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Show T Sunday, March 10, 19 1 996 legislative session was good for a few laughs The most frightening aspect of the recently concluded Utah State Legislature was that it is considered by its leaders as one of the most productive sessions ever convened on Capitol Hill. When Senate President R. Lane Beattie, Bountiful, and House Speaker Melvin R. offered that Brown, opinion, it was with great restraint that observers did not roll around on the floor laughing. While it is true that the legislature tackled a sweeping overhaul of the state welfare system and created the means to improve the crumbling highway system, there was quite a bit of wasted effort, as evidenced by the more than 200 bills that never made it to the the briar patch. And you know how well that chastened Br'er Rabbit. The Senate Education Committee, in a rare demonstration of common sense, tabled this bill. Designating a centennial star and state astronomical symbol. This was the first piece of legislation passed in both hous- - I Dsn THE DAILY HERALD, Provo, l uh Page A 17 Newest sanctions not likely to hurt Cuba By WAYNE S. SMITH Financial News Krtight-Ridd- Foreign investment has been had a similar experience in Januanother key element in Cuba's ary when a surge in demand economic recovery. pushed subscriptions to over 40 into entered firms have million Swiss francs. Foreign over 230 joint ventures with The company's chairman, Peter Cuban partners so far. More than Scott, noted that there is a have 60 foreign companies "strongly rising interest in the opened offices in Cuba. potential for Cuba." Some $2.5 billion has already All in all, then, 19 should be been pumped into the Cuban a good year for the recovering economy, with an even larger Cuban economy. Continued specamount committed, for a total sum ulation markets and small private busiamong some sectors in of ov er $5 billion. States concerning its United the nesses now flourish, the latter supA new law, near-teridual indiv on an but basis, collapse and that of the posedly will no doubt issued in in fact often employing several Castro government with it, is stimulate even more interest, people. simply delusional. as it does outright owneroffering The state sector of the economy Wayne 5. Smith, who has writship (rather than partnerships) and is being pared down, thus increasseveral books on Cuba, was ten various other new incentives. ing the pressures for expansion of chief of the U.S. Interests Section Sher-rit when Thus, for example, the private sector in order to in Havana from 1979 to 1982 and a formed Canada of recently absorb displaced state employees. is now a visiting professor at Thus, the next step in the separate company exclusively for Johns Hopkins University and stock reform process will probably be a its Cuba operations, its senior at the Center for :, fellow within were bought up law, now under offerings International Policy in 24 hours. discussion and expected out withBeta Gran Caribe in London in the next year. on appears to be that road. Internal reforms leading toward a mixed economy have been one element in Cuba's recovery. Farmers markets have been opened and the whole agricultural Artisan system decentralized. well-launch- er Events in February have led to relaa worsening of tions and the certain passage of the Helms-Burto- n bill designed to further squeeze the Cuban economy. However, the key sanctions outlined in Helms-Burto- n are of dubious legality and are unlikely to have significant impact on Cuba. Proponents of the legislation are wrong also in their belief that the Cuban economy is near collapse. Quite the contrary, while it had been virtually in a state of free-fa- ll for a number of years, it turned the corner in 1994 and is now beginning to recover. Last year, 1995, saw a growth rate of just over 2.5 percent, and in 19 the economy is expected to grow by at least 5 percent. The road to full recovery will be long and painful, but Cuba U.S.-Cub- foreign-investme- nt m mid-199- small-busine- 5, ss floor. Part of the problem w as the Clearing the Air amount of bonehead legislation that was allowed into the works. The legislature squandered countes, and the only one that was done less hours and dollars drafting, in the first w eek of the session, as researching and debating bills that Centennial celebrations dominatdefied common sense and gave ed the entire week. radio talk shows and Aside from astronomers, amacomedians fodder. teur and professional, and Boy The session Scouts seeking a mmm could have been stargazing merit more meaningful While it is badge, the public and productive if doesn't give a tacklegislature someone on the hoot about which over- star is Utah's. Rules Committee led a had said that cer- haul of The governor weltain proposed has signed this cre- one, but it is not bills were too sil- fare known if a comly to even be memorative pen considered, such crumimprove as: will be sent to the inhabitants Naming the bling highway sysBonneville Cutliving near the was throat trout as tem, star, which is a bit of the state fish. effort, 100 light-yeaM. David from Earth. Rep. by Jones, Maybe we could 200 bills put Lake Citv. moved more it in an envethis piece of fishy it to lope with a note never to have Capt. legislation TIOOr' Kirk on the because the cur- U.S.S. Enterprise rent titleholder, the Rainbow Trout, was transdrop it off while boldy going where no man has gone before. planted from California. Since many Utahns are CaliforDesignating a Utah Centennia transplants, the Rainbow Trout nial Tartan. For those who don't is the perfect state fish. know, a tartan is a colored cloth This bill passed in the House, used by Scots to declare their clan but was defeated in the Senate in affiliation. the waning moments of the sesSen. LeRay McAllister, advanced this bill to comsion, preventing action to revive a bill giving counties the d memorate the Skeene and Logan families, among Utah's first setability to levy sales taxes. to have tlers, and allow Urging Congress to cease fesScottish to wear to U.N. U under something troops putting tivals. The bill awaits the goverCommand. Rep. Don Bush, nor's signature. burned up an hour of floor time with this resolution. Sorry, but this could lead to Gov. Leavitt wearing kilts at pubBesides echoing the paranoid lic functions, and frankly, he rantings of right-win- g watchers, there are two probably doesn't have the legs for It. fundamental problems with Bush's effort: Requiring people ages 17-2- 0 1. The resolution carries as to get their parent's permission to get a tattoo. In its original much legal weight as the "Get Out of Jaii Free" card in Monoform, it said that 1 are old enough to leave year-old- s poly. 2. The U.S. Senate President is school, drive cars, vote for legislators and serve in the military, Vice President Al Gore, who but not old enough to decide if came in third with Bill Clinton in they could have a tattoo. Utah during the 1992 presidential The Senate amended Sen. race. It is unlikely he will be Charles H. Stewart's bill requiring swayed by the arguments of the those under 8 to obtain a note state's predominantly-Republica- n from Mom to have her name Legislature. indelibly inscribed on their bodBush managed to push this ies. The House did them one betthrough the House in a partisan and tabled it in the Rules ter vote, but the Senate Rules Comwhere it died when Committee, mittee wisely refused to let it see the session ended. the light of day in their chamber. The irony of the bill is that Allowing first cousins to is a cosmetic Stewart, marry. As if there wasn't enough who could stand to make surgeon to tease Utahns about, along a pile of money taking tattoos off comes Sen. Millie N. Peterson, children. Valley City, with her "kissDissolving the United States cousins" bill allowing infertile ing government if the National Debt family members to commit legal exceeds $6 trillion. This boner incest. was drafted by House Majority The genesis of this stinker was Whip Michael G. Waddoups, that a constituent had become Lake City, at the request of a "close" to her cousin but didn't constituent, earning both of them Wackos of have the car fare to drive to Colthe title "Right-win- g the Session" from the House orado or Arizona, where such Democratic Caucus. unions are legal. If Utah did threaten to secede, Instead of overhauling the law rest of the country would the and making "Utahn" and probably express the hope that the "inbred" synonyms, Peterson door does not swing back and hit should have just provided car fare the state on its posterior as it to Grand Junction, and maybe a leaves. little something for a cheap motel The resolution was introduced room. and never mentioned again, showBoth Houses passed the bill ing that Utah Republicans have a amendsliver of good sense embedded in along with a their skulls. ment to allow the Senate PresiInscribing "Vox Certa Pop-uli- " dent and House Speaker to perin the House chamber. Rep. form marriages. Speaker Brown V. Jensen, proShirley told reporters he didn't know if the Latin phrase inscribing posed be would Peterson's constituents for "The Certain Voice of the Peothe first to avail themselves of his ple" above the speaker's chair. new authority to perform marHowever, before the House voted to adopt it, the resolution riages. age was edited to "Vox Populi" by Lowering the drop-oto 14. Sen. Howard A. Stephen legislators to avoid people thinkthought this would son, ing the inscription meant "The Voice of Certain People." be a good idea for instilling order in the school, since Johnnny may Actually, given the influence of "that may be a more apt and down buckle lobbyists, study want to rather than not be in school with description of the driving force behind the Legislature. his buddies. Staff Writer Donald W. Meyers You'll remember this was the covered the 1996 annual session of when same logic Br'er Bear used I i'n .1 n D.kkil the ,1 Stnte legislature. Utah m m ci vaui'u pp wouia mrnw late-nig- ht true that n7 the c a t h D-S- (it 'JUKI ' no .' y m p h o n y sweeping the state system and ated the means to the there quite wasted as evidenced the than that made ue 'Mi". u; I. A '.iii r t i i s l.'-- a h non-Sco- ts black-helicopt- er 1 R-S- i "j.. l .';..! I - 'i' ji L. !! "' K n.-,'- -. , """"" J. rH , rs much-neede- ; ..J .M.l't 'All v to Don't miss the musical event of the year- - the Utah "I '.I Symphony Gala! The event takes place Monday, March 18 at 7 p.m. in Abravanel Hall. .mi This exciting concert will feature a 100 year history lfU jii' of British music by composers such as Elgar, Walton, ii Michael Ballam, soloist Vaughn-William- Hoist, Andrew Lloyd Webber and s, ?.. i' . jliiilll the Beatles. Guest soloists Michael Ballam and Jennifer Larson will be featured. Plus, ZCMI will present a 100 year 1 fashion retrospective with special guest Zhandra Rhodes, internationally renowned British designer. .MSI Jennifer Larson, soloist Ticket prices: $11, $15, $20, $25; family pass, $60 -: (reception following, $10). Purchase your tickets ' l . ,j .ill; i,- by calling 533-640- 7 or visit the Abravanel Hall i box office at 123 West South Temple. Of I i -- iip Zhandra Rhodes, vi;:: m I;,,;!' "io Designer The proceeds of this evening's concert will go to benefit ' , the Utah Symphony and is sponsored by ZCMI and the I.!.'." 'I i mi!. m ''! 'J'tit'.-i- Utah Symphony Guild. ''''' 'n't "ITV ii last-minu- te 1 '.'ll, QfJEGO ut Li ii h b it ZCMI on ft: |