Local News Highlights: Daily Briefing
What You Need to Know About Utah Politics Today - February 10, 2014
Increased education funding actually went to retirement or healthcare costs. Plan to hike registration fees on alternative fuel vehicles runs into some opposition.
Countdown:
•31 days until the final day of the 2014 Legislature
•134 days until Utah's 2014 primary elections
•267 days to the 2014 midterm elections
•630 days to the 2015 elections
•695 days until the 2016 Iowa Caucuses
•1001 days to the 2016 presidential election
Today's Utah political news highlights:
•Most of the money allocatedby lawmakers to boost per-pupil spending last year actually went to the stateretirement system or rising healthcare costs [Tribune].
•Utah schools look to boost technology use in the classroom [Tribune].
•Lawmakers consider making some changes to the state's controversial school-grading law [Deseret News].
•Rep. Curt Oda wants to preserve gun rights for people convicted of some "white-collar" felonies [Tribune].
•A state study suggests Utah's liquor laws may lead to more people drinking at home [Tribune].
•Natalie Gochnour argues in favor of hiking Utah's gas tax [Deseret News].
•A bill by Sen. Wayne Harper would hike registration fees on alternative fuel vehicles, prompting some cries of outrage [Tribune]. Harper says his bill is not meant to discourage people from purchasing electric or natural gas powered cars [Utah Policy].
•Sen Brian Shiozawa introduces legislation to keep USTAR's funding following a critical audit while increasing accountability and transparency [Utah Policy].
•A state audit says the Attorney General's office could do a better job tracking it's fleet of vehicles [Tribune].
•Rep. Chris Stewart's rising profile in Congress means he's expected to contribute funds to help other Republicans get elected [Tribune].
•Backers of of the "Count My Vote" initiative to change Utah's nominating system are not happy with Sen. Curt Bramble's bill which would essentially nullify their efforts [Daily Herald]. Bramble says his bill would be a compromise between caucus supporters and "Count My Vote" [Utah Policy].
•Salt Lake City has to return $1.2 million to developers due toconflicting language in an ordinance on road fees [Tribune].
On this day in history:
•The Treaty of Paris ended the French and Indian War in 1763. France ceded Canada to England under terms of the treaty.
•Members of the LDS Church began their exodus west from Illinois in 1846.
•The Soviet Union exchanged captured spy plane pilot Francis Gary Powers for Soviet spy Rudolph Abel in 1962.
•The 25th Amendment, which deals with presidential succession, was ratified in 1967.
•North Korea announced it possessed nuclear weapons in 2005.
•Sen. Barack Obama kicked off his presidential campaign in Springfield, Illinois in 2007.
Bizarre, Crazy, Silly, Unknown Holidays & Observances
Clean Out Your Computer Day
*Plimsoll Day
Shrovetide
Westminster Dog Show
