Ten Things You Need to Know Today - Monday, November 16, 2015

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Monday, November 16, 2015 - 3:15pm

Utah Policy

Good Monday morning from Salt Lake City. There are 45 days left in 2015.

French warplanes launch airstrikes in response to the Paris attacks. At least 4 Utah Senators will not run for re-election in 2016. A judge backs off his order removing a baby from the care of a lesbian foster couple.

The clock:

70 days to the opening day of the 2016 Utah Legislature - (1/25/2016)
77 days to the 2016 Iowa Caucus - (2/1/2016)
85 days to the 2016 New Hampshire Primary (tentative) - (2/9/2016)
116 days to the final day of the 2016 Utah Legislature - (3/10/2016)
127 days to the Utah Republican and Democratic caucus meetings (3/22/2016)
159 days to the Utah Republican and Democratic State Conventions (4/23/2016)
226 days to the 2016 Utah primary election - (6/28/2016)
358 days until the 2016 presidential election - (11/8/2016)

Monday's top-10 headlines:

French warplanes launch a furious assault on ISIS targets in Syria following the horrific coordinated attacks in Paris on Friday night. Meanwhile police arrest suspects in the raids in France and Belgium [Washington Post, New York Times, Politico].
Utahns hold vigils across the state to mourn the dead and support the survivors of the attacks in Paris [Tribune, Deseret News, KUTV, Fox 13, ABC 4].
Hillary Clinton is taking heat for somehow invoking the 9/11 attacks and playing the gender card to justify campaign donations from Wall Street during the Democratic debate on Saturday night. Maybe it's a good thing for her the debate got poor ratings [The Guardian, Politico].
Get ready for abortion to become a campaign issue in 2016 as the Supreme Court agrees to hear a challenge to a restrictive Texas abortion law [Politico, New York Times, U.S. News and World Report].
At least 4 Utah senators will not be running for re-election next year, which may have House members looking to move up [Utah Policy].
A Utah judge backs off his order removing a foster child from the care of a lesbian couple [Deseret News, Tribune, Fox 13].
The LDS Church clarifies their new policy toward same-sex couples and their children [Tribune, Fox 13, KUER].
House Speaker Greg Hughes is miffed Gov. Gary Herbert won't call a special session to fix Utah's way of selecting state school board candidates [Tribune].
Utah Transit Authority chairman H. David Burton blames public backlash against the agency for the failure of Prop. 1 in Salt Lake and Utah counties on election day [Deseret News].
Republican gubernatorial candidate Jonathan Johnson unveils his proposal for fixing the Medicaid expansion gap [Deseret News].

On this day in history:

1864 - Union General William T. Sherman and his troops began their "March to the Sea" during the Civil War.
1907 - Oklahoma became the 46th state.
1914 - Intended to serve as a "lender of last resort," the New York Fed opened for business.
1973 - President Richard Nixon authorized the construction of the Alaska Pipeline with the signing of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act.

Today At Utah Policy

A Wave of Coming Senate Retirements Could Have House Members Looking to Move Up
By Bob Bernick
Ten Utah House members enter 2016 with an interesting decision to make – do they want to run for the state Senate?...

Utah Policy/KSL Insider Survey: Will a Constitutional Convention Happen?
By Bryan Schott
Last week, Utah played host to legislators from 30 states to discuss a possible state-led constitutional convention to consider a balanced budget amendment. Our "Political Insiders" are split along party lines whether this is a good idea....

Bishop Drops Some Weight, Wants the World to Know About It
By Golden Webb
Rep. Rob Bishop's press secretary sent out an email Friday drawing attention to the fact that the newly-svelte congressman has shed over 60 pounds since January....

Hatch, Once a Champion of TPP, Now Its Main Hurdle
By Golden Webb
Sen. Orrin Hatch helped Pres. Obama push through the Pacific Rim trade deal over congressional objections earlier this year, but now he may block its implementation due to concerns about how the accord will impact drug makers' monopoly protections abroad....

Cunningham to Run for Senate District 10 Seat
By Bryan Schott
Representative Rich Cunningham (R-South Jordan) announced that he is officially entering the race for Senate District 10. ...

Policy News

Gov. Herbert Orders Flags Lowered for Paris Victims
Gov. Gary R. Herbert has authorized the lowering of the flag of the United States of America and the flag of the State of Utah to honor the victims of the terrorist attack in Paris, France....

Press Release: MIB Partners - A Full-Service Government Relations Firm - Launches
Political veterans Steve Mecham, Eric Isom and Steve Barth combined their more than 80 years of experience in government and public policy to launch MIB Partners LLC, a strategic communications, lobbying and consulting firm. MIB is a full-service firm emphasizing technology,...

USTAR Executive Director to join Air Force Studies Board
Ivy Estabrooke, executive director of the Utah Science Technology and Research Agency, has been selected to participate on the Air Force Studies Board at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, which will produce a report on “The Role of Experimen...

Hatch Statement on Attacks in Paris
Senator Orrin Hatch, the senior Republican in the United States Senate, issued the following statement regarding the attacks in Paris:...

Wingpointe Golf Course Finalizes Closure Process
The Wingpointe Golf Course will close at the end of business on Sunday, November 15. The golf course property will be returned to the Salt Lake City Department of Airports by the end of December 2015....

Utah Board of Regents Approves U's Center for Law and Biomedical Sciences
The state Board of Regents granted permanent approval of the Center for Law and Biomedical Sciences at the S.J. Quinney College of Law....

Hatch, Wyden Seek Input on How to Improve Medicaid Reporting Requirements
Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) sent a letter to Medicaid stakeholders seeking input on improving the quality, efficiency, transparency and accountability of the program. ...

Governor Appoints Lynn Hemingway to Utah House of Representatives
Gov. Gary R. Herbert has signed an official letter to appoint Lynn Hemingway to the Utah House of Representatives. Hemingway will serve in District 40 and will replace former State Representative Justin Miller....