Local News Highlights: Daily Briefing About Utah Politics - February 21, 2014

Nike Air Force White MID, Nike Air Force MID White Nike Air Barrage MID Navy, Nike Air Barrage MID Men's, Nike Air Barrage MID - Men's White/navy/black | 44-15203-2-04

Friday, February 21, 2014 - 7:45am

Local News Highlights: Daily Briefing

How to Sound Smart About Utah Politics - February 21, 2014

Senate advances anti-Count My Vote bill. House GOP votes to move the prison. Record number of bills for the 2014 Legislature.

Countdown:

20 days until the final day of the 2014 Legislature
21 days until the Utah candidate filing period opens
25 days until the Utah Democratic Party caucus meetings
25 days until the Utah candidate filing period closes
27 days until the Utah GOP caucus meetings
64 days until the Utah State Republican and Democratic conventions
123 days until Utah's 2014 primary elections
256 days to the 2014 midterm elections
619 days to the 2015 elections
684 days until the 2016 Iowa Caucuses
990 days to the 2016 presidential election

Today's Utah political news highlights:

The Utah Senate advances a measure to head off the "Count My Vote" initiative [Utah Policy, Deseret News, Tribune, Daily Herald].
Backers of "Count My Vote" slam SB 54 in a Capitol press conference [Utah Policy].
The Utah House GOP votes in favor of moving the state prison away from Draper [Deseret News, Tribune].
A group of Democratic lawyers ask the U.S. Department of Justice to re-open their investigation into former Attorneys General John Swallow and Mark Shurtleff [Tribune, Deseret News].
More than 1,000 people rally at the Capitol for the state to expand Medicaid [Tribune].
Legislators have introduced a record number of bills, opening more than 1,200 bill files this year [Standard-Examiner].
First there was the "Zion Curtain," now comes the "Zion Warning" for restaurants that serve alcoholic beverages [Deseret News, Tribune].
A legislative committee gives the nod to a bill raising the age to use and purchase tobacco to 21 [Deseret News, Tribune].
Rep. Jim Matheson makes his final visit to Capitol Hill as a member of Congress [Deseret News, Tribune].
Rep. Eric Hutchings uses some "creative" funding on a bill offering up to $25 million in tax credits to low-income Utahns [City Weekly].
Rep. Ronda Menlove wants the state to study whether to scrap daylight savings [City Weekly].
The Holladay City Council passes an anti-discrimination ordinance that includes sexual orientation [Tribune].

On this day in history:

Former President John Quincy Adams suffered a stroke on the floor of the House of Representatives in 1848. He died two days later.
The Washington Monument was dedicated in 1885.
Black Muslim leader Malcolm X was shot to death in 1965.
President Richard Nixon began his historic trip to China in 1972.
Former Attorney General John Mitchell and former White House aides H.R. Haldeman and John Erlichman were sentenced to prison for their roles in the Watergate scandal in 1975.

Today At Utah Policy

Bob Bernick's Notebook: SB 54 is a Political Life or Death Matter for Lawmakers
Rich McKeown, president of the Count My Vote citizen initiative, saidThursdaythat his group will begin a serious media campaign against SB54....

Anti-Count My Vote Bill Advances
A bill to head off the "Count My Vote" citizen's initiative took another step forward on Utah's Capitol Hill....

"Count My Vote" Supporters Slam SB 54
Just before the Utah Senate voted in favor of a bill that would sideline the current Count My Vote initiative, backers of the initiative held a Capitol Hill press conference....

Bryan Schott's Political BS: Deja Vu All Over Again
Governor Gary Herbert is hinting he might veto SB 54 - Sen. Curt Bramble's bill that would effectively neuter the Count My Vote citizen's initiative.I hope he doesn't....

Featured Items

Two Papers Agree: Expand Medicaid
Medicaid expansion is a hot topic on Capitol Hill. And a tough one. Should Utah accept hundreds of millions of federal dollars so that thousands more low-income citizens qualify for Medicaid?...

Bernick and Schott on Politics - Episode #177
Another week down in the 2014 Utah Legislative session. Bob Bernick and Bryan Schott discuss the fight over Medicaid expansion, Count My Vote and what will happen when the new revenue numbers come out next week.Plus, an impassioned plea to Google about bringing Google Fiber ...

Casual Friday: Weekend Events & Outdoors Report
Outdoor Notes--Tribune:Ski Lift of the Week: Wildcat at Alta Ski Area--Tribune:Recreation: Crashed Ice Tour is like stormtroopers on ice skates--Tribune:Trapped in Saratoga Springs, pronghorn will be relocated-- For the?latest wildlife news and information?and the?fishing re...

Save a Drive: Cut Down on Driving & Clear the Air
Clean air is something that the Salt Lake Chamber is a big supporter of. Air quality greatly affects our health, quality of life and our state's economy. We must all do our part to ensure Utah's air can stay clear....

Weekly Survey: Will Utah Reject Medicaid Expansion
House GOP leaders unveiled their plan to expand healthcare for poor Utahns without taking Medicaid expansion money. What do you think about the plan? Vote now in our weekly survey....