SALT LAKE CITY - Bob Springmeyer, the good jobs, good education, good health, good government candidate for Utah governor, today called Utah Republican leaders a “disgrace to capitalism.” Springmeyer an economist and management consultant drew attention to a crisis caused by “wrongheaded energy and farm policies” supported by Utah Republican leaders.
- In the last year, the price of corn has risen 70 percent; wheat 55 percent; rice 160 percent.
- The second largest employer in Sanpete County is to suspend operations because of high feed prices and as many as 675 layoffs will occur.
Instead of accepting their full share of responsibility, Hatch, Bishop and Governor Huntsman are just making it worse by supporting the tangle of subsidies, mandates and tariffs to encourage the production of biofuels. According to the World Bank, almost all of the growth in global corn production from 2004 to 2007 was devoted to American ethanol production — pushing up corn and animal feed prices and prompting farmers to switch from other crops to corn.
In response to the Moroni Feed announcement to suspend operations because of high feed costs, Huntsman just offered subsidized loans and more “corporate hand-outs” - wrongheaded actions which will create more market disruptions and unintended consequences.
Granted, some of the rising cost of food, energy and fertilizer are out of governments’ control, including flooding in the mid-west, droughts in California, and higher consumption in China and India, but the real problem is using food for fuel - fuel that is 70% used for individual transportation.
So far there is no sign that Huntsman and other Utah Republican leaders are ready to step up and do what is needed. They have refused to curtail bio-fuel subsidies, lavish farm subsidies or corporate giveaways.
Springmeyer has operated his own management consulting business for 30 years. The company, Bonneville Research, specializes in strategic planning and economic development. Springmeyer was born in Provo and raised in Ogden and Sugarhouse. He attended the University of Utah where he earned degrees in economics and political science.
Springmeyer has a long record of working to make Utah communities better places to live. At the recent State Democratic Convention, Springmeyer was nominated to be his party's standard bearer by 88 percent of the vote. Josie Valdez was nominated to run as his lieutenant governor.
In response to the Moroni Feed announcement to suspend operations because of high feed costs, Huntsman just offered subsidized loans and more “corporate hand-outs” - wrongheaded actions which will create more market disruptions and unintended consequences.
Granted, some of the rising cost of food, energy and fertilizer are out of governments’ control, including flooding in the mid-west, droughts in California, and higher consumption in China and India, but the real problem is using food for fuel - fuel that is 70% used for individual transportation.
So far there is no sign that Huntsman and other Utah Republican leaders are ready to step up and do what is needed. They have refused to curtail bio-fuel subsidies, lavish farm subsidies or corporate giveaways.
Springmeyer has operated his own management consulting business for 30 years. The company, Bonneville Research, specializes in strategic planning and economic development. Springmeyer was born in Provo and raised in Ogden and Sugarhouse. He attended the University of Utah where he earned degrees in economics and political science.
Springmeyer has a long record of working to make Utah communities better places to live. At the recent State Democratic Convention, Springmeyer was nominated to be his party's standard bearer by 88 percent of the vote. Josie Valdez was nominated to run as his lieutenant governor.
12 comments:
Springmeyer has been able to hoodwink Utah cities and school districts into thinking that subsidizing retail is economic development, and he criticizes Republicans?
I wish someone would call him out on this.
Then grow some balls, sign your name, and call him on it.
SPRINGMEYER! I thought I would never hear this from a democrat!
You may just get my vote yet.
Looked in my dictionary for "discrace" and I couldn't find it. I'm assuming you mean "disgrace," however, you know what happens when you assume.
Thanks Thad, my bad
These political mice (not men) are "capitalists" in the mode that Adam Smith and Karl Marx were both correct to abhor.
Although Marx came to the wrong conclusions, his observations of the maladies, many of which we're experiencing today, were very accurate.
True capitalism must be mixed with morality, and when the rich get richer at the expense of the poor primarily because of the machinations of government, that's as immoral as it gets.
IN MY OPINION, comments like these are useful to score political points with voters that make decisions based on sound bites. This turns informed voters off.
Hindsight is 20/20. I'm sure Hatch, Bishop and Huntsman are proud things turned out the way they have being the evil Republicans that they are.
"So far there is no sign that Huntsman and other Utah Republican leaders are ready to step up and do what is needed. They have refused to curtail bio-fuel subsidies, lavish farm subsidies or corporate giveaways."
What are Springmeyer's ideas?
You may "curtail bio-fuel subsidies, lavish farm subsidies or corporate giveaways" but isn't that likely to may make gas prices even higher at least in the short term?
I would prefer Washington keep it's meddling hands out of it altogether.
Why were biofuels pushed so much? To reduce dependency on foreign oil maybe?
How else could we reduce that dependency? How about drilling in ANWR? How about off-shore drilling?
We do need alternatives but in the meantime why can't we extract some of our own resources? Why do Democrats usually oppose these plans?
Here's an idea; let the free market sort it out. It is already changing to do just that. Look at the trend towards conservation in the automotive market and the growth in public transportation.
Quite often Government intervention makes the situation worse, no matter which side of the aisle it comes from.
Go ahead, blame the Republicans, they deserve it.
But the Democrat leadership deserves it too. Haven't the democrats have had control of the congress since the 2006 election, where's their leadership and foresight?
Wonder why their approval rating is in the single digit?
By the way, how did Matheson vote on these issues? I don't know, just an honest question.
Hi Kevin, thanks for stopping by.
Hope you and your family is well.
I'll get back to you soon, but I did want to say hello as soon as I saw who was commenting.
Rob
About drilling in ANWAR and offshore drilling from my Party Lines column in the Clipper:
One solution out there comes from U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon who is urging Congress to require oil companies to use their drilling permits or lose them. Gordon cites a report from the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources that states that the federal government has issued thousands of leases that are not being used to drill on public land. According to this report, it is estimated from today’s production rates that 68 million acres of federal land that is leased, but not drilled, could nearly double total U.S. oil production and could increase gas production by more than 50 percent.
Rep. Gordon said, “If companies used the permits they are holding and increased domestic production, the United States could cut oil imports by one-third. Congress needs to send a message to oil companies and tell them they can’t just stockpile leases to artificially inflate oil prices.”
What do you think Kev?
Hi Rob:
I think there are no easy answers and that Springmeyer only blaming one side of the aisle is lame. Both parties stink on this issue.
A lease does not guarantee there is oil to be had. Not all lease holders are “big oil” with the deep pockets to drill. Even with a lease many still face opposition and lawsuits from environmental activists.
What happened to Pelosi's claims of a democratic party plan to reduce oil prices in 2006?
Here's what Barack's said:
improve auto efficiency 3% a year mandate, "easily achievable."
Subsidize Hybrids.
Replace oil with biofuel.
Gov’t support of renewable fuels.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rT0dfytgLwk&feature=related
Granted, he has some good ideas but they barely scratch the surface.
Republicans TALK THE TALK (We support our troops )
but when it come to WALKIING THE WALK, trip and fall on their faces.
________________________________
Veterans Issues
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2006 Senator Bennett supported the interests of the Disabled American Veterans 40 percent in 2006.
2006 In 2006 Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gave Senator Bennett a grade of D.
2006 Senator Bennett sponsored or co-sponsored 6 percent of the legislation favored by the The Retired Enlisted Association in 2006.
2005 Senator Bennett supported the interests of the Disabled American Veterans 17 percent in 2005.
2004 Senator Bennett supported the interests of the Disabled American Veterans 0 percent in 2004.
2004 Senator Bennett supported the interests of the The Retired Enlisted Association 0 percent in 2004.
2003-2004 Senator Bennett supported the interests of the Vietnam Veterans of America 100 percent in 2003-2004.
2003 Senator Bennett supported the interests of the The American Legion 100 percent in 2003.
2001 Senator Bennett supported the interests of the Vietnam Veterans of America 69 percent in 2001.
1999 Senator Bennett supported the interests of the Disabled American Veterans 33 percent in 1999.
1997-1998 Senator Bennett supported the interests of the Vietnam Veterans of America 17 percent in 1997-1998.
Who killed the electric car???
Wayne Holland Jr.
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