A brief guide to the voters in House District 60, Orem, Utah, consisting of a summary of differences on important issues between the challenger, Alan Keele, and the incumbent, Bradley Daw (for more details and the sources of the information please look at all the other postings on this blog at: www.alankeeleforutahhouse.blogspot.com):
1. Rep. Daw has failed to work hard to support education, both K-12 and our wonderful new university in Orem, Utah Valley University. A second-grade teacher told us recently she had 32 youngsters in her class last year. This year it’s 37! How can any child learn at a high level with so little access to the teacher?! The legislature also cut UVU’s budget just this year a full 12% even through it is growing with new students every year by at least 10%! Even though UVU is right here in our District 60, Rep. Daw did not make an effort to help out, evidently because he is philosophically opposed to spending money on public education.
Alan Keele is a life-long educator (40 years teaching at BYU) who knows we must re-prioritize to turn around this decline in support for Utah’s schools and its wonderful, dedicated teachers! Money is available! 101 million dollars are right now going to waste to “send a message to Washington!” (See my blog posting entitled: Big Tobacco Money = Ok?...) Alan Keele will break any china in the Legislature he needs to to call attention to the needs of K-12 educators as well as President Holland of UVU!
2. Rep. Daw recently sponsored House Bill 150 which makes it legal for your electronic e-mails, cell-phone calls, and other electronic communications to be obtained without a search warrant signed by a judge. The bill is clearly unconstitutional since it undermines our Fourth-Amendment right to be safe from unwarranted intrusions. This important part of the Bill of Rights reads: “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”
Alan Keele thinks that any true conservative would have opposed such a bill, not sponsored it. At the very least, this bill will end up costing the State a lot of money to defend in court before it is ultimately judged unconstitutional and thrown out. (Or the Legislature could do the wise thing and rescind the bill before the State has to waste money defending it. For more information see my earlier posting on how safe you are in your home in Utah.)
3. According to the public record, on August 11, 2008 Rep. Daw accepted a campaign donation of $400 from Altria Group, one of the world’s largest tobacco companies (formerly called Phillip Morris) which also deals globally in beer and wine. The public record further shows this was part of a total of $109,000 distributed by Big Tobacco companies to Utah lawmakers to influence them to vote against a program that would increase the tax on cigarettes to fund an anti-tobacco educational program called the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids. (After it originally failed, I’m happy to say the bill finally passed this year, over Rep. Daw’s negative vote.) Now, whenever I see a Brad Daw campaign sign, especially his big, exorbitantly expensive billboard, I can’t help asking myself if it was purchased with this Big Tobacco money.
(In fairness, it must be admitted that Mr. Daw's overall voting record on tobacco questions has not been consistent and easy to understand. Based on some of his earlier votes, he even likes to portray himself as an opponent of tobacco, and he apparently did start out opposing certain kinds of smokeless tobacco products. But for Alan Keele the question isn't whether Brad Daw ALWAYS voted with Big Tobacco. The problem is that after he took their money, in 2010 he undeniably DID vote with Big Tobacco. And from Alan Keele's point of view, even one vote in Utah for Big Tobacco is a vote too many.)
Alan Keele knows the terrible costs associated with youngsters who start to smoke early in life: 1,100 Utahns die annually from their own smoking, 230 from second-hand smoke. 26,000 kids now under 18 and alive in Utah will ultimately die prematurely from smoking. Smoking kills more people than alcohol, AIDS, car crashes, illegal drugs, murder, and suicides combined, and this does not count other tobacco-related causes such as fires from smoking, nor does it tally in the harmful effects of smokeless tobacco products or account for the much larger number of tobacco-related health problems that are not fatal. In terms of money, smoking directly causes $345 million in annual health care costs in Utah. Additionally, the state suffers $294 million annually in smoking-caused productivity losses. Each Utah household bears an annual extra tax burden of $523 from smoking-caused government expenditures. There's not enough money in the world to induce Alan Keele to vote even once on the wrong side of this life-and-death matter!
I hope you’ll study all the issues and vote for me on November 2nd! There's an old saying: "Politicians are like diapers. They need to be changed often, and for the same reason." Sincerely, Alan Keele
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Linda Keele Gives Her Perspective On The Race!
Hi, I’m Linda Keele; the wife of Alan Keele running for the Utah House of Representatives. When I say “running,” I literally mean “running” (“walking”) to every home in our district 60. We decided that was the best way to get out our message of change and to meet you as our friends and neighbors of Orem. (I’ve already worn out a pair of shoes; and I’m tired but still full of energy to greet as many of you as we can. It has been a GREAT experience!)
We have had a wonderful experience meeting some of you; usually about l/3 of you are at home when we walk around your neighborhood, and it has been fun to see you; your cute families and dogs (even though sometimes I’ve been a little afraid of the big dogs); your creative Fall and Halloween decorations; your yards and homes. We are sorry we’ve missed any of you.
What we have especially enjoyed seeing is your beautiful children–so happy and so sweet and friendly. I think because we look like a “Grandma and Grandpa,” many of the children would smile and want to be with us. It has been delightful! As we look at these many children with their eyes big and bright and wanting the best, it re-emphasized in our minds what this Grandma and Grandpa want for our district 60 “grandchildren.”– a great education so they can be and do anything they choose to be.
Our legislature has cut funding to the public schools K-12. The teachers in our public schools are trying their best to do all they can for these children with very little $. They use their own $ and time and are dedicated even with little salary to help. Some of you have said that public education is not what it should be. How can it be when our schools in Utah have the lowest funding per student in the entire United States (we are sometimes tied with Idaho)? Our most priceless possession (our children) need to be TOP priority. We don’t need to raise taxes; just make education our TOP priority. My husband’s opponent wants to cut funding for public schools. How can we improve our public schools if there is no $ to get the best teachers, supplies, facilities, etc.?
Also the legislature this year cut 12% funding for UVU; our GEM in the middle of Orem even though UVU has been growing by about 10% per year for several years. UVU is the lowest funded higher education school in Utah. My husband’s opponent voted for this funding cut for UVU even though it is in his district.
As we walk around your neighborhoods, I talk to each person at the door and tell them that my dear husband is a moderate, and he is getting support from moderate Republicans, Democrats and Independents. As I mention that we need cooperation from all groups to come to the MIDDLE of the spectrum and WORK TOGETHER to provide the best legislation for this state and especially our Orem, many of you nod your heads “YES, YES!!” Now is the time to swing the pendulum back towards the MIDDLE. As I talk to you I see a light shining with a new hope that maybe all of us can work together for the good of our great state and city. I feel, and many of you agree, that with just a one-party system, we just get one set of ideas. Instead of getting ideas and input from many people across the spectrum, we just get a one-sided view. Special interest groups can get into the system and influence the one-party system. This can work for either left or right. We need a MULTI-PARTY system where there are ideas and strengths from all sides, where there are CHECKS and BALANCES and ACCOUNTABILITY!! “YAY!” I shout! Maybe we can all play together once more for the good of the whole!!
Alan Keele is very BRIGHT, ENERGETIC, HONEST, HARD WORKING with HIGH INTEGRITY AND ENTHUSIASM TO BRING A NEW LIGHT TO THE LEGISLATURE.
PLEASE VOTE FOR ALAN KEELE ON NOVEMBER 2.
and PLEASE SHARE THIS MESSAGE WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS INVITING THEM by phone or email or facebook TO VOTE ON NOVEMBER 2 FOR A NEW FUTURE IN THE LEGISLATURE BY VOTING for ALAN KEELE
And look at all the other postings on: www.AlanKeeleforUtahHouse.blogspot.com
We have had a wonderful experience meeting some of you; usually about l/3 of you are at home when we walk around your neighborhood, and it has been fun to see you; your cute families and dogs (even though sometimes I’ve been a little afraid of the big dogs); your creative Fall and Halloween decorations; your yards and homes. We are sorry we’ve missed any of you.
What we have especially enjoyed seeing is your beautiful children–so happy and so sweet and friendly. I think because we look like a “Grandma and Grandpa,” many of the children would smile and want to be with us. It has been delightful! As we look at these many children with their eyes big and bright and wanting the best, it re-emphasized in our minds what this Grandma and Grandpa want for our district 60 “grandchildren.”– a great education so they can be and do anything they choose to be.
Our legislature has cut funding to the public schools K-12. The teachers in our public schools are trying their best to do all they can for these children with very little $. They use their own $ and time and are dedicated even with little salary to help. Some of you have said that public education is not what it should be. How can it be when our schools in Utah have the lowest funding per student in the entire United States (we are sometimes tied with Idaho)? Our most priceless possession (our children) need to be TOP priority. We don’t need to raise taxes; just make education our TOP priority. My husband’s opponent wants to cut funding for public schools. How can we improve our public schools if there is no $ to get the best teachers, supplies, facilities, etc.?
Also the legislature this year cut 12% funding for UVU; our GEM in the middle of Orem even though UVU has been growing by about 10% per year for several years. UVU is the lowest funded higher education school in Utah. My husband’s opponent voted for this funding cut for UVU even though it is in his district.
As we walk around your neighborhoods, I talk to each person at the door and tell them that my dear husband is a moderate, and he is getting support from moderate Republicans, Democrats and Independents. As I mention that we need cooperation from all groups to come to the MIDDLE of the spectrum and WORK TOGETHER to provide the best legislation for this state and especially our Orem, many of you nod your heads “YES, YES!!” Now is the time to swing the pendulum back towards the MIDDLE. As I talk to you I see a light shining with a new hope that maybe all of us can work together for the good of our great state and city. I feel, and many of you agree, that with just a one-party system, we just get one set of ideas. Instead of getting ideas and input from many people across the spectrum, we just get a one-sided view. Special interest groups can get into the system and influence the one-party system. This can work for either left or right. We need a MULTI-PARTY system where there are ideas and strengths from all sides, where there are CHECKS and BALANCES and ACCOUNTABILITY!! “YAY!” I shout! Maybe we can all play together once more for the good of the whole!!
Alan Keele is very BRIGHT, ENERGETIC, HONEST, HARD WORKING with HIGH INTEGRITY AND ENTHUSIASM TO BRING A NEW LIGHT TO THE LEGISLATURE.
PLEASE VOTE FOR ALAN KEELE ON NOVEMBER 2.
and PLEASE SHARE THIS MESSAGE WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS INVITING THEM by phone or email or facebook TO VOTE ON NOVEMBER 2 FOR A NEW FUTURE IN THE LEGISLATURE BY VOTING for ALAN KEELE
And look at all the other postings on: www.AlanKeeleforUtahHouse.blogspot.com
Friday, October 8, 2010
How secure are you in your home in Utah now?
NEWSFLASH!
Leading Utah “Conservatives” Pass Bill Allowing More Government Intrusion Into Our Lives!
“SAY, WHAT?”
(This posting is going to look a little like the beginning of a cheap mystery novel): Earlier this morning I heard the doorbell ring. I was getting dressed, so my wife went to the door, returning with a large envelope addressed to Alan Keele. An unidentified person had dropped it off at the door.
Inside I found a complete dossier on a case I had known about for some time and had been following on-line, but here were all the facts in the case, carefully collected into one file, with the salient points underlined in red. Clearly, someone who knows a lot about this matter wanted me to get busy and inform the voters in District 60 about it. I agree that we ought to be well-informed voters, so here goes:
The case involves a recent House of Representatives bill (HB 150 of 2010, which failed once, then finally passed and was signed into law by Gov. Herbert), sponsored by Rep. Brad Daw (and sponsored in the Senate by Margaret Dayton). HB 150 essentially deletes from prior law the requirement for a judge to issue a search warrant before anyone’s personal e-mail, cell-phone messages, or other electronic communications can be accessed by the authorities.
This means that in Utah it is now legal for any official – a prosecutor or police officer, for example – to access your communications from your service providers without a judge first issuing a search warrant. The bill was aimed at sex offenders who use the internet to troll for victims. We certainly want to prosecute all such offenders, but it seems logical that any judge would certainly gladly issue a warrant for their e-mails if there were probable cause. And a judge would be far less likely to want to go on a broad fishing expedition against ordinary e-mail users.
But this Daw-Dayton bill takes the judiciary out of the process, essentially undermining the protections guaranteed in the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution against unreasonable searches and seizures. Without the need for a judge to decide whether probable cause exists, it’s easy to imagine how easily such an arrangement can be abused. (The bill originally would have allowed police to search for any felony, not just child sex offenders, but the notion of any felony was eventually removed in order to get the votes to pass the bill.)
Though vigilance against sex offenders using electronic communications is laudable, it is evident that passing such a broad bill probably constitutes overreach.
Certainly the 6th Circuit Court has ruled that lack of a proper warrant and lack of probable cause for the disclosure of e-mails from an Internet Service Provider is unconstitutional. See:
http://www.ca6.uscourts.gov/opinions.pdf/08a0252p-06.pdf
(By the way, since it increases the number of requests for access, this is also unnecessarily burdensome to Internet Service Providers and other such companies, who don't get paid for searching their systems and delivering information to government agencies.)
Here are a few links for further reading and viewing on the subject:
(Even non-partisan conservative sites like Grass Roots consider the Daw/Dayton bill unconstitutional):
http://www.utahgrassroots.org/annual/2010/
(Owners of Internet companies like X-Mission’s Pete Ashdown are also very concerned):
http://peteashdown.org/journal/2010/04/14/to-republican-and-democrat-state-delegates/
Here's an illuminating Fox New report on the bill:
www.fox13now.com/.../kstu-utah-ags-subpoena-powers-could-be-expanded,0,5376666.story -
Here's a posting by Connor Boyack:
www.connorboyack.com/.../the-unwarranted-expansion-of-administrative-subpoenas-in-utah
Here's even one by the Libertarian Party head Andrew McCullough, a constitutional lawyer:
http://www.kued.org/productions/voteutah/fsm/transcripts/fsm-McCullough.pdf
A number of others can be viewed if you google: administrative subpoenas attorney general utah
My view is that the State has better places to spend our tax money – helping educate our youngsters better, paying public employees better, helping to create more jobs, and generally using the money more wisely – than to be giving it to lawyers to defend unconstitutional bills in court, only to have them inevitably overturned.
Whether it’s guns made in Utah and supposedly exempt from federal background checks on firearm purchasers (Margaret Dayton’s recent Senate Bill 11); an immigration bill (being written now by Rep. Steven Sandstrom) based on the controversial and costly Arizona law which was already essentially overturned by a judge; or this intrusion-into-our-privacy bill sponsored by the Daw and Dayton duo, we shouldn’t have to be wasting our tax money defending irresponsible bills in court!
A true conservative, in my view, would stand up for our Fourth Amendment rights to be free from searches and seizures in our homes. And true conservatives would not want to waste money defending such unconstitutional bills!
I’d like to know how you see it. Write me at akeele@gmail.com.
Thanks! Alan Keele
Leading Utah “Conservatives” Pass Bill Allowing More Government Intrusion Into Our Lives!
“SAY, WHAT?”
(This posting is going to look a little like the beginning of a cheap mystery novel): Earlier this morning I heard the doorbell ring. I was getting dressed, so my wife went to the door, returning with a large envelope addressed to Alan Keele. An unidentified person had dropped it off at the door.
Inside I found a complete dossier on a case I had known about for some time and had been following on-line, but here were all the facts in the case, carefully collected into one file, with the salient points underlined in red. Clearly, someone who knows a lot about this matter wanted me to get busy and inform the voters in District 60 about it. I agree that we ought to be well-informed voters, so here goes:
The case involves a recent House of Representatives bill (HB 150 of 2010, which failed once, then finally passed and was signed into law by Gov. Herbert), sponsored by Rep. Brad Daw (and sponsored in the Senate by Margaret Dayton). HB 150 essentially deletes from prior law the requirement for a judge to issue a search warrant before anyone’s personal e-mail, cell-phone messages, or other electronic communications can be accessed by the authorities.
This means that in Utah it is now legal for any official – a prosecutor or police officer, for example – to access your communications from your service providers without a judge first issuing a search warrant. The bill was aimed at sex offenders who use the internet to troll for victims. We certainly want to prosecute all such offenders, but it seems logical that any judge would certainly gladly issue a warrant for their e-mails if there were probable cause. And a judge would be far less likely to want to go on a broad fishing expedition against ordinary e-mail users.
But this Daw-Dayton bill takes the judiciary out of the process, essentially undermining the protections guaranteed in the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution against unreasonable searches and seizures. Without the need for a judge to decide whether probable cause exists, it’s easy to imagine how easily such an arrangement can be abused. (The bill originally would have allowed police to search for any felony, not just child sex offenders, but the notion of any felony was eventually removed in order to get the votes to pass the bill.)
Though vigilance against sex offenders using electronic communications is laudable, it is evident that passing such a broad bill probably constitutes overreach.
Certainly the 6th Circuit Court has ruled that lack of a proper warrant and lack of probable cause for the disclosure of e-mails from an Internet Service Provider is unconstitutional. See:
http://www.ca6.uscourts.gov/opinions.pdf/08a0252p-06.pdf
(By the way, since it increases the number of requests for access, this is also unnecessarily burdensome to Internet Service Providers and other such companies, who don't get paid for searching their systems and delivering information to government agencies.)
Here are a few links for further reading and viewing on the subject:
(Even non-partisan conservative sites like Grass Roots consider the Daw/Dayton bill unconstitutional):
http://www.utahgrassroots.org/annual/2010/
(Owners of Internet companies like X-Mission’s Pete Ashdown are also very concerned):
http://peteashdown.org/journal/2010/04/14/to-republican-and-democrat-state-delegates/
Here's an illuminating Fox New report on the bill:
www.fox13now.com/.../kstu-utah-ags-subpoena-powers-could-be-expanded,
Here's a posting by Connor Boyack:
www.connorboyack.com/.../the-unwarranted-expansion-of-administrative-
Here's even one by the Libertarian Party head Andrew McCullough, a constitutional lawyer:
A number of others can be viewed if you google: administrative subpoenas attorney general utah
My view is that the State has better places to spend our tax money – helping educate our youngsters better, paying public employees better, helping to create more jobs, and generally using the money more wisely – than to be giving it to lawyers to defend unconstitutional bills in court, only to have them inevitably overturned.
Whether it’s guns made in Utah and supposedly exempt from federal background checks on firearm purchasers (Margaret Dayton’s recent Senate Bill 11); an immigration bill (being written now by Rep. Steven Sandstrom) based on the controversial and costly Arizona law which was already essentially overturned by a judge; or this intrusion-into-our-privacy bill sponsored by the Daw and Dayton duo, we shouldn’t have to be wasting our tax money defending irresponsible bills in court!
A true conservative, in my view, would stand up for our Fourth Amendment rights to be free from searches and seizures in our homes. And true conservatives would not want to waste money defending such unconstitutional bills!
I’d like to know how you see it. Write me at akeele@gmail.com.
Thanks! Alan Keele
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