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Show !MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1999 PAGE3 UNIVERSITY JOURNAL CAMPUS NEWS Public lands topic of riven panel discussion BY GRACE BOYER SENIOR STAFF WRITER Shouts of · we demand your resignation!" and "Traitor to Utah!" greeted Utah Gov. Michael Leavitt, his wife and members of his staff Friday as they went to lunch during the Utah Rural Summit hosted by SUU. Protesters, holding signs which claimed "Leavitt is cheating on Utah by having affairs with the '$ecretary'" and "In God we trust, in Leavitt we don't," asserted that Leavitt was part of a pattern of deception regarding the future of public lands in Utah. Leavitt had just participated in a panel discussion on the future of public lands. · He, Sally Wisely, state director for the Bureau of Land Management, and Anne Kennedy, deputy undersecretary for forestry for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, fielded questions from various local governmelilt officials and representatives of concerned citizen groups. Rod Decker, KUTY political correspondent. moderated. Issues such as restrictions on logging beetle-devastated forests, closure of roads and trails in the Grand StaircaseEscalante National Monument and contradictory promises and statements by Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt were discussed. Babbitt and Forest Service Chief Michael Dombeck had originally been scheduled to participate on the panel. After the panel concluded, wilderness advocate Mary Stults, of Cedar City, ·questioned why several areas were left vulnerable to development. "This is 1999," she said. "By the year 2050, we have no idea what kind of development will be going on ... we don't know what our ecological resources mean to us.· Representatives of the Republican Assembly of Southern Utah say they want Leavitt's resignation because he has reversed his stand on federal intervention in Utah. They say that they see the governor working in league with Babbitt to sell out the Utah rural businessman. Evan Reeves. of Escalante, said that he is opposed to the way President Bill Clinton illegally set up the monument. He said that the current management plan actually limits viewing access because of closed roads, and hurts the local eonomy in the process. "That land doesn't need to be put into Utah Gov. Michael 0 . Leavftt (left) participates in a panel discussion with Eileen wilderness ... [they are] trying to Kennedy (left center) , deputy undersecretary of forestry for the U.S. Department of eliminate all the cattle off of the land , Agriculture, Sally Wisely, state director for the Bureau of Land Management, and which is the livelihood of most of the Rod Decker, KUTV news political correspondent. people of that area. along with the logging and everything.• Fellow Escalante resident Shane Steed said, · we are getting taken over home, school and business," thus High-speed, high-capacity Internet by the government.· A millwright by placing Utah squarely in the digital access could be a reality in rural Utah trade, Steed also ranches and farms for crossroads of the nation. soon, if a plan presented by Utah Gov. a living. "It'll put a classroom in every kitchen,· Michael 0 . Leavitt is realized. He says his job is already jeopardized he said. In his luncheon remarks Friday during by environmentalists. The system would also allow small the final day of the Utah Rural Summit, "They're closing roads right now on the rural businesses to compete in a global hosted by SUU , Leavitt outlined an forest," he said, "and the economy. ambitious program designed to entice environmentalists appeal all the sales.· Leavitt said telecommunications telecommunications companies to install During the luncheon following the companies would have the option of cable systems in remote areas of the panel, Leavitt addressed some of the paying for Interstate corridor access state in return for access to the state's landowner concerns. instead of "filling in the holes" in the Interstate highway corridors. He explained a 10-point program which state's telecommunications systems. Leavitt, admitting that his plan might he said would create certainty in public He did not explain what price the state not be perfect, said that it had come land management and could produce would charge, nor how he planned to together in his mind during his undouble the progress while cutting costs devise the pricing structure. precedented three-day, "Capitol for a by half. However, he emphasized that access . Day" sweep of rural Utah with his entire Calling for a · rational, common sense to state and local road corridors would cabinet and Lt. Gov. Olene Walker in approach," the governor's plan would remain free to telecommunicators, tow. include guarantees for designated roads beyond the usual one-time permit fee. it would · make Utah a Saying that and state financial support for counties digital state," Leavitt hoped his plan which are embroiled in road ligitation -Grace Boyer would provide Internet access to · every against the federal government. Fast 'net access possible Graham visits SUU, focuses on various issues Graham said that because the governor was not required to be a lawyer she had concerns about the legal decision-making po~er being vested in that office. It had been the only law of its kind in the nation until it Utah Attorney General Jan Graham addressed the . was modified to give most of the decisionstate's successful law suit against tobacco making power back to the office of the companies and the power struggle between attorney general, Graham said. her office and the governor's office during her "The people of Utah·can rest assured that visit to SUU on Thursday. the historic independence that has existed in Graham was on campus as a guest of the Utah attorney general's office for over 100 SUU's Center for Politics and Public Service, years is back," Graham said. which sponsored the event. Graham also addressed Utah's politics. "I The nation's fight against the tobacco think the public is misinforrned·about political companies was one of the main issues issues,· she said. Graham said that political Graham addressed. She said that Utah was issues need to be out in the public domain. the ~th state to file a law suit against the Graham said that many people in the tobacco companies. Utah's suit was filed in legislator don't represent the public's views, September 1996. but represent -a more conservative view. As a result of the law suit, Utah won almost Graham said that some of the legislators' $1 billion from the tobacco industry. It will be ~ views on handguns are a perfect example of paid over the next 25 years. As partial this. · payment, about $45 million will be paid before ~ Voters should ask themselves if the person June 2000. ~ they're voting for represents their views Graham said that this is the largest funding instead of thinking about what party to which opportunity ever for Utah. · we are about to ~ they belong, ~raham said. witness a fascinating political debate about _..,... ...__...._..._........"fL..__::~~;....;;;.:.....oiii=lilldlr.::.i...:..:.i...::..d...a~~ This was the first of a series of speeches that who gets the money," she said. will be presented at SUU, which are Utah Attorney General Jan Graham adresses issues ranging from the lawsuit Graham urged that those who would like to sponsored by SUU's Center for Politics and against tobacco companies to the power stmggle between her office and the offer input on where the money should go Public Service, said Julie Rowell, the center's governor's office during her visit to SUU on Thursday. Graham came as a should call their legislator and the governor's public relations chair. . .. .. • • .. guest of SUU's Center for Politics and Public Service. office. BY TYLER JOHNSON JOURNAL STAFF WRITER Graham also discussed House Bill 139, which was passed this February and took all of the decision-making power on several legal issues away from the Office of the Attorney General and placed the power with the governor's office. 8 a \. |