The winners and the losers

Loser: The House voted this week to extend jobless benefits for 13 weeks — but only in states with unemployments rates of 8.5 percent or higher. Utah's rate is hovering around the 6 percent mark, but every out-of-work Utahn is just as out of work as someone from a state with a higher unemployment rate. This kind of inequity is outrageous. The Senate ought to insist that extra benefits be extended to all or none.

Winner: Only 9.1 percent of Utahns smoke, according to the state Department of Health. That's the lowest level ever, and it's good news. As the editorial above notes, it will lead to fewer health problems overall. Naturally, lawmakers will use this figure to wonder whether an increase in cigarette taxes would yield much revenue. That shouldn't stop them from acting, however. Higher taxes would reduce smoking rates further, while still bringing in some needed money during hard times. There is no down side.

Loser: In a recent survey most medical school deans said they were aware of medical students who put pictures of drug paraphernalia or private patient information on Facebook or other similar sites. Others posted photos that, to put it delicately, showed disrespect for cadavers. We're guessing a few expulsions would get the message across effectively that this is inappropriate.