Ten Things You Need to Know Today - Thursday, September 24, 2015

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Thursday, September 24, 2015 - 6:15am

Utah Policy

Good Thursday morning from Salt Lake City. There are 98 days left in 2015.

Pope Francis set to address Congress. A possible government shutdown would cost more than keeping things running. Herbert has a big lead over Johnson according to a new poll.

The clock:

40 days to the 2015 election - (11/3/2015)
116 days to the 2016 Iowa Caucus (tentative) - (1/18/2016)
123 days to the opening day of the 2016 Utah Legislature - (1/25/2016)
126 days to the 2016 New Hampshire Primary - (1/26/2016)
168 days to the final day of the 2016 Utah Legislature - (3/10/2016)
278 days to the 2016 Utah primary election - (6/28/2016)
411 days until the 2016 presidential election - (11/8/2016)

Thursday's top-10 headlines:

Pope Francis will address a joint session of Congress Thursday [USA Today].
Sen. Orrin Hatch says he hopes to speak with Pope Francis about religious freedom [Tribune].
If the government shuts down over federal funding for Planned Parenthood, it will actually cost taxpayers more than keeping things running. The last government shutdown cost $2 billion [Washington Post].
The federal government admitted hackers stole the fingerprints of millions of more Americans than originally thought [ABC News].
The schedule and sites for the 2016 presidential and vice-presidential debates have been made public [New York Times].
A new poll shows Gov. Gary Herbert has a big lead over challenger Jonathan Johnson, especially among Republicans [Utah Policy].
Lawmakers will meet behind closed doors next week to hear a proposal to address Medicaid expansion [Deseret News].
The Utah Supreme Court slams the door on a proposed referendum to stop the state prison move [Deseret News].
The Salt Lake City Council is mulling Mayor Ralph Becker's proposal for a 12-month moratorium on impact fees to foster development in the city [Tribune].
A South Jordan councilman claims his opponent in November's election offered him $10,000 to drop out of the race [Deseret News].

On this day in history:

1789 - Congress passed the First Judiciary Act, establishing the Supreme Court of the United States as a tribunal made up of six justices who were to serve on the court until death or retirement. The number of judges became nine in 1869.
1959 - President Dwight Eisenhower and Soviet Premier Nikita Khruschchev met at Camp David.
1960 - The USS Enterprise, the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, was launched at Newport News, Va.
1968 - "60 Minutes" premiered on CBS.

Today At Utah Policy

Poll: Herbert Has a Big Lead Over Johnson Among Utah Republicans
By Bob Bernick
Nine months out from a possible GOP gubernatorial primary election for Utah governor and GOP Gary Herbert is doing just fine among Republican voters, a new UtahPolicy poll finds....

Bryan Schott's Political BS: Walking Into a Trap of Her Own Making
By Bryan Schott
You can already see Rep. Mia Love trying to thread the needle on the Planned Parenthood issue....

Republicans Tend to Have Happier Marriages than Democrats (Video)
By Bryan Schott
New research from the University of Utah finds Republicans have happier marriages than Democrats....

Weekly Survey: Who Will Be the Next GOP Presidential Candidate to Drop Out?
By Bryan Schott
Scott Walker and Rick Perry have already dropped out of the race for the 2016 GOP nomination. Who do you think will be the next to fall? Vote now in our weekly survey....

Policy News

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Press Release: Hatch Reacts to Greater Sage Grouse Decision, Urges Interior to Respect Successful State Conservation Plan
Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, senior Republican in the United States Senate, issued the following statement following the Department of Fish and Wildlife’s announced decision to not extend special protections for the Greater Sage-Grouse under the Environmental Protectio...

Press Release: Senator Hatch Welcomes Pope to U.S., Hopes for Leadership on Religious Liberty
Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, the senior Republican in the United States Senate, will play a prominent role in welcoming the Pope to the Capitol, and plans to use the opportunity to highlight the importance of Religious Liberty. In a video, Sen. Hatch offered his gratitu...

Press Release: Local Conservation Efforts save Greater Sage Grouse from ESA Listing
Due to the success of state and local conservation efforts, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced its decision not to list the greater sage grouse as an endangered species. ...

Employers Council to Merge with Colorado-Based Mountain States Employers Council
Salt Lake City-based Employers Council and Denver-based Mountain States Employers Council announced a merger to create the nation’s largest employers association, effective Oct. 1, 2015. ...