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Ten Things You Need to Know Today - Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Wednesday, December 9, 2015 - 8:00am
Utah Policy

Ten Things You Need to Know Today - Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Good Wednesday morning from Salt Lake City. There are 22 days left in 2015.

The LDS Church pushes back against Donald Trump's call to stop Muslims from entering the U.S. Congress is staring down another shutdown deadline. No public money for Jackie Biskupski's transition.

The clock:

  • 47 days to the opening day of the 2016 Utah Legislature - (1/25/2016)
  • 54 days to the 2016 Iowa Caucus - (2/1/2016)
  • 62 days to the 2016 New Hampshire Primary (tentative) - (2/9/2016)
  • 93 days to the final day of the 2016 Utah Legislature - (3/10/2016)
  • 104 days to the Utah Republican and Democratic caucus meetings (3/22/2016)
  • 136 days to the Utah Republican and Democratic State Conventions (4/23/2016)
  • 203 days to the 2016 Utah primary election - (6/28/2016)
  • 335 days until the 2016 presidential election - (11/8/2016)

Wednesday's top-10 headlines:

  1. The LDS Church issues a statement defending the rights of other religions following Donald Trump's call to stop Muslims from entering the United States [Deseret News, 2 NewsTribune, Daily Herald, ABC 4].
  2. The White House says Trump's comments on Muslims disqualifies him from holding the presidency [Newsweek].
  3. Republicans are terrified Trump's increasingly extreme rhetoric could jeopardize their control of Congress in next year's elections [Politico].
  4. Trump continues to bring the crazy by suggesting Bill Gates could help "close up" the Internet [New York Times].
  5. Talks over an omnibus spending bill in Congress break down as a deadline to avoid a government shutdown is looming [Washington Post, Politico].
  6. The Salt Lake City Council reverses themselves again, deciding not to pony up some cash for Jackie Biskupski's transition team [KUER].
  7. The Salt Lake County Council delays a final vote on next year's $1.1 billion budget until next week [Deseret News].
  8. A new poll shows Utahns think there's too much regulation of businesses in the state, but they're divided on the question of too much government oversight of industry [Utah Policy].
  9. Attorneys for embattled San Juan County Commissioner Phil Lyman argue he should not face jail time for leading an ATV protest into Recapture Canyon [Tribune, 2 News].
  10. 'Black Friday' set a single-day record for gun sales in Utah [2 News].

On this day in history:

  • 1958 - Retired Boston candy manufacturer H. W. Welch, Jr., established the John Birch Society, a right-wing organization dedicated to fighting what it perceived to be the extensive infiltration of communism into U.S. society.
  • 1974 - White House aide John Ehrlichman testified at the Watergate trial that President Richard Nixon was responsible for a cover up.
  • 1975 - President Gerald R. Ford signed a $2.3 billion temporary loan authorization to prevent New York City from having to default.
  • 1990 - Solidarity founder Lech Walesa was elected president of Poland.

 

Today At Utah Policy

Poll: Is There Too Much Government Regulation of Business and Industry in Utah?
By Bob Bernick
For the most part, Utahns believe there is too much regulation of businesses, but they are split on whether the government is too much involved in industry, a new UtahPolicy poll shows....

Utah Policy 2016 Candidate Tracker
By Bryan Schott
Here's our latest list of candidates running, and rumored to be running, for office in 2016....

 

Hatch to Obama: Here's How to Defeat ISIS
By Golden Webb
In a letter, ten GOP senators, including Orrin Hatch, offer several suggestions to a flailing Pres. Obama for stepping up the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. ...

Give Us Your Nominations for the Top Utah Political News Stories of 2015
By Bryan Schott
As 2015 winds to an end, what are your picks for the top Utah political news stories of the last year? Make your nominations now....

Holly Richardson Declares Candidacy for Utah State Senate
By Bryan Schott
Republican Holly Richardson formally announced her candidacy for the open seat in Senate District 14. Current Senator Al Jackson will not be seeking re-election. ...

'The Spin Room' - Surpluses and Savings
By Bryan Schott
Utah lawmakers have an extra $560 million in their bank account next year, but don't expect them to go on a spending spree....

Policy News

 

Lee Holds Hearing on Proposed Inbev, SABMiller Merger
Tuesday, Mike Lee (R–UT), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights, is holding a hearing on Anheuser–Busch Inbev’s proposal to purchase SABMiller....

 

Case Against West Valley Over "Gang Sweep" at West High School Ends; Plaintiffs and ACLU Call for Changes to City Police Policy and Practice
The federal court Monday entered a judgment against West Valley City and its police chief in a case brought by three former West High School students over a 2010 school-based “gang sweep” that prompted a class action lawsuit by the ACLU of Utah and the ACLU Racia...

 

Hatch: Non-Partisan Scorekeeper Agrees, Obamacare Hurts Jobs
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) issued the following statement after the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a report that found under President Obama’s health law, the labor force is projected to be without about tw...

 

Salt Lake City Celebrates Anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights
On Thursday, December 10 the Salt Lake City Human Rights Commission and the Mayor’s Office of Diversity & Human Rights will host the 2015 Human Rights Day Celebration to commemorate the 67th anniversary of the United Nations ratification of the Universal Declaratio...

 

Advocates Call on EPA to Not Delay Utah's Clean Air Planning and Action
Clean air advocacy groups submitted a joint letter to EPA Region 8, urging the administrator to reject a proposed rule that would delay by 18 months the plan that will chart how Utah will clean its air....

 

Innovative Ideas Pitched at the Social Investors Forum Hosted by the Community Foundation of Utah
On December 1, 2015, the Community Foundation of Utah hosted its fourth Social Investors Forum....

Local Headlines

Salt Lake Tribune

Op-ed: Pass the America Gives More Act to keep charitable work going

Editorial: Utah officials rightly prepare for incoming refugees

Mormon church backs religious liberty after Trump comments

Rolly: Here’s a constituent Mayor Becker should have listened to

Will Phil Lyman get jail, or will judge agree ATV ride organizer has been punished enough?

Prosecutors: No Shurtleff/Swallow mention in Jeremy Johnson case

Salt Lake City OKs exclusive development deal for Utah Theater

Deseret News

Richard Davis: Religious liberty is for the popular and unpopular

Editorial: Police training to help victims of domestic abuse produces early success

San Juan County Commissioner Phil Lyman admits 'mistake' in illegal ATV ride

Reports: Utah gets top spot for charitable giving, volunteering

LDS Church releases statement on religious freedom as Donald Trump's Muslim controversy swirls

School district approves moving Provo High to city's west side

Salt Lake County Council delays budget approval, fights to avoid tax levy extension

Other

LDS Church emphasizes support for religious freedom following Donald Trump's comments (Daily Herald)

Holly Richardson enters Utah senate race, has built-in campaign team (Daily Herald)

Millner to sponsor early-education bills (Standard-Examiner)

Utah ranked as top charitable state (Standard-Examiner)

Summit County Council proposes $62.6 million budget (Park Record)

National Headlines

Obama’s ISIS response stirs Democratic angst about 2016 (The Hill)

Cruz blasts climate 'alarmists' (The Hill)

GOP rift opens as shutdown deadline nears (Politico)

Clinton forces see 3 possible GOP opponents (Politico)

Email shows Pentagon was ready to roll as Benghazi attack occurred (FOX News)

Poll: 68% of Trump’s supporters would vote for him if he bolts the GOP (USA Today)

The ISIS Trail of Death (NBC News)

Along with Trump’s rhetoric, the stakes for 2016 have risen dramatically (Washington Post)

Supreme Court Hears Arguments on 'One Person One Vote' (New York Times)

California members stall business on House floor as Democrats try to force gun control votes (Los Angeles Times)

Carly Fiorina struggling to break through with women (USA Today)