About Utah Politics - March 12, 2014

Local News Highlights: Daily Briefing

How to Sound Smart About Utah Politics - March 12, 2014

House to present final report on John Swallow investigation. Lee not worried about dual-track nominating system. Herbert says he's an "action figure" on Medicaid.

Countdown:

• Tomorrow is the last day of the 2014 Legislature
• 2 days until the Utah candidate filing period opens
• 6 days until the Utah Democratic Party caucus meetings
• 8 days until the Utah candidate filing period closes
• 8 days until the Utah GOP caucus meetings
• 44 days until the Utah State Republican and Democratic conventions
• 104 days until Utah's 2014 primary elections
• 237 days to the 2014 midterm elections
• 600 days to the 2015 elections
• 665 days until the 2016 Iowa Caucuses
• 971 days to the 2016 presidential election

Today's Utah political news highlights:

• The House wraps up the investigation into former Attorney General John Swallow, will present their final report on Wednesday [Utah Policy, Tribune, Deseret News].
• Sen. Mike Lee says he's not worried about the dual-track nominating system that came out of a compromise between the Legislature and "Count My Vote" [Tribune].
• Sen. Stuart Reid says the new dual-track nominating will lead to the death of the Democratic party in Utah [Deseret News].
• Gov. Gary Herbert takes a swipe at Speaker Becky Lockhart saying he's an "action figure" when it comes to negotiating on Medicaid with the federal government [Utah Policy, Deseret News].
• Senators approve a bill allowing the use of cannabis oil in the treatment of seizures, sending the measure to the governor [Deseret News, Tribune]
• The Senate moves forward on a measure allowing the Stericycle medical waste incinerator to move from North Salt Lake to Tooele [Tribune].
• Sens. Orrin Hatch and Mike Lee introduce legislation calling on the federal government to reimburse Utah for the cost of opening the state's national parks during the government shutdown [Deseret News].
• Utahns are rushing to sign up for Obamacare as the March 31 deadline looms [Tribune].
• The Utah Senate advances a bill to give tax incentives for the construction of a convention center hotel in downtown Salt Lake City [Tribune].
• Lawmakers reveal their own stories of being abused during emotional debate over a bill to help educate schoolchildren on how to avoid sexual abuse [Utah Policy, Deseret News].
• There's a high-stakes fight over electrical power lines is brewing on the Hill [Tribune].
• BYU names Kevin Worthen as the school's 13th president. He will replace Cecil Samuelson in May [Deseret News, Tribune].

On this day in history:

• 1862 - Ulysses S. Grant was promoted to general-in-chief of the Union armies.
• 1912 - The Girl Guides, the forerunner of the Girl Scouts, was founded.
• 1933 - President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivers his first radio "fireside chat."
• 1987 - The musical "Les Miserables" opened on Broadway.
• 1994 - The Church of England ordained its first female priests.
• 2002 - Homeland security chief Tom Ridge unveiled the color-coded system for terror warnings.
• 2003 - Elizabeth Smart was found alive nine months after vanishing from her bedroom.
• 2008 - New York Governor Eliot Spitzer resigned after reports surfaced he was a customer of a prostitution ring.
• 2009 - Financier Bernard Madoff pleaded guilty to running a Ponzi scheme.

Today At Utah Policy

Herbert Takes Swipe at Lockhart, Talks Budget, Medicaid
Scoreboard! It's clear Gov. Gary Herbert thinks he is coming out ahead of Speaker Becky Lockhart in the 2014 Legislative Session....

House Wraps Up Swallow Investigation
With a whimper, not a bang.That was the final meeting of the Utah House's record-setting investigation of former GOP Attorney General John Swallow who resigned in December and still faces possible criminal charges in at least one criminal probe....

New Poll Shows Younger Voters Lean Left
A new survey shows half of Americans between the ages of 18-33 identify as political independents, but they tend to lean toward the political left....

Emotional Debate as Senate Advances Bill to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse
In an emotional Senate debate Tuesday, two male senators admitted that as children they were sexually abused, one by a stranger, another by an extended family member....

Why Women Grabbed More than Half of the New Jobs Last Month
More than half of the new jobs added to the economy last month went to women....

Utah House Kills Measure Calling for Constitutional Convention
So, who in the Utah House is really, really afraid of the monster at the end of the book?Well, it is both Republicans and Democrats....

Featured Items

Utah Funding Awarded to Address Utah Energy Challenges
For the first time, the Utah Energy Research Triangle is awarding grants to fund seven research projects that will be key to solving Utah energy challenges....

Real Women Run Trains Utah Women on the Ins and Outs of Running for Elected Office
On Saturday, March 15, 2014, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Real Women Run is holding a training specifically designed for women who plan to declare their candidacies this year, their campaign staff, caucus candidates, and future delegates....

Local Headlines

Salt Lake Tribune

Op-ed: Flexible, Utah-specific solution best for Medicaid

Editorial: Sexual abuse education bill is, sadly, necessary

Utah lawmakers pass bill to end use of 'administrative subpoenas'

Bill to tweak Utah's abortion rules goes to governor

Bill would expand Utahns who can vote online

'Big Brother' tracking bill goes to Utah governor

After emotional testimony, Senate OKs sexual abuse program

Crunch time for Obamacare: About 40K Utahns are in

Final House report on Swallow scandal will be out Wednesday

Lee undeterred by Count My Vote compromise: 'I'll run; I'll win'

Lawmakers declare war on quagga mussel

Senate advances plan to help fund new convention center hotel

Millions could be at stake in power-line fight in Legislature

Cannabis oil may be coming to Utah as Senate passes bill

Obama to bypass GOP in paying overtime

Stericycle move gets a nod in Senate

Deseret News

Feds contemplate oil, gas drilling at Ouray refuge in Utah

Bill requires better communication with sexual assault victims about cases

Utah Legislature in the final stretch

Bill requiring revenue equity for school district splits fails in Senate

Stericycle 'buffer zone' measure clears House

Bill allowing hemp oil use for seizure treatment passes Senate

Hatch, Lee call on federal government to repay cost of opening Utah parks during shutdown

House panel to release final report on ex-Attorney General John Swallow

Senators share personal stories of abuse during debate of bill

Gov. Herbert: I'm an 'action figure' on Medicaid expansion issue

Other

Legislature OK cannabis bill (Daily Herald)

Amendment to child abuse bill fails (Daily Herald)

Brad Wilson: Financial bubbles impact state economic cycles (Standard-Examiner)

Legislators tangle with voter records privacy bills (Standard-Examiner)

Property owners angry about Ogden Canyon bike path legislation (Standard-Examiner)

National Headlines

Harry Reid plots to block potential 2016 foe (The Hill)

McConnell dares Democrats on carbon tax (The Hill)

Ukraine crisis fuels gas debate (The Hill)

White House: Obama's 'Two Ferns' appearance was the 'right call' (The Hill)

U.S. Senate intelligence chief accuses CIA of spying on Senate (Reuters)

General's sex charge trial halted as plea negotiations ensue (Los Angeles Times)

N.J. lawyer: More Christie scandal documents exist (USA Today)

Senate Democrats keep the lights on in climate change talkathon (Associated Press)

Snowden: Surveillance is 'setting fire' to the internet (BBC News)

Obama adds some Calif. coast to national monument (USA Today)

ObamaCare, political party tactics face test in Florida House race (FOX News)

Wise Words

Remain Silent
"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt."
Abraham Lincoln Quotations Page

Lighter Side

Worked Up
"Secretary of State John Kerry is all worked up. As a matter of fact, he was in Ukraine for a speech. . . . He looked out at the crowd and he said to them, 'Ich bin ein, Adele Dazeem.'" David Letterman Political Humor

2014 Bizarre, Crazy, Silly, Unknown Holidays & Observances

*Girl Scout Birthday Day

Registered Dietitian Day

World Maths Day