asked: If conservatives do not want to use government power in […]

Will Dems or GOPers “get the message” from last Tuesday?

Image by jmtimages via Flickr Some guy over at Popehat doesn’t think they will: Chance of the Republicans “Getting It” About Small Non-Economic-Sector Government: Thumbs Down.There is no good indication that Republicans, whether traditional or Tea Party, grasp — or care — that military adventurism, the post-9/11 Security State, the War on Drugs, or government enforcement […]

SCOTUS upholds strip club “pole tax”

Selling stuff at strip clubs costs 10% more In 2004, the Utah legislature, being what it is (and what it is, is controlled largely by conservatives, both fiscal and social), passed a 10% tax on everything sold by strip clubs. Burgers, t-shirts, drinks, key chains, bobble heads, etc.  Everything. If you’re a strip club and […]

Amending the Constitution? A B.F.D.

With Constitution Day just passed (September 17th), hopefully we’ve all increased our awareness about the governing document for our nation’s political processes.  Written over two hundred years ago, the US Constitution is now the oldest written constitution.  And yet, it is still important, if not essential, to our nation’s governance. Included among its clauses is guidance […]

How would SCOTUS rule on S1070?

Image by Sundials by Carmichael via Flickr Historically, conservative justices, with their stricter interpretation of the Constitution, have viewed immigration policy as the exclusive purview of the federal government. That means both ideological factions on the court may be hostile to Arizona’s defense of S1070. From AZ Capitol Times Related articles by Zemanta “Immigration law […]

AZ immigration law stopped–for now.

Image by lungstruck via Flickr Susan Bolton made the news, whether she wanted to or not.  U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton, that is. U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton halted implementation of the parts of the law that require police to determine the immigration status of people they stop and think are in the country illegally. […]