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Situational awareness - June 18, 2018

Good Monday morning from Salt Lake City. 

Utahns support Medicaid expansion. Count My Vote takes their case to the Supreme Court. The policy of separating immigrant families roils Washington.

 

  TICK TOCK   

The final day to register to vote online or in person before the primary election is tomorrow (6/19/2018) 4 days until in-person early primary voting ends (6/22/2018) 8 days until the 2018 Primary Election (6/26/2018) 141 days until the 2018 midterm elections (11/6/2018) 224 days until the first day of the 2019 Utah Legislature (1/28/2019) 869 days until the 2020 presidential election (11/3/2020)

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  HERE ARE THE STORIES WE'RE WATCHING TODAY  

Utahns support Medicaid expansion

Our latest poll of likely voters finds nearly 2/3rds of Utahns would vote for the ballot initiative to fully expand Medicaid [Utah Policy].

Count My Vote heads to court

Backers of the Count My Vote ballot initiative have appealed to the Utah Supreme Court, claiming the state's process for allowing Utahns to remove their names from a ballot petition is unconstitutional [Utah Policy].

4th District fundraising

Republican Mia Love has raised nearly $3 million for this year's election, but Democrat Ben McAdams has slightly more money in the bank [Utah Policy].

Utah's economy still roaring

Utah's unemployment rate ticked down slightly in May while Utah's job creation rate continues to be best in the nation [Utah Policy].

How to fill legislative vacancies

Our "Political Insiders" agree with a plan to hold a special election for a legislative vacancy rather than let party delegates pick a replacement [Utah Policy].

Chamber attacks Trump nominee

The Salt Lake Chamber takes a firm stand against Ronald Mortensen, who has been nominated by President Donald Trump to be Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration. Mortensen has repeatedly expressed anti-immigration views [Utah Policy].

  OTHER UTAH HEADLINES   

Salt Lake County Mayor vetoes a controversial high-density housing development near Herriman [Deseret News, Tribune].
The Utah Transit Authority plans to review discount fare programs since passenger fares only account for 14% of the organization's revenue [Tribune].
Two female employees of former Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson's law firm allege gender discrimination and harassment in the workplace, but they can't file a lawsuit because a quirk in Utah law won't allow it [Tribune].
Wealthy homebuyers are snapping up expensive homes in Utah, which could drive up real estate prices across the state [Tribune].

  NATIONAL HEADLINES  

Nearly 2,000 children were separated from their parents at the U.S. border over the last six weeks according to Department of Homeland Security figures [Associated Press].
Border patrol officials allowed reporters to see inside a detention facility where it holds families. Journalists described hundreds of children sitting inside cages made of metal fencing. One cage held as many as 20 children [Associated Press].
The Trump administration policy of separating children from parents who are seeking asylum at the southern U.S. border is starting to divide Republicans in Washington [Associated Press]. 
The Trump administration says their policy of separating immigrant families is the law, but it's not [ABC News].
House Republicans will vote on two immigration bills this week, but they're not sure if President Trump will sign either if they pass [The Hill].
Special counsel Robert Mueller's team has told President Trump's lawyers if he agrees to a sit-down interview, they will wrap up the obstruction of justice part of their probe within 90 days [Washington Post].
Longtime Trump associate Roger Stone says he met with a Russian who offered damaging information on Hillary Clinton in exchange for cash during the 2016 presidential election [Washington Post].
Peter Strzok, the FBI agent removed from the Russia probe because of anti-Trump text messages says he's willing to testify before Congress without immunity, and he would not invoke his Fifth Amendment rights [Washington Post].
House Republicans may attempt to remove Paul Ryan as Speaker before the end of the year [Breitbart].
The Senate is set to pass legislation blocking President Trump's deal to save Chinese telecom giant ZTE [The Hill].
The House is set to pass more than 50 bills addressing the opioid epidemic [The Hill].
The Supreme Court will rule on the constitutionality of partisan gerrymandering in the coming weeks as they move toward the end of the current term [The Hill].
The proposal to split California into three separate states would likely give Democrats more seats in Congress [The Hill].

  ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY   

1778 - American Revolutionary War: British troops abandon Philadelphia.
1812 - The U.S. declaration of war upon the United Kingdom is signed by President James Madison, beginning the War of 1812.
1815 - The Battle of Waterloo results in the defeat in the defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte by the Duke of Wellington and Field Marshal Gebhard von Blucher, forcing him to abdicate the throne of France for the second and last time.
1873 - Susan B. Anthony is fined $100 for attempting to vote in the 1872 presidential election.
1940 - The "Finest Hour" speech is delivered by Winston Churchill.
1979 - SALT II is signed by the United States and the Soviet Union.
1983 - Astronaut Sally Ride becomes the first American woman in space.

Today At Utah Policy

Voters appear ready to approve Medicaid expansion ballot measure new poll shows
By Bob Bernick, Contributing Editor
Nearly two-thirds of Utahns support the Medicaid expansion citizen initiative petition that will be on November's ballot for voter approval or rejection, a new UtahPolicy.com poll shows....'Political Insiders' say special elections, not party delegates, should fill legislative vacancies
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
Sen. Curt Bramble says Utah should change the way the state fills midterm vacancies in the Legislature....Utah's unemployment rate dipped slightly in May
By Press Release
Utah's nonfarm payroll employment for May 2018 grew by an estimated 3.5 percent, adding 51,900 jobs to the economy since May 2017. Utah's current employment level registers 1,516,000. No revision was made to April's year-over job growth rate....Count My Vote appeals to the Supreme Court claiming Utah's signature removal process for initiatives is unconstitutional
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
Backers of the Count My Vote ballot initiative filed their legal challenge to being kept off the November ballot on Friday afternoon....Love has raised nearly $3 million for the 2018 midterms, but McAdams has slightly more cash on hand
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
Here's another sign the 4th District race between Republican incumbent Mia Love and Democrat Ben McAdams is tightening up. McAdams has closed the money gap with Love and is ever so slightly ahead of her in campaign cash on hand. ...Immigration Task Force of the Salt Lake Chamber statement on the nomination of Ronald Mortensen to Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration
By Press Release
The Salt Lake Chamber Immigration Task Force issued the following statement on the nomination of Ronald Mortensen to Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration:...Whitley blog wins Utah Society of Professional Journalists awards
By UtahPolicy.com staff
Utah Policy contributor Jared Whitley won awards last week at the annual awards banquet of the Utah Society of Professional Journalists Headliners contest, taking the title for "Best Overall Blog" for his regular contributions to the site....

Policy News

Governor appoints Debra Jensen to the Second District Juvenile Court
Gov. Gary R. Herbert has appointed Debra Jensen as a judge on the Second District Juvenile Court....U.S. Department of Energy selects Utah for $140 million geothermal laboratory
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced Utah as the winning site to receive up to $140 million in funding across five years to build a first-of-its-kind research laboratory to advance next-generation geothermal technologies....Press release: A win for Weber County in the fight against intergenerational poverty
Two grants have been awarded from the Department of Work Force Services for approximately $75,000 each, totaling $150,000 to Weber County and its partners in their efforts to fight against intergenerational poverty....

Local Headlines

Salt Lake Tribune

Stuart Reid: Let us end the culture wars. Before they end us.

Op-ed: Curtis is the right representative for Utah's tech community

Op-ed: The need for a cool-down in the gun rights debate

Editorial: A steamy step to renewable energy in Utah

Utah's job growth continues to lead the nation as unemployment falls to new low

Utah may see a wave of wealthy people buying million-dollar homes. And it could drive up prices for everyone.

Utah drillers import fracking sand from Wisconsin, but there may a cheaper place to buy it right inside the Beehive State

McAdams vetoes Olympia Hills development after Herriman residents protest

Salt Lake Chamber attacks nomination of anti-illegal immigration activist Ron Mortensen to State Department

Count My Vote asks Utah Supreme Court to put direct primary initiative on the ballot

New UTA leaders will scrutinize discount programs as passenger fares make up only 14 percent of transit revenue

A job at former Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson's law office seemed like a dream, but two women say it was a sexist nightmare

Deseret News

Frank Pignanelli and LaVarr Webb: The scuttlebutt on SLC's mayoral race, Count My Vote and Utah's 4th District

Op-ed: In education, more money isn't always the right answer

Editorial: Less government and more care will lift others from poverty

Salt Lake County mayor vetoes controversial development near Herriman

Count My Vote asks Utah Supreme Court to throw out signature removal process

Same 2 candidates, but different race in 3rd Congressional District

Poor people are trapped behind bars. How Utah is using an algorithm to get some of them out

Utah Legislative races to watch in 2018 primary

Turning Utah's rocks into liquid gold

Other

Republicans vying for state Senate seat emphasize transportation issues and local control (Park Record)

Ogden lawyer, S. Ogden veterans advocate vie in GOP primary for Utah House post (Standard-Examiner)

National Headlines

Trump lawyer calls for inquiry on Mueller's Russia probe (AFP)

Arizona Republicans say it's inappropriate to talk about John McCain's Senate seat as questions linger over his future (Associated Press)

DOJ, House GOP lurch toward confrontation in document fight (Politico)

Justice Department to Comey: You sinned (Chicago Tribune)

Comey protected his ego at the expense of the FBI and the nation (New York Post)

Cartoonist claims he was fired after 25 years for making fun of Trump (FOX News)

'He's just become too angry': Pittsburgh Post-Gazette publisher defends firing cartoonist (Politico)

Giuliani suggests Trump may pardon Manafort after Mueller's probe (Washington Post)

FBI agent removed from Russia probe for anti-Trump texts says he's willing to testify before Congress (Washington Post)

Bitcoin Could Break the Internet, Central Bank Overseer Says (Bloomberg)

Minnesota regulators near decision on disputed oil pipeline (Associated Press)

Wise Words

Indispensable

"Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other." John F. Kennedy

Lighter Side

Cutting Edge Tech

"Microsoft is working on technology that removes the need for cashiers and checkout lines. This cutting-edge technology is known as "shoplifting."" Conan O'Brien

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