 The UtahPolicy.com daily newsletter gets you up to speed on the top local and national news about politics and public policy. Send news tips or feedback to bschott@utahpolicy.com, or message us on Twitter. Situational awareness - January 31, 2020Good morning from Salt Lake City and TGIF!TICK TOCKDays to the 2020 Iowa Caucuses: 4 (2/3/2020)Days to the New Hampshire primaries: 12 (2/11/2020)Days to the Utah presidential primaries: 33 (3/3/2020)Days to the final day of the 2020 Utah Legislature: 42 (3/12/2020)Days to the 2020 Utah primary elections: 152 (6/30/2020)Days to the 2020 election: 278 (11/3/2020)Days to the start of the 2021 Utah Legislature: 338 (1/25/2021)Thanks for subscribing to Utah's must-read daily political news rundown.If you know of friends or colleagues who would benefit from our daily news roundup, please encourage them to sign up for our emails.Here are the stories you need to pay attention to this morning:
TRIVIA TIME!Today's guest quizmaster is Tom Love who sends in this brainteaser: "When did Utah first institute a tax on food and what was it known as?" Send your answers to mailbag@utahpolicy.com. The third reader with the correct answer will get to ask next week's trivia question. Good luck! Today At Utah Policy No more signatures? Utah legislators working on a major change to how candidates get on the ballotBy Bryan Schott and Bob Bernick It's the issue that just won't die on Utah's Capitol Hill. Once again, there is an effort afoot to bring changes to the state's dual-path nominating system, more commonly known as SB54.  Bob Bernick's notebook: The effort to kill SB54 is all about Mike Lee and 2022By Bob Bernick, Contributing Editor Will the re-election of one high Utah official pave the way for denying voters the possibility of electing more moderate or "mainstream" Republicans to office?  House and Senate Republicans seek to forge a relationship with SLC Mayor MendenhallBy Bob Bernick, Contributing Editor In a continuation of Republicans on Capitol Hill welcoming Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall to office, the new mayor addressed the House and Senate GOP caucuses on Thursday at their invitation, receiving a warm welcome in both.  Impeachment: An Historical Overview (Part 4)By Michael E. Christensen, Ph.D. Editor's Note: This is the fourth and final installment of a four-part series by renowned public policy scholar Michael Christensen placing the impeachment of Donald Trump into historical context. Part 4 provides observations and outlines what history teaches about the Trump impeachment.  One lawmaker says Utah voters should elect judges, not have them appointed by the governorBy Bryan Schott, Managing Editor A proposed amendment to the Utah Constitution would radically change the way judges are chosen in the state. OTHER UTAH HEADLINESDeseret News
Salt Lake Tribune
NATIONAL HEADLINESImpeachment trial could end FridayRepublicans appear to have enough votes to reject calling extra witnesses in President Donald Trump's impeachment trial. A vote to acquit Trump could take place as soon as Friday evening [Politico]. Chief Justice John Roberts again refused to read a question from Sen. Rand Paul during Thursday's Q&A session [The Hill]. CoronavirusThe World Health Organization called the coronavirus a global health emergency on Thursday. The number of confirmed cases in China have topped 8,000 [Bloomberg]. Weak economic growthThe U.S. economy grew at just 2.1% in the last three months of 2019. Economic growth for all of last year was just 2.3%, the weakest since Donald Trump's election in 2016 [AP]. Brexit dayBritain officially leaves the European Union today [Bloomberg]. Sad trombonePart of President Trump's border wall fell over in high winds, landing on the Mexican side of the border [CNN]. President Trump's border wall is vulnerable to being knocked over by flash flooding. That problem will require hundreds of storm gates that must be left open for months every summer according to engineers familiar with the plans [Washington Post]. Bloomberg's Super Bowl adDemocrat Michael Bloomberg's $11 million Super Bowl ad focuses on gun control, not Donald Trump [Mashable]. BUSINESS HEADLINES
Policy News Curtis resolution reiterates no legal justification for war with Iran in AUMFRep. John Curtis (R-UT), member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, introduced a resolution emphasizing that the current Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) did not provide legal justification for war with Iran. YWCA Utah announces new CEO YWCA Utah's Board of Directors is pleased to announce Liz Owens, a longtime social justice advocate, as the organization's next Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Free tax help reaches more residents through community partnerships Tax season for Westminster College accounting students is an opportunity to gain practical experience while serving the community. Casual Friday: Weekend Events & Outdoors Report Outdoors Report -- KSL.com: Mountain-man shooting event grows in northern Utah-- KSL.com: Eminent domain proposed by lawmaker as a way to carve future recreation trails. More National Headlines
ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY1801 - John Marshall is appointed the Chief Justice of the United States. 1917 - Germany announces it will wage unrestricted submarine warfare against all ships, including passenger carriers, in war-zone waters. 1929 - The Soviet Union expelled communist revolutionary Leon Trotsky. He was assassinated in Mexico in August 1940. 1945 - U.S. Army Pvt. Eddie Slovik, 24, was executed by firing squad for desertion. His was the first U.S. execution for desertion since the Civil War. 1958 - Explorer 1, the first successful U.S. satellite, was launched from Cape Canaveral, Fla. 1990 - Moscow's first McDonald's restaurant opened. Wise WordsNature "For in the true nature of things, if we rightly consider, every green tree is far more glorious than if it were made of gold and silver."Martin Luther Lighter SideToo Much Trump Tweeting "He tweeted eight times in 20 minutes this morning. I wish Trump's Twitter account worked like when you log into online banking - you can only do it three times before they lock you out."- JIMMY KIMMEL Subscribers may receive special messages with information about new features, special offers, or public policy messages from clients and advertisers. |
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