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Show 2 Thursday, March 12,2009 BULLETIN www.dailyutohchronicle.com All stories and photos from The Associated Press Obama OKs $41 OB bill—with earmarks 1 2 Thursday Partly Cloudy WASHINGTON—President Barack Obama, sounding weary of criticism over federal earmarks, defended Congress' pet projects Wednesday as he signed an "imperfect" $410 billion measure with thousands of examples. But he said the spending does need tighter restraint and listed guidelines to do it. Obama, accused of hypocrisy by Republicans for embracing billions of dollars of earmarks in the legislation, said they can be useful and noted that he has promised to curb, not eliminate thenx On another potentially controversial matter, the president also issued a "signing statement" with the bill, saying several of its provisions raised constitutional concerns and would be taken merely as suggestions. He has criticized President George W. Bush for often using such statements to claim the right to ignore portions of new laws, and on Monday he said his administration wouldn't follow those issued by Bush unless authorized by the new attorney general. White House officials have accused Bush of using the statements to get around Congress in pursuing anti-terror tactics. Obama signed the bill in private, unlike a number of recent signings that took place with fanfare, but he raised the issue of earmarks in public, playing down their scope and 1 3 Friday Partly Cloudy President Barack Obama leaves the podium after making remarks on earmark reform, Wednesday in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington. possible harm in the mea- cized them as overused sure. They comprise about and subject to abuse. Proposing new safe1 percent of the spending package, which will keep guards, he asked Conthe government running gress to require that any through September, he earmark for a for-profit company be subject to told reporters. "Done right, earmarks competitive bids. He also have given legislators the said he would work with opportunity to direct fed- Congress to eliminate eareral money to worthy proj- marks or other specific ects that benefit people in items in spending bills their districts. And that's that he believes serve no why I've opposed their out- legitimate purpose. But he right elimination," he said. did not specify how. Critics were unmoved. Still, the president acknowledged the storm of Obama "naively asked criticism from watchdog earmark addicts to police groups, talk show hosts and themselves," said Sen. Jim many Republican lawmak- DeMint, R-S.C. Lawmakers—including some who ers "trumpet their pork have obtained earmarks— on their Web sites and nowho call them wasteful and body believes we will have politically motivated. They public hearings on pet are special provisions ear- projects," he said. marking money in spending Presidents can ask Conbills for specific projects. gress to rescind various Obama, too, has criti- spending items. But the authority has little bite because lawmakers tend to ignore requests to undo their work. Sen. John McCain, Obama's GOP opponent in last year's election, wants to require Congress to vote on a president's rescission requests. Obama is open to such a change, spokesman Robert Gibbs said, but has not proposed it. "It doesn't,do anybody any good to send up a rescissions package," Gibbs said, if it^'becomes a piece of paper in somebody's file drawer." Congress has wrestled for years with how to regulate earmarks, the targeted spending items for construction projects, weapons systems, research grants and thousands of other programs sought by Senate and House members. temporary building near Red Butte en said there will be a few times Garden until a new building can be when about 200 vehicles will need constructed. space. from Page 1 Building construction will be "Right now, the intent is to park traffic of people driving and now held off until some utility work on bn-site or on the old tennis courts," water pipelines and electrical out-. he said. "They have been convertwqtaacne road less." The four-building complex will fitting under the proposed pedes- ed for contractor parking." Kay said if it gets too bad, he house researchers from the USTAR trian walkway and Central Camplans to take the bus and leave program, which was funded by pus Drive can be completed. the Utah Legislature nearly three Christensen said construction transportation to shuttles, which years ago to stimulate economic workers will finish road work by will most likely go around to North development through research. the end of the year. The first build- Campus Drive when Federal Way Michael Kay, assistant dean of fi- ing's completion date is tentatively is closed. nance and planning for the College set for fall 2011. "Fortunately, we do live in a of Engineering, said even though However, some faculty, staff and time where we can get transportathe college will be impacted by the students who commute by car are tion," Kay said. "It may be cold, but two-year construction project, the concerned about the parking situ- at least I can get through. All the U needs the new buildings because ation. buses stop in front of the Warnock it's already tight on space. The construction crews will Building." "It'll be a challenge for us, but avoid any parking lots along Cenl.groves@ we're a little battle-hardened al- tral Campus Drive, but Christenschronicle.utah.edu ready since the Warnock Building took over parking space," Kay said. "It was a challenge on days when CROSSWORD SPONSOR we lost the other roads, but I'll get in here whether I have to walk or Frustrated with the BCS? not. This new space is critically Show it on your chest! needed—there's been so much growth." USTAR researchers, who have been trickling into the U during the past two years, have been using vacated research offices and a BUY T-SHIRTS AT FEDERAL StoptheBcS.com Brinkman said. "Were it not for the stimulus, things would be a lot worse." Sen. John Valentine, R-Orem, who was responsible for the oversight of fund allocation within the Legislature, was unavailable for comment. "Some legislators are optimistic, some are pessimistic," said Steve Allred, the deputy director for the Office of the. Legislative Fiscal Analyst. "The opinion on the stimulus is pretty broad." Cantrell drew from history to prove his point. "Thomas Jefferson said, 'The price of freedom is eternal vigilance,1" he said. "That's certainly true with budget matters." t.lowe@ chronicle.utah.edu Utah 49/30 • Spring Semester 2009 academic deadline: Last day to drop (delete) second session classes . • Legislative Wrap-Up: noon to 1 p.m. @ Hinckley Caucus Room, OSH Room255 • Gymnastics vs. Florida: 7 p.m. @ Huntsman Center • Modern Dance Senior Concert 1: 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. @ Hayes Chris,tensen Theatre , , •• 1 4 Saturday 50/36 Partly Cloudy • India Night: Rang Barse: 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. @ Union Ballroom • Year of Astronomy Film Festival: 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. @ Union Theater • Modern Dance Senior Concert 1:7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. @ Hayes Christensen Theatre • Art Now: Recent Work by the U of U Art and Art History Faculty: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. @ Utah Museum of Fine Arts , • ~' ;. , WORLD Rising navy, assertiveness behind US-China flap BEIJING—The Chinese Defense Ministry has demanded that the U.S. Navy end surveillance missions off China's southern coast following a weekend confrontation between an American vessel and Chinese ships. In itsfirstpublic comment on the Sunday episode, the ministry repeated earlier statements from the Foreign Ministry that the unarmed U.S. ship was operating illegally inside China's exclusive economic zone when it was challenged by three Chinese government ships and two Chinese-flagged trawlers. U.S. Feds spending millions on Kennedy legacy in Mass. BOSTON—More than one out of everyfivedollars of the $126 million Massachusetts is receiving in earmarks from a $410 billion federal spending package is going to help preserve the legacy of the Kennedys. The bill includes $5.8 million for the planning and design of a building to house a new Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the Senate. The funding might also help support an endowment for the institute. The bill also includes $22 million to expand facilities at the John E Kennedy^ Presidential Library & Museum and $5 million more fox a new gateway to the Boston Harbor Islands on the Rose Kennedy Greenway, a park system in downtown Boston named after Kennedy's mother and built on land opened up by the Big Dig highway project. UTAH $8<)iK approved for immigration strike force The Utah Legislature has approved spending $891,000 to create a strike force that would focus on combatting violent crimes and other major felonies associated with illegal immigration. House Bill 64, sponsored by Rep. Brad Dee, R-Ogden, won final approval in the House and Senate on Wednesday. It would authorize the Utah attorney general's office to coordinate the force, which would include multiple local law enforcement agencies. Federal immigration and customs officers would also be allowed to participate in the strike force. Corrections J , ^ . and Clarifications Clarification: In the March 11 story, "Sustainability fee passes temporarily; ASUU must reconcile versions of bill," Student Body President Patrick Reimherr is quoted as saying, "I don't need student input to propose a fee increase"..."I have the power to do it without." The second part of this statement was actually said in a meeting with the reporter a few days earlier. The policy of The Daily Utah Chronicle is to correct any error made as soon as possible. If you find something you would like clarified or find unfair, please contact the editor at 801-581-8317. DAILY UTAH CHRONICLE Advertising 801-581-7041 News801-581-NEWS Fax 801-581-FAXX continued from Page 1 Chronic 47/30 • Internal Medicine Grand Rounds: 7:45 a.m. t o 8:45 a.m. @ Health Sciences' **>\ Center East Visitors Terrace ^ •".^:' f V; •.•:'•>;•'-.-':'. '.-" : . " : i • Honors College Talent Showcase; 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. @ Libby Gardner Hall, . ; Room 270 ; • Lecture on Sustainability:The Bottom Line of Green: 5 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. @ Christensen Center, Room 205 •,.'., , ;J USTAR Daily # Crossword ACROSS 1 Accomplish lots of things 6 Not fitting 11 Year St. Pius I died 14Sisterof Clio 15 Subject of the 2007 documentary 'An Unreasonable Man" l6"Norma " 17 Belief 18 Actor who received a 7-Down (1998, 2002, 2005-06) 20Popular breath mint 22 Bovine in old ads 23 material (sturdy fabric) 25 More red, maybe 28Re(dinv4ich things are looking up?: Abbr. 29 Orient 30 Singer/ songwriter who received a 7-Down (2002, 2004-06, 2008) 32 Some jazz combos 34 One with a long face? 35 Hot tub 36 Singer who received a 7-Down (2003) 39Tofu source 42 Moviemaking lamp 43 Pigment used in drawing 45 Singer/actress who received a 7-Down (19962002) 50 Difficult sort 51 Extract from a French bean? 52 Party list 53Terrier type 54Fromthetop 56 "Steamboat ." first ' Mickey Mouse cartoon 58 Comedian who received a 7-Down (200306) 61 Amalgam, e.g. 64 Onedimensional: Abbr. 65BobCratchrt's occupation 66 To a great extent 67 Switch positions 68 "It takes all 7 Annual entertainment honor 69Benders? 8 Navy chief: Abbr. DOWN 9 Bank of China 1 Acquire Tower architect 2lt's found in 10 Logician's veins drawing 3 Singer who 11 Piece of received a equipment 7-Down (2005) used in a 4 Eroded national sport SDrillers'org.? of Canada 6Nextto 12 Looseness Connecticut 13 Annoying types Avenue, say, on a Monopoly 19Bitofsnow 21 Song syllable board il1 S n o r t z EDITOR IN CHIEF: Dustin Gardiner PHOTO EDITOR: Tyler C o b b d.gardincr@chronfcie.utah.edu t.cobb@chronicle.utah.edu MANAGING EDITOR: Rachel Hanson ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR: Erik Daenitz e.daenitz@chronicle.utah.edu ONLINE PRESENTATIONS EDITOR: Daniel Mace d.mace@chronicleMtah.edu T.hanson@chronicle.utah.edu ASST. MANAGING EDITOR: Sara Copeland s.copeland@chronicle.utah.edu PRODUCTION MANAGER: Alyssa Bailey a.bailey@chronicle.utah.edu ASST. PRODUCTION MANAGER: David Buchi PAGE DESIGNER: Jaron Halford COPY EDITOR: Rebecca Saley NEWS EDITOR: Rochelle McConkle COPY EDITOR: Jessica Blake m.mcfall@chronicle.utah.edu ASST. NEWS EDITOR: Lana Groves l.groves@chronicle.utah.edu RED PULSE MAGAZINE EDITOR: Trevor H a l e , t.hale@chronicle.utah.edu PUZTLl BT D A W D I K A H N 42Funnyman Robert 44 Fraternity letter 45 Spanish devil 46 Enter cautiously 47Getstoknow 48Boonies 49 Sea slitherer 55 Small cut 57 Tall and thin , 59 Student at 41-Down 60 Door sign 62 Low digit 63 Football stat: ' Abbr. r.alpert@chronicle.utah.edu d.buchi@chronicle.utah.edu r.mcconkie@chronicle.utah.edu ASST. NEWS EDITOR: Michael McFall 23 Spurts from fountains 24 O.K. Corral fighter 26 Sen. course with graphs 27 Comedy standout 31 Unchanged 33 Hacienda room 37 Letter start 38 Achilles' weakness 39 Director who received a 7-Down (2007) 40 Like some hair 41 Columbia rival ASST. ONLINE EDITOR: Richard Alpert OPINION EDITOR: Craig Blake c.blqke@chronicle.utah.edu SPORTS EDITOR: Tony Pizza , t.pizza@chronicle.utah.edu ASST. SPORTS EDITOR: Chris Kamranl c.kamrani@chronicle.utah.edu COPY EDITOR: Mikelle Worwood ADVISER: Jim Fisher GENERAL MANAGER: Jake Sorensen j.sorensen@chronicle.utah.edu DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING: Tom Hurtado t.hurtado@chronicle.utah.edu ADV. PRODUCTION MANAGER: Natalie Dolllnger Thdollinger@chronicle.utah.edu ADV. DESIGNER: Karissa Greene k^reenc@chronicle. utah.edu ACCOUNTANT: Deanna Johnson d.johnson@chronicle.utah.edu CIRCULATION MANAGER: Jeff Suarez The Daily Utah Chronicle is an independent student newspaper published daily Monday through Friday during Fall and Spring Semesters {excluding test weeks and holidays) and once a week during Summer Semester. Chronicle editors and staff are solely responsible for the newspaper's content. Funding comes from advertising revenues and a dedicated student fee administered by the Publications Council. To respond with questions, comments or complaints, call SO1-581-7041 or visit www.daUyutahchroniclc.com. 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