Situational Analysis | February 7, 2022

It's Monday and National Periodic Table Day. Wanna hear a joke about potassium? K

Lots of news from the weekend. Let's get started.

Be in the Know

1. Condolences to Rep. Stuart Barlow and the entire Barlow family on the passing of Haven J. Barlow, age 100. He served 42 years in the Utah legislature, in both the House and the Senate. 

2. The RNC met in Salt Lake City for their winter meeting. Chair Ronna Romney McDaniel led the effort to censure Rep. Liz Cheney and Rep. Adam Kinzinger for "participating in a Democrat-led persecution of ordinary citizens in legitimate political discourse." Liz Cheney responded with a video of the assault on the Capitol and noted "this is not 'legitimate political discourse'." Senator Mitt Romney - McDaniel's uncle - condemned the actions. ""Shame falls on a party that would censure persons of conscience, who seek truth in the face of vitriol. Honor attaches to Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger for seeking truth even when doing so comes at great personal cost."

3. The Utah Department of Health on Sunday announced it will temporarily pause the use of on-site rapid antigen tests at all state-operated testing sites starting Monday because of high false-negatives. 

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2022 Legislative Session

20 days done, 25 days to go

General

• Utah lawmakers to consider another Daylight Saving Time bill (Fox13)
• 2022 Legislative Session Week 3 with Special Guests: Rep. Carol Spackman Moss and Rep. Susan Pulsipher (Political as Heck)
• Dave R. Woolstenhulme and Derek Miller: Strengthen education and industry in Utah to prevent a crisis (Salt Lake Tribune)
• As Utah lawmakers near the mid-point of the 2022 Legislative Session, our panel evaluates the consequential bills passed so far. Plus, new polling reveals what Utahns are thinking about big issues. Robert Gehrke, The Salt Lake Tribune; Sonja Hutson, reporter with KUER; and Spencer Stokes, president of Stokes Strategies (Hinckley Report)

Today

Appropriations Meetings, 8 am

• Executive Offices and Criminal Justice, Higher Education, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environmental Quality, Social Services

Floor Time

• House - 11:00 - 12:15, 2:00 - 3:30
• Senate - 11:00 - 11:50, 2:00 - 3:30

Committee Meetings, 3:40 pm

• House Business and Labor, House Education, House Health and Human Services, House Public Utilities, Energy and Technology, Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice, Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment, Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology

Tomorrow

Appropriations Meetings, 8 am - Prioritization and final voting

• Business, Economic Development, and Labor, Infrastructure and General Government, Public Education

Floor Time

• House - 11:00 - 11:50
• Senate - 11:00 - 11:50

Business and Labor

Economic Development and Workforce Services

• New report finds the arts industry pumps big money into economy, despite pandemic setbacks (ABC4)

Government Operations

• Surveillance at ballot drop boxes and photo ID requirements for new voters: New Utah bill would tighten election laws (Salt Lake Tribune)

Health and Human Services

• Facing a terminal illness, Kylie wanted to die with dignity. But the state said she didn’t have the right. It’s time for Utah to adopt a “Death With Dignity” law (Salt Lake Tribune)
• Addressing mental health and suicide in Utah (ABC4)

Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice

• Why the bill to end Utah’s death penalty is facing a tough legislative battleground. Top Republican House leaders say they personally oppose bill. Utah Attorney General’s office also stands against it. (Deseret News)

Utah Headlines

General

• Cycle of winning: three years of contest winnings from Mountain Heights Academy propel STEM program forward (West Jordan Journal)
• "Traumatic events that occur during one’s childhood will impact that person in some way the rest of his or her life," says Susan Madsen. People must confront child sexual abuse. (Deseret News)
• Is racism a sin? Yes, but Derwin Gray thinks there’s more to healing the racial divide (Deseret News)
• President Astrid Tuminez: Utah should keep its engineering momentum going. Substantive investments and the right strategic partnerships will allow Utah to shape itself into a game-changer in the modern economy (Deseret News)
• Jordan School District board member steps up to help custodial team (KSL)
• How to watch Utahn Nathan Chen in the Olympics figure skating individual short program (Deseret News)
• From deadly TikTok challenges to fraternity hazing, children benefit from learning that it’s okay to be different from their peers (Deseret News)
• Sen. Mike Lee visits Riverton business, discusses inflation impacts (Fox13)

Elections

• Voting by mail is not associated with significant, widespread voter fraud, writes Derek Monson, vice president of policy at Utah's conservative Sutherland Institute, which has published look at the history of mail-in ballots. (Salt Lake Tribune)
• Utah author and activist Darlene McDonald has launched her second bid for the Democratic nomination in the 4th Congressional District, with hopes of challenging Republican incumbent Burgess Owens. (Salt Lake Tribune)
• Utah County police group issues 'no confidence' declaration for county's top prosecutor, David Leavitt (Deseret News)

Environment

• George Handley: The myth of the irreparable Utah Lake (Deseret News)
• Utah man Jeremy Roberts wants federal investigation of damage to Moab area dinosaur tracks (Deseret News)

COVID Corner

• Friday's numbers: 2808 new cases, 13 new deaths
• A Utah mom is getting hate mail from COVID deniers as she cares for two fragile children and recovers from pregnancy complications. (Salt Lake Tribune)
• US death toll from COVID-19 hits 900,000, less than 2 months after hitting 800,000. “We got the medical science right. We failed on the social science." (KSLTV)
• What does Utah’s sewage say now about how prevalent COVID is in our communities? (Salt Lake Tribune)
• .S. hospitals are buckling under the weight of omicron — and it's forcing them to put off essential procedures for everything from heart conditions to cancer. "We're seeing patients suffer," a Seattle doctor says. (NPR)

National Headlines

General

• A controversial Tennessee pastor held a book burning this week, saying it was his church's "biblical right" to destroy "... cultic materials that they deem are a threat to their religious rights and freedoms and belief system." Those books include the 'Harry Potter' and 'Twilight' series (NBC News)
• Frontier Airlines buying Spirit in $3B low-cost carrier deal (AP)

Politics

• Pence Calls Trump Wrong in Claiming Vice President Could Overturn Election Result (Wall Street Journal)
• National Archives had to retrieve Trump White House records from Mar-a-Lago (Washington Post)
• Trump and allies try to redefine racism by casting White men as victims (Washington Post)
• Trump, DeSantis tensions shadow this year's CPAC (The Hill)
• Trump was advised by 'snake oil salesmen,' former Pence chief of staff says (Politico)

International

• Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai walked back her sexual assault allegations against a powerful Chinese official and said she was retiring from playing tennis competitively in a carefully-managed interview. (NPR)
• The world forgot this Syrian prison. The Islamic State did not. A staggering ISIS attack revealed the enduring strength of the group (Washington Post)
• Russia could invade Ukraine within days, causing up to 50,000 civilian deaths, U.S. intelligence assessments find (Washington Post)
• One American hacker suddenly took down North Korea’s internet—all of it (Forbes)
• A 5-year-old boy who had been trapped 32 meters underground in a well in Morocco for four days was found dead following a lengthy rescue attempt that had captivated the Arab world. (ABC News)
• Israeli, Palestinian figures propose 2-state confederation (AP)

Guest opinion: Building dreams in The Other Side Village

by Larry Alan Brown

Emma came within hours of being evicted from a decrepit, cockroach-infested apartment and into the streets. A mood disorder and years of bad choices had landed her in a dismal life of alcohol, drugs, unemployment, and an ever-shifting circle of equally troubled outcasts. It was heartbreaking to watch her deteriorate from a self-sufficient, intelligent and witty young woman with a gleaming smile into the sickly, self-destructive shell she had become. She had fallen into the hell of hopelessness and couldn’t see a way out.

But she was rescued at the last moment when the caring people at a non-profit advocate for the homeless issued her an emergency housing voucher to stay in a motel. It was an old, worn-out building, occupied mainly by rootless, transient souls struggling to live day-to-day. Police cars were a regular sight as they responded to loud, drug-fueled arguments and suspicious trespassers. Unknown drunks banged on Emma’s door at all hours. She was deeply grateful for the room, but she still didn’t feel safe. It’s also hard to stay clean with others using drugs all around.

Another compassionate non-profit, The Other Side Village, is committed to providing safe, long-term housing and other life-changing opportunities for people like Emma in a sober-living environment. The Village will serve unsheltered citizens who have been derailed by life’s unexpected traumas such as the loss of a job, a chronic and debilitating medical condition or disease, among other devastating circumstances. They are people who have been chronically homeless. They are people with treatable mental health challenges and addictions who can’t afford the medicine or therapy to overcome them. Most importantly, they are people who have demonstrated the desire and capability to become self-sustaining.  (Read More)

News Releases

Utah County Law Enforcement’s declaration of No Confidence in Utah County Attorney David Leavitt

Utah County Law Enforcement has no confidence in Utah County Attorney David Leavitt’s ability and fitness to perform his duties as the county’s lead prosecuting attorney. This public declaration is a result of their collective experience with the prosecution policies and procedures implemented by David Leavitt during his first term in office. Unitedly, it is declared David Leavitt fails to provide for the safety and protection of Utah County residents through the proper enforcement of enacted laws and prosecution of criminal offenders...

As a result of David Leavitt’s actions and policies, your Utah County law enforcement community has no confidence in David Leavitt’s ability to fulfill the role of Utah County Attorney. WE request and encourage all residents to NOT re-elect David Leavitt in 2022, nor sign any petition in support of his re-election campaign. (Read More)

Romney joins entire Senate Republican conference in fight to stop resurrection of Biden-Obama WOTUS overreach

U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) joined his Senate Republican colleagues, led by Senator John Thune (R-SD), in urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to suspend the pending rulemaking to redefine the scope of waters protected under the Clean Water Act (CWA), specifically “waters of the United States” (WOTUS), until the U.S. Supreme Court completes its consideration of Sackett v. EPA, a case that is expected to have major implications on CWA scope and enforcement. (Read More)

Reps. Curtis, Pappas & Senators Rubio, Menendez call for renaming of Taiwan’s diplomatic outpost

Congressman Curtis (R-UT), Congressman Pappas (D-NH), Senator Rubio (R-FL) and Senator Menendez (D-NJ) introduced the Taiwan Representative Office Act to rename Taiwan’s diplomatic outpost currently named the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office to the Taiwan Representative Office.

“It is long overdue to correctly recognize the de facto embassy of our longtime friend and ally, Taiwan, as the Taiwan Representative Office,” said Curtis. “We shouldn’t tolerate pressure from China to undermine the sovereignty of the Taiwanese people, which China is also attempting to do by pressuring Lithuania and other countries. America should stand by our democratic allies, and always stand with our friends around the world facing pressure and coercion from authoritarian regimes. (Read More)

Romney, Klobuchar, Bennet honor U.S. Olympic, Paralympic athletes ahead of 2022 Winter Games

U.S. Senators Mitt Romney (R-UT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Michael Bennet (D-CO) announced that their bipartisan resolution honoring Team USA Olympic and Paralympic athletes ahead of the 2022 Winter Games has passed the Senate unanimously. In a video message, Senator Romney sent his well wishes to the Utahns and all of the athletes competing for Team USA. (Read More)

Lt. Gov. Henderson to hold town hall

Lt. Gov. Henderson will hold a public town hall Thursday, Feb 10, 2022 at 7:00 pm in Spanish Fork to allow constituents to ask questions regarding elections and other priorities of the Cox-Henderson administration. This town hall is open to the entire community and will aim to inform and engage. Rick Larsen will moderate the discussion. (Read More)

Gov. Cox commends long-standing Commissioner G. Edward “Ed” Leary for his distinguished commitment to public service

After 45 years at the Utah Department of Financial Institutions, G. Edward “Ed” Leary has announced his retirement as commissioner. Gov. Spencer J. Cox accepted his resignation this morning.  

“The impact Commissioner Leary has had on the state’s financial institutions cannot be overstated,” Gov. Cox said. “Ed is one of the most well-respected people involved in financial regulation in the nation, hands down. He earned that reputation through an incredible track record of success including facilitating interstate banking, updating ATM law, initiating reduced regulatory fees, restructuring Utah trust laws, supporting industrial banking in Utah and so much more. We thank him for his vision and leadership, and wish him a wonderful and well-deserved retirement.” (Read More)

Number of the Day

Tweet of the Day

Upcoming

• The Emergence of the Crypto Economy with the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation and special guests – Feb. 16, 10 am MST. Register here.
• Campaign filing period: Feb 28-March 4 (early this year!)
• State of the Union address – Mar 1, 7 pm MST
• Utah legislative session ends – Mar 4, 2022, midnight
• Fireside chat with Justice Clarence Thomas hosted by the Hatch Foundation – Mar 11, 2022, 7 pm. Register here.
• Campaign Management Training with Utah Farm Bureau – Mar 24-25, registration deadline March 1. Register here

On This Day In History

• 1812 - Charles Dickens is born.
• 1812 - A series of earthquakes causes a “fluvial tsunami” in the Mississippi River, causing the river to run backwards.
• 1867 - Laura Ingalls Wilder is born.
• 1872 - Amy Brown Lyman is born in the tiny farming community now known as Pleasant Grove, Utah. She brought social work to Utah and worked to reduce maternal and child mortality.
• 1902 - Full US-Cuba embargo announced by JFK.
• 1918 - Ruth Sager is born. A scientist, she worked on corn genetic research in plants, studied cancer research after 1975 and became professor of cellular genetics and chief of the Cancer Genetics Division at Harvard Medical School.
• 1904 - The Great Baltimore fire begins. It burned more than 1500 buildings to the ground and another 1000 were severely damaged. Miraculously, no one died. 
• 1945 - President Truman appointed Irwin C. Mollison judge of the US Customs Court, making him the first Black federal judge in the U.S.
• 1964 - The Beatles arrive in New York
• 1979 - Josef Mengele, the “Angel of Death,” dies of a stroke in Brazil. His death was not verified until 1985. 
• 1984 - Navy Captain Bruce McCandless II becomes the first human being to perform an untethered space walk.
• 1992 - European Union treaty signed. 
• 2001 - Anne Morrow Lindbergh, American author, aviator and bereaved mother, dies at 94
• 2002 - President George W. Bush announces plan for faith-based initiatives

Wise Words

“I do not believe that sheer suffering teaches. If suffering alone taught, all the world would be wise, since everyone suffers. To suffering must be added mourning, understanding, patience, love, openness, and the willingness to remain vulnerable.”

―Anne Morrow Lindbergh,Gift from the Sea

Lighter Side

Q: What’s Iron Man’s favorite amusement park ride

A: The ferrous wheel.

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