Situational awareness - January 19, 2017

Situational awareness - January 19, 2017

Good Friday morning from Salt Lake City. 

Republicans race to avoid a government shutdown. Are caucus./convention supporters trying to confuse voters? Pence to hit the campaign trail for vulnerable Republicans in 2018.

Tick Tock:

• 3 days until the opening day of the 2018 Utah Legislature (1/22/2018)
• 48 days until the final day of the 2018 Utah Legislature (3/8/2018)
• 49 days until the filing period for candidates in the 2018 election opens (3/9/2018)
• 55 days until the filing deadline for the 2018 elections (3/15/2018)
• 60 days until the statewide caucus meetings for Utah Republicans and Democrats (3/20/2018)
• 92 days until the Utah GOP State Convention (4/21/2018)
• 99 days until the Utah Democratic State Convention (4/28/2018)
• 158 days until the 2018 Primary Election (6/26/2018)
• 291 days until the 2018 midterm elections (11/6/2018)
• 1,019 days until the 2020 presidential election (11/3/2020)

I've been listening to quite a few podcasts lately, and there are some people doing tremendous work online right now. One new podcast that's really gotten my attention is "Atlanta Monster," which is an examination of the Atlanta Child Murders in 1979. I was just 9 years old when this story was taking place, before 24/7 cable news and on-demand information. I vividly remember watching the evening news daily to see the latest information on this story, which absolutely terrified me at the time. If you have any other podcast recommendations, please send them my way at bschott@utahpolicy.com. You can also send me news tips, story ideas, or favorite viral videos.

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Here's what's driving the day:

Mitt Romney, secret legal papers, Kathie Allen and Donald Trump pays off a porn star

Bob Bernick and Bryan Schott give you a concise and smart look at the big stories from Utah politics during the past week. It's Utah's longest-running online program about politics [Utah Policy]. It's also available to you in podcast form so you can listen anywhere [Utah Policy].

Count My Vote vs. Keep My Vote

Bob Bernick explains how the proposed Keep My Voice ballot initiative is really just an effort to confuse voters into voting against the Count My Vote initiative [Utah Policy].

Salt Lake City misses out on Amazon HQ2

Salt Lake City did not make the list of 20 finalists for the massive Amazon second headquarters. The project will bring an estimated 50,000 jobs to the winning city and $5 billion in investment from the online retailer [Utah Policy].

Other Utah headlines:

• Rep. Chris Stewart's bill to establish a new national park in the former Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is drawing criticism from environmentalists who say it's a "trojan horse" to erode environmental protections on public lands [New York Times].
   
• Rep. Rob Bishop introduces a bill to make it easier to study medical uses of marijuana [Deseret News].
   
• Sens. Orrin Hatch and Mike Lee are sponsoring legislation to allow for state oversight of energy development on federal lands [Deseret News].
   
• Utah County Attorney Jeff Buhman announces he's not seeking re-election this year [Daily Herald]. 
   
• Ruth Watkins becomes the first female president in University of Utah history [Deseret News, Tribune].
   
• Weber State University President Charles Wight says he's stepping down at the end of June because he's a finalist for in other university president searches [Deseret News, Tribune].
   
• Sutherland Institute President Boyd Matheson is leaving to become the Opinion Editor at the Deseret News [Deseret News].

National headlines:

• House Republicans were able to get enough votes to pass a short-term spending bill in an effort to avoid a government shutdown on Friday night. However, the Senate is an iffier proposition as Democrats are threatening not to vote for the measure because they still want a fix for DACA. A government shutdown has never happened when one party has unified control of Congress and the White House. [Washington Post].
   
• President Donald Trump tweeted Friday morning that the spending bill needs Democratic support, but they "want illegal immigration and weak borders" [Twitter].
   
• Here's what happens if the government shuts down tonight. Retirees will still get their Social Security checks, and the military will continue to operate [The Hill].
   
• The FBI is investigating whether Russians with ties to the Kremlin funneled money through the NRA during the 2016 election to help Donald Trump's campaign [McClatchy].
   
• The Trump administration unveiled expanded religious freedom protections for doctors and other healthcare workers [New York Times].
   
• Vice President Mike Pence plans to hit the campaign trail this year to help vulnerable Republican members of Congress [Politico].
   
• A record number of women are running for office in 2018, most of them Democrats. Women are also donating to political candidates at unprecedented rates [Bloomberg].
   
• President Trump's appointee to the federal agency that runs AmeriCorps has resigned after offensive remarks he made about women, blacks, Muslims, gays, and undocumented immigrants surfaced [Washington Post].
   
• The Supreme Court temporarily blocked a lower court order that North Carolina re-draw its congressional districts because they were gerrymandered in favor of Republicans [CNN].

On this day in history:

• 1861 - Georgia secedes from the Union and joins the Confederacy.
   
• 1883 - The first electric lighting system employing overhead wires, built by Thomas Edison, begins service in New Jersey.
   
• 1920 - The United States votes against joining the League of Nations.
   
• 1937 - Howard Hughes sets a new air record by flying from Los Angeles to New York City in 7 hours, 28 minutes, 25 seconds.
   
• 1953 - Almost 72% of all the television sets in America tune into I Love Lucy to watch Lucy give birth.

Today At Utah Policy

The Romney existential crisis - Bernick and Schott on politics Ep. 357
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
Everybody knows Mitt Romney is running for Senate this year, but he won't make it official....

Bob Bernick's notebook: Keep My Voice seeks to confuse voters
By Bob Bernick, Contributing Editor
I suppose I should be careful about what I say here....

Unveiling a blueprint for the future: Wasatch Choice 2050
By Muriel Xochimitl, Utah Policy Contributor & President of X-Factor Strategic Communications
Societies have long recognized the importance of the transportation system in moving goods and people, connecting communities, and providing access to essential services....

Podcast: Bernick and Schott on politics Ep. 357
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
Bryan Schott and Bob Bernick reflect on a busy week in Utah politics....

Weekly survey: Will the Utah Legislature be able to pass tax reform?
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
Lawmakers get back to work next week. One of the big items on their agenda is tax reform designed to lower tax rates but broaden the base of taxpayers. Do you think they'll be able to accomplish that goal?...

2018 Utah candidate tracker - Congress
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
There's a U.S. Senate seat up for election in 2018 as well as all four U.S. House seats. Here's our list of rumored and declared candidates....

2018 Utah candidate tracker - Utah Senate
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
2018 means another election cycle is upon us. Half of the Utah Senate seats are up for election this year, including an unexpected one because of a retirement. Here's our running list of candidates for those seats....

2018 Utah candidate tracker - Utah House
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
Next week candidates can start gathering signatures to get on the 2018 ballot. All 75 Utah House seats are up for election this year. Here's our running list of who's in, who's out and who's challenging....

Salt Lake City left off list of Amazon HQ2 finalists
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
Amazon.com named 20 cities as finalists for its new headquarters. Salt Lake City is not among them....

Policy News

Casual Friday: Weekend Events & Outdoors Report
Outdoor Notes--Tribune:Light pollution controls make Torrey the first 'dark sky' town in Utah--Tribune: More black bears, high demand from hunters will lead to bigger Utah hunt in 2018--Tribune:Utah declares victory over quagga mussels at popular boating spotWeekend EventsNe...

Ruth V. Watkins named 16th president of the University of Utah
The Utah State Board of Regents has selected Ruth V. Watkins as the 16th president of the University of Utah....

Team Curtis announces 2018 staff and advisors
Rep. John Curtis announced today additions to his growing campaign operation....

Sutherland Institute announces departure of Boyd Matheson
Sutherland Institute announced the departure of Boyd Matheson....

Parker Hannifin to move additional repair operations to Utah
The Governor's Office of Economic Development announced Parker Hannifin Corporation will relocate more operations to Utah, adding up to 77 jobs, $6.7 million in new state revenue and $2.8 million in capital investment. ...

Local Headlines

Salt Lake Tribune

Michelle Quist: Do you believe lobbyists play a 'skintern' game at the Utah capitol, or will you not believe me unless I give you names?

Op-ed: Hatch's final act for Utah should be a repeal of the tax on medical devices

Editorial: Keep the government running

Utah tech leaders say their industry is booming - but it needs more women, more diversity and more people to move here to fill jobs

United Utah party backs $715 million-a-year school funding initiative, but state's Democrats and GOP aren't choosing sides

Port developer attacks Oakland coal ban and city's claims that Utah shipments would endanger public health

Say goodbye to skyrocketing drug prices, shortages. Utah's Intermountain Healthcare starts its own company to combat pharmaceutical exploitation.

Gehrke: Legislature still has a long way to go before it can take a bow for clearing Utah's filthy air

What would a government shutdown mean? Here's what stays open, what closes

Deseret News

Jay Evensen: Slavery in Utah thrives on ignorance

Op-ed: Cutting the byzantine taxes on small businesses

Greg Bell: Washington still has a lot to learn from the state of Utah

Editorial: Utilize tax cuts to help employees prepare for retirement

Boyd Matheson named Deseret News Opinion Editor and Head of Strategic Reach

Bill calls for state oversight of drilling on federal land

Utah County Attorney Jeff Buhman won't run for re-election

Summit draws 14k for celebration of Utah tech scene

Amazon says thanks, no thanks, to Utah's HQ2 proposal

Rep. Rob Bishop introduces medical marijuana research bill

Other

Utah County Attorney announces he will not run for re-election (Daily Herald)

National Headlines

The Dow's 31% gain during Trump's first year is the best since FDR (CNBC)

Stock market's value under Trump has grown by $6.9 trillion to $30.6 trillion (CNBC)

Mexican presidential candidate threatens Twitter tit-for-tat with Trump (The Hill)

People flocking to low-tax states could swing future elections (The Hill)

Wealthy exodus to escape new tax rules worries California Democrats (Sacramento Bee)

Nancy Pelosi to be guest judge on 'RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars' (CNN)

House approves bill to keep government open as Senate Democrats take heat for threatening to block it (Washington Post)

Trump Gives Health Workers New Religious Liberty Protections (New York Times)

Trump's Quietly Growing List of Victories (Atlantic)

California pushes back amid fears of Trump immigration crackdown (Los Angeles Times)

Trump officials weigh keeping national parks open even if government shuts down (Washington Post)

Wise Words

Perspective

"There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered." Nelson Mandela
 

Lighter Side

Stable Genius

"Congressman Brendan Boyle has proposed a bill that would require all presidential candidates to take a mental examination test. And he's calling it the "Stable Genius Act." Do we really need a mental examination to determine Trump isn't a genius? We can just use spell check." James Corden