About Utah Politics - February 28, 2014

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Friday, February 28, 2014 - 7:30am

Local News Highlights: Daily Briefing

How to Sound Smart About Utah Politics - February 28, 2014

Herbert announces his solution for Medicaid expansion. A deal is reportedly in the works to scrap the "Count My Vote" initiative. New revenue estimates coming on Friday morning.

Countdown:

13 days until the final day of the 2014 Legislature
14 days until the Utah candidate filing period opens
18 days until the Utah Democratic Party caucus meetings
18 days until the Utah candidate filing period closes
20 days until the Utah GOP caucus meetings
57 days until the Utah State Republican and Democratic conventions
116 days until Utah's 2014 primary elections
249 days to the 2014 midterm elections
612 days to the 2015 elections
677 days until the 2016 Iowa Caucuses
983 days to the 2016 presidential election

Today's Utah political news highlights:

Gov. Gary Herbert announces the state will ask for block grants from the federal government to buy private health coverage for low income people instead of expanding Medicaid [Deseret News, Tribune].
Utah lawmakers will get new revenue estimates Friday morning [Utah Policy].
Legislators and backers of "Count My Vote" are reportedly discussing a deal to scrap the initiative proposal [Deseret News].
Utah argues thata lawsuit filed by same-sex couples who got married before the court ruling overturning Amendment 3 was stayed should be dismissed [Tribune].
A pair of bills prompted by the John Swallow investigation move forward on the Hill [Tribune].
A bill allowing elementary schools to teach parents on how to prevent sexual abuse of children moves out of the House unanimously [Tribune, Deseret News].
The House kills a proposal to give a tax break to parents who homeschool their children [Deseret News, Tribune].
A Senate committee approves a bill to slap reforms on payday lenders [Tribune].
Rep. Craig Hall's bill to make it harder for school districts to split is approved by the House and on the way to the Senate [Deseret News, Tribune].
The Utah House approves a measure requiring the Governor's Office of Economic Development to hold a meeting on whether the state should dump Daylight Saving Time [Tribune].
A Senate panel approves the creation of a statewide student safety tip line [Daily Herald, Deseret News].
A House committee gives the thumbs up to a resolution calling for a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution [Tribune].

On this day in history:

About 50 opponents of slavery met in Ripon, Wisconsin to form a new political group that eventually became the Republican Party in 1854.
The Territory of Colorado was organized in 1861.
Scientists James Watson and Francis Crick announced the discovery of the double-helix structure of DNA in 1953.
The album "War" by U2 was released in 1983.
Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme was shot to death in Stockholm in 1986.
A gun battle erupted at the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas when agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms tried to serve warrants on the group in 1993.

Today At Utah Policy

Bob Bernick's Notebook: Can Lawmakers Find a Caucus Compromise?
Utah House GOP leaders told UtahPolicy this week that they are hoping for some kind of "grand compromise" with the Count My Vote backers; an agreement that could allow the Legislature to adopt some new candidate nomination law acceptable to the citizen petition supporters.I'...

Utah Lawmakers to Receive New Revenue Numbers Friday (Video)
Sen. Lyle Hillyard says Utah lawmakers are going to have a tough time deciding how to set the state's budget once new revenue estimates are announced Friday morning....

House Passes Bill to Prevent Sexual Abuse of Schoolchildren
There was an emotional moment in the Utah House on Thursday morning when a bill that would set up an opt-in program in schools teaching youngsters how to avoid being sexually abused passed....

Bryan Schott's Political BS: Plans, Agendas and Relevancy
As Alice asked the Cheshire Cat, "Where shall I go?" The reply? "Depends on where you want to end up."...

No In-Session Veto Showdown Coming Over Bill that Would Neuter 'Count My Vote'
A bill that would neuter the Count My Vote citizen initiative is being held in the Utah House, giving time for supporters of SB54 to negotiate with CMV leaders....

Featured Items

Bernick and Schott on Politics - Episode #178
We're moving into the final two weeks of the 2014 Utah legislature. What will lawmakers do with Speaker Becky Lockhart's education technology proposal? What other big issues may pop up before the end of the session? Plus, Utah beats Texas in something.Bob Bernick and Bryan S...

Casual Friday: Weekend Events & Outdoors Report
Outdoor Notes--Tribune:Ski Lift of the Week: Motherlode at Park City Mountain Resort--Tribune:Recreation: If you can't train like an Olympian, at least eat like one--Tribune:Quagga mussels have invaded Lake Powell, Glen Canyon Dam--Tribune: Utah Legislature leaves stream acc...

Weekly Survey: Countering "Count My Vote"
Sen. Curt Bramble's SB 54 would essentially make the "Count My Vote" citizen's initiative moot. What do you think will happen with Bramble's legislation this session?Let us know in our weekly survey....

Chaffetz Seeks Coveted Oversight Chairmanship
Rep. Jason Chaffetz is actively campaigningtosucceedRep. Darrell Issa as chairman of the powerful House Oversight and Government Reform Committee....