Campaign tips for people with disabilities; Sen. Romney tests positive for COVID; Gov. Cox denounces election misinformation | | | The Utah Policy newsletter is your one-stop source for political and policy-minded news. We scour the news so you don't have to! Send news tips or feedback to Holly Richardson at editor@utahpolicy.com. | | |
Situational Analysis | January 31, 2022 It's Monday and National Bubble Wrap Day. Pop away. Be in the Know Rep. Jordan Teuscher has pulled his bill that would require Utah's public school teachers to post all learning material and syllabi for parents to review or face a lawsuit. In his statement about the bill, he said a "coordinated misinformation campaign" has led to him "putting out fires" and that there was not enough time left in the session to explain. The president of the UEA, Heidi Matthews, said "This bill is insulting, burdensome and will not succeed in increasing transparency, but will certainly succeed in driving people from our profession." | | |
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2022 Legislative Session 12 days down, 33 to go General Rep. Mike Winder: "There is support mounting for an across-the-board income tax cut, which I applaud, but I also implore my colleagues in both chambers to consider special help to low-and moderate-income working families." (Deseret News) Utah Gov. Cox denounces voting misinformation during Politico summit in Washington (Salt Lake Tribune) Utah legislature considers resolution in support of the Adoptee Citizenship Act (ABC4) Utah capitol security makes upgrades, but guns still allowed (KUTV) Week 2 Legislative Recap: Education curriculum, tax cuts and the golden eagle (KUER) Budget surplus and legislative priorities (Hinckley Report) Today Appropriations Subcommittees, 8 am Business, Economic Development, and Labor, Infrastructure and General Government, Public Education, Social Services Floor Time Senate - 11:00 - 11:50 House - 11:00 - 11:50 Committee hearings, 2 pm House Judiciary, House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice, House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment, House Transportation, Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services, Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions, Senate Revenue and Taxation Tomorrow Two-a-days starting for floor time Appropriations Subcommittees, 8 am Executive Offices and Criminal Justice, Higher Education, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environmental Quality, Social Services Floor Time Senate - 11:00 - 11:50, 2:00 - 3:30 House - 11:00 - 12:15, 2:00 - 3:30 Health and Human Services Susan R. Madsen: Utah is finally addressing the crisis of unaffordable quality childcare (Salt Lake Tribune) Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Bill to protect pets from domestic violence abuse clears Utah House (Deseret News) 'This is to give them hope': Utah bill aims to give convicts second chance at finding work (KUTV) Bill to expand Utah's animal cruelty laws is resurrected and passed (Fox13) Revenue and Taxation Utah GOP, Democratic lawmakers will join to try scrapping state food tax (KUTV) Transportation Utah bill seeks to preserve some parking spaces for those with wheelchairs (KSL) Utah Headlines General Utah used to be distinguished as white, homogenous and sparsely populated with homegrown Latter-day Saint families. Now, demographer Pam Perlich says the state is "much more multilingual, multiethnic, multicultural and multireligious." (Salt Lake Tribune) Utah in 40 years: 5.5 million strong â and counting. A graphic look at how the state will change. (Salt Lake Tribune) Thousands of pounds of food, water and emergency supplies will soon be sent from Utah to the island nation of Tonga. (KUTV) Patient arrested after attacking nurse at Utah Valley Hospital (KSL TV) Utah County man turns his grief into happiness by connecting with, serving others (KSL) Intermountain West employment is a story of extremes in 2021 (Deseret News) Is Salt Lake City about to lose its seats on the inland port board? It would be âretaliatory,â mayor says (Salt Lake Tribune) Iron County school board to expand to 7 districts; officials to hold town hall on possible new boundaries (St. George News) Elections Becky Edwards: Here are my three priorities if elected to the Senate (Deseret News) Republican Ally Isom is seeking Mike Leeâs U.S. Senate seat (KPCW) COVID Corner Friday's numbers: 6166 new cases, 10 new deaths Utah Sen. Mitt Romney tests positive for COVID-19 (KUTV) Utahns rally for health officials â not politicians â to determine COVID policies (Deseret News) Counties with highest COVID-19 infection rates in Utah: Cache, Box Elder, Wasatch, Utah and Tooele (ABC4) The ups (weight) and downs (mental health) of the pandemic (Deseret News) Pignanelli and Webb: How on earth did masks become so political? (Deseret News) Omicron cases drop even as deaths rise. Plus, a new variant has arrived in the U.S. (NPR) Americaâs split-screen pandemic: Many families resume their lives even as hospitals are overwhelmed (Washington Post) CDC announces cruise ship COVID-19 protocols have expired (ABC4) National Headlines General Rents are up 40 percent in some cities, forcing millions to find another place to live (Washington Post) Russia, US to square off at UN Security Council over Ukraine (AP) Stock Futures Waver on Final Day of Tumultuous Month (Wall Street Journal) Politics The House committee investigating the U.S. Capitol insurrection subpoenaed more than a dozen individuals Friday who it says falsely tried to declare Donald Trump the winner of the 2020 election in seven swing states. (KUTV) Trump's suggestion he pardon the January 6 rioters if he wins in 2024 is the 'stuff of dictators,' former Nixon counsel warns (Business Insider) Trumpâs Grip on G.O.P. Faces New Strains (New York Times) Courts They lean left on every issue but abortion. What would a post-Roe v. Wade world look like for them? (Deseret News) Perspective: The radical reasonableness of retiring Justice Stephen Breyer (Deseret News) International North Korea missile tests: Photos from space released (BBC) Socialists win reelection in Portugal, eye major investments (AP) In Kazakh Uprising, Reports of Widespread Abuses by Security Forces (New York Times) Russia relocates naval exercise near Ireland after Irish fishermen said they would disrupt it (Washington Post) | | |
News Releases Statement from Senator Romneyâs office The office of U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) today released the following statement: âSenator Romney tested positive today for COVID-19. He is currently asymptomatic and will be isolating and working remotely for the recommended period of time. Mrs. Romney has tested negative. Both Senator and Mrs. Romney have been fully vaccinated and boosted against the virus.â New advocacy group forms in Utah Raise Your Hand Utah is a new advocacy group in the state, formed as a grassroots, not-for-profit organization to promote widespread community engagement in education. It intends to address pressing educational issues, endorse candidates for upcoming local school board races and provide a rational voice for parents, teachers and students. Raise Your Hand Utahâs 10-member operating board is first and foremost made up of parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles of school-age children. Board members also have experience at all levels of the public school system in Utah. They plan to weigh in on legislation and partner with other advocacy groups, as they encourage others to join the conversation in courageous, compassionate, empathetic, smart and civil ways. For more information, please visit Raise Your Hand Utah's website and Twitter account. (Read More) Gov. Cox names new state Medicaid Director Gov. Spencer J. Cox announced the appointment of Jennifer Strohecker as the stateâs new Medicaid Director. The appointment is subject to approval by the Utah Senate. Since 2018, Strohecker has been the director of the Bureau of Healthcare Policy and Authorization and the Medicaid pharmacy director, where she has developed and implemented medical and pharmacy policy. During COVID-19, she successfully pivoted service delivery for Medicaid recipients to a telehealth model, allowing high-risk individuals with autism, dialysis and other chronic conditions continued access to treatments. (Read More) Utah Senate passes more than $160 million income tax cut for Utahns After cutting taxes for families, veterans and elderly Utahns during the 2021 General Session, the Senate set its sights on more than a $160 million income tax cut for all Utahns. On Friday, the Senate passed S.B. 59 State Income Tax Rate Reduction, which reduces income tax from 4.95% to 4.85%. The bill provides relief for all taxpayers while enabling the Legislature to invest in education, transportation, public health, water and more key areas that matter to Utahns. âOver the last few years, the Legislature implemented significant tax reductions,â said Sen. Dan McCay, sponsor of S.B. 59. âBecause of conservative, fiscally sound policy, our state is in a position to reduce taxes across the board. Income tax is burdensome on Utah families and a targeted approach to giving income tax relief will benefit all Utahns.â (Read More) Campaign tips for persons with disabilities by Ed Carter When you are a person with a disability, you know that the world was not built with you in mind. But, you have a unique point of view, and your ideas and aspirations can make a huge and positive impact in your community. If you decide to turn these into actionable changes by running for local office, youâre one step closer to making the world a more equitable place. Here are a few tips to get you started. Know the issues, improve your qualifications, be authentic, refine your speeches, practice answering questions, choose the right team and maintain professionalism. (Read More for additional details) There may be days when you are at your witâs end and frustrated with the political climate of your area. But, you canât let this get to you. Maintain your professionalism and remember that you are trying to be a public servant. Make sure that your communication skills remain on point and that you maintain respect and a collaborative attitude before, during, and after election season. Running even a small office takes work. The above tips are in no way a full list of things you need to be successful. However, each will put you closer to feeling more comfortable putting yourself out there to take on your first official role in your local government. | | |
Upcoming The Emergence of the Crypto Economy with the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation and special guests â Feb. 16, 10 am MST. Register here. State of the Union address â Mar 1, 7 pm MST Utah legislative session ends â Mar 4, 2022, midnight Fireside chat with Justice Clarence Thomas hosted by the Hatch Foundation â Mar 11, 2022, 7 pm Campaign Management Training with Utah Farm Bureau â Mar 24-25, registration deadline March 1. Register here | | |
On This Day In History From History.com 1865 - Congress passes the 13th Amendment, abolishing slavery in America (passes 121-24) 1870 - Mary Woolley Chamberlain is born. She, along with 4 other women, was elected to the Kanab city council in 1911. 1876 - The United States orders all Native Americans to move into reservations. 1915 - Thomas Merton, French-American Catholic writer and Trappist monk is born in Prades, Pyrénées-Orientales, France 1919 - Jackie Robinson is born. 1940 - The Social Security Administration issues the first Social Security check in the amount of $22.54 to Ida May Fuller. 1950 - President Harry Truman supports development of the hydrogen bomb. 1968 - Viet Cong attack U.S. Embassy in Saigon. 1988 - Don Williams became the first African American to start and win a Super Bowl. Playing for the Washington Redskins, he led Washington to a 42-10 victory over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXII. 1990 - First McDonaldâs open in the Soviet Union. 2000 - Alaska Airlines flight 261 MD-83 crashes in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Point Mugu, California, killing all 88 persons aboard. 2006 - US Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor retires and is replaced by Samuel Alito Wise Words âIf you want to study the social and political history of modern nations, study hell.â -Thomas Merton Lighter Side "Sheâs going to be qualified â and why is that a bad thing? Why not make the Supreme Court a little more representative of the country it represents? I mean, their rulings impact the lives of every person in the country, so it would be nice to have at least one justice on there whoâs had to ask the Walgreens guy to unlock the shampoo shelf.â â TREVOR NOAH | | |
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