Good Thursday morning from Salt Lake City. Today is the 348th day of the year. There are 17 days remaining in 2017.

Daily Briefing

Good Thursday morning from Salt Lake City. Today is the 348th day of the year. There are 17 days remaining in 2017.

The clock:

• 19 days until candidates can declare their intent to gather signatures for the 2018 election (1/2/2018)
• 39 days until the opening day of the 2018 Utah Legislature (1/22/2018)
• 84 days until the final day of the 2018 Utah Legislature (3/8/2018)
• 85 days until the filing period for candidates in the 2018 election opens (3/9/2018)
• 91 days until the filing deadline for the 2018 elections (3/15/2018)
• 96 days until the statewide caucus meetings for Utah Republicans and Democrats (3/20/2018)
• 128 days until the GOP State Convention (4/21/2018)
• 194 days until the 2018 Primary Election (6/26/2018)
• 327 days until the 2018 midterm elections (11/6/2018)
• 1,055 days until the 2020 presidential election (11/3/2020)

Today's political TL; DR -

• Gov. Gary Herbert unveiled his $16.7 billion budget proposal for 2018. The plan includes a boost for public and higher education [Utah Policy].
   
• More women than ever before are running for Congress in 2018 [Utah Policy].
   
• Sen. Orrin Hatch says final passage of the GOP tax proposal will come quickly now that there's been a deal struck between the House and Senate [Tribune].
   
• Utah's Democrats are energized by the unlikely win by Alabama Senate candidate Doug Jones [Deseret News].
   
• Most of the legislators in Utah County are now calling on Utah County Commissioner Greg Graves to resign from office [Deseret News].
   
• A state audit finds the Park City School District didn't follow procedure when they gave a contract to a North Salt Lake company. That company later violated state law by improperly awarding a subcontract to another firm [Tribune].
   
• A new report says Utah women who are either homeless or at risk of becoming homeless are finding it increasingly difficult to find affordable housing or child care [Deseret News, Tribune].
   
• The feds gave initial approval to the construction of the Lake Powell Pipeline. But, the same federal agency says they may not have much jurisdiction over the project, which could slow down construction [Tribune].

National headlines:

• Republicans are closing in on a final tax overhaul package. Expect the House and Senate to vote on the final bill next week. The deal, which goes into effect in 2018, lowers the corporate tax rate to 21-percent and drops the top tax rate to 37-percent [New York Times].
   
• Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein was grilled by a Congressional panel on Wednesday. Republicans are ramping up their attacks on special counsel Robert Mueller over text messages by former members of his team that were critical of President Donald Trump [Fox News].
   
• The shocking win by Democrat Doug Jones in the Alabama Senate race on Tuesday is energizing Democrats ahead of next year's midterm elections [Washington Post].
   
• The loss of a Republican-controlled seat in Alabama has touched off an internal GOP fight over who is to blame [Politico].
   
• Republican Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore is refusing to concede following his narrow loss on Tuesday [Fox News].
   
• White House aides are worried that President Trump's refusal to accept the conclusion from multiple intelligence agencies that Russia interfered with the 2016 election is harming the ability to prevent similar meddling in the future [Washington Post].
   
• The White House puts the kibosh on two controversial nominees for the federal bench after Senate Republicans make it clear they won't be confirmed [Politico].
   
• The FCC will vote on whether to repeal the policy of "net neutrality" on Thursday. If the rules are repealed, it could allow big telecom companies to slow down or even block some content on the internet [Politico].
   
• Ohio Democrat Marcy Kaptur says some of the clothing her female colleagues wear is an "invitation" to harassment [Politico].
   
• Minnesota's governor taps Lt. Gov. Tina Smith to fill Sen. Al Franken's seat in the Senate after he resigns [Real Clear Politics].
   
• A Kentucky state lawmaker died in an apparent suicide after allegations surfaced that he sexually assaulted a teenage girl in 2013 [CNN].
   
• Whoops! Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross's security detail lost track of him last week in the Hamptons, which led to an awkward search for him in a takeout joint [Page Six].
   
• Drama! Depending on who you listen to, White House appointee Omarosa Manigault Newman either resigned or was fired from her job this week. There are reports that after the firing Newman tried to storm into the White House residence to confront President Donald Trump [Daily Beast].

On this day in history:

• 1799 - George Washington died at his Mount Vernon home in Virginia.
   
• 1819 - Alabama becomes the 22nd U.S. State.
   
• 1911 - Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen's becomes the first to reach the South Pole.
   
• 1940 - Plutonium is first isolated at Berkely, California.
   
• 1964 - The Supreme Court rules that Congress can use the Constitution's Commerce Clause to fight discrimination.
   
• 1972 - Apollo 17 commander Eugene Cernan re-entered the lunar lander and was the last person to walk on the moon.
   
• 2012 - Twenty-eight people, including twenty children, are killed in a mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown Conn.

Today At Utah Policy

Herbert proposes $200 million public education funding boost in budget
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
Gov. Gary Herbert took the wraps off his $16.7 billion budget proposal on Wednesday at Davis Technical College in Kaysville. As in recent years, it's mostly about finding more money for Utah's perennially underfunded education system....

More women than ever plan to run for Congress in 2018
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
The number of women who are planning to run for Congress or are already running in 2018 is already at an all-time high....

Weekly survey: Hatch's future/Santa's list
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
Sen. Orrin Hatch is expected to announce his future political plans by the end of the month. What do you think his decision will be? Also, let us know who in Utah politics belongs on Santa's naughty and nice lists. Take our weekly survey right now....

Give us your nominations for the top Utah political news stories of 2017
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
What do you think were the top Utah political news stories of 2017? Was it President Trump slashing two national monuments? Jason Chaffetz resigning? Give us your nominations....

Policy News

Office of the State Auditor releases review of Park City School District procurement non-compliance
The Office of the State Auditor officially released its Review of Park City School District Procurement Non-Compliance....

Wasatch Front Consumer Price Index remains stable in November, benefiting consumers and businesses alike
The Zions Bank Wasatch Front Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased 0.2 percent from October to November on a non-seasonally adjusted basis. Year-over-year, the Wasatch Front Consumer Price Index has grown 3.3 percent, while the National Consumer Price index has increased 2.2 ...

Zero Red Air Days - Utah's business community commits to doing their part to clean up Utah's air
The Salt Lake Chamber Board of Governors voted unanimously to support a business-driven goal of zero red air days....

Utah Hunting and Fishing Services wins two national awards
Utah's Hunting and Fishing application recently received two national awards from the Center for Digital Government....

Local Headlines

Salt Lake Tribune

Editorial: Governor is right to focus Utah budget boost on education

Utah County's Alpine School District to consolidate two Orem elementary schools, sparking talk of a district split

Audit says Park City School District contractor violated project-bidding laws

Gehrke: Utah needs good data before taxpayers dive headfirst into Lake Powell pipeline scam

Feds give initial OK to Utah's application to build Lake Powell pipeline - but with a major, unexpected twist

Uranium mill pressed Trump officials for Bears Ears reductions, records show

Feds rake in $6 million from oil and gas lease auctions, including lands near Utah's Dinosaur National Monument

'We'll get it done.' Sen. Orrin Hatch promises quick vote on massive tax bill.

Education receives 72% of all new money in governor's budget

Deseret News

Randy Shumway: No easy answer in solving challenges of homelessness

Randy Shumway: Supporting our homeless - a collective approach

Jay Evensen: Yes, mother-in-law apartments are tied to affordability

A. Scott Anderson: Utah's citizen of the decade Lane Beattie

Op-ed: Businesses must do their part to solve Utah's skilled labor shortage

Say what? This new report says air quality makes Utah the 4th healthiest state

17 state lawmakers: 'All confidence lost' in Utah County leader

Utah Democrats: Win in Alabama Senate race 'incredibly energizing'

Gov. Gary Herbert unveils $16.7 billion budget proposal for Utah

Report: Homeless Utah mothers need better housing, child care access

Other

Resolution on how to fund Ogden BRT project proving difficult (Standard-Examiner)

Redd won't seek re-election following session, cites health (Logan Herald Journal)

National Headlines

U.S. Economic Expansion Could Become Longest on Record (Wall Street Journal)

'We Can't Take That Risk' - FBI Officials Discussed 'Insurance Policy' Against Trump Presidency (Daily Caller)

Bill O'Reilly: There's Audio of Someone Trying to Bribe a Woman to Accuse Trump of 'Untoward Behavior' (PJ Media)

New York Times D.C. bureau adds fact-checker (Politico)

PBS Suspends 'Tavis Smiley' Following Sexual Misconduct Investigation (Variety)

Republicans relieved by Moore loss in Alabama (The Hill)

Republican Tax Bill in Final Sprint Across Finish Line (New York Times)

House Democrat tells female colleagues the way they dress is 'an invitation' for harassment (CNN)

Tina Smith to be named U.S. Senator to replace Al Franken (Star Tribune)

Cuomo Takes Ungainly Dip Into Sexual Harassment Debate (New York Times)

Fed Predicts Modest Economic Growth From Tax Cut (New York Times)

Wise Words

Life

"Life is not a matter of holding good cards, but of playing a poor hand well." Robert Louis Stevenson
 

Lighter Side

Shopping Profile

"Amazon is now making it possible to create a shopping profile for your cat. Yeah, all you have to do is go to Amazon and type in "I am single." Conan O'Brien