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Situational Awareness: Friday, Feb. 16, 2018
Good Friday morning from Salt Lake City. Utah Policy Daily will take off President's Day on Monday. Have a great holiday weekend and we'll re-connect on Tuesday.
Realistic solutions are elusive as nation struggles with another horrific school shooting. Low-key Mitt Romney announcement expected today. U.S. Senate struggles mightily with immigration reform. Bernick: Too many state employees hanging out at the Legislature? Webb: Yes, 'elitists' spend big money on politics including to prop up the caucus/convention system.
Tick Tock:
- 20 days until the final day of the 2018 Utah Legislature (3/8/2018)
- 21 days until the filing period for candidates in the 2018 election opens (3/9/2018)
- 27 days until the filing deadline for the 2018 elections (3/15/2018)
- 32 days until the statewide caucus meetings for Utah Republicans and Democrats (3/20/2018)
- 64 days until the Utah GOP State Convention (4/21/2018)
- 71 days until the Utah Democratic State Convention (4/28/2018)
- 130 days until the 2018 Primary Election (6/26/2018)
- 262 days until the 2018 midterm elections (11/6/2018)
- 346 days until the first day of the 2019 Utah Legislature (1/28/2019)
- 992 days until the 2020 presidential election (11/3/2020)
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Here's what's driving the day:
Utah and Mormon community respond to school shooting
LDS community mourns Florida shooting victims, including two Mormon girls [Deseret News].
Legislators pass minor school safety bill, but debate how to best protest students [Tribune].
Romney to make it official
Romney calls legislative leaders in advance of announcement; most back him [Deseret News]. Romney would be a junior senator, but would have large impact and influence [Tribune]. Governor and GOP legislators defend Romney against attacks by Republican state chair [Tribune].
What about those 'elitists' using wealth in Utah politics?
Webb: Far right has its own wealthy patron bankrolling anti-Count My Vote efforts [Utah Policy].
Speaker Greg Hughes said to be on short list for Salt Lake Chamber CEO
Hughes says he's focused on finishing current legislation session, but wouldn't rule out a Chamber role. [Deseret News].
Is vote-by-mail too successful for some legislative leaders?
Bob Bernick: Mail-in balloting is becoming very successful. Some legislative leaders are suggesting "fair compromise" omnibus bill to make reforms [Utah Policy].
Temporary changes made in Senate leadership
Sen. Kevin Van Tassell will serve as majority leader while Sen. Ralph Okerlund prepares for possible heart and kidney transplants [Deseret News].
SB136 ushers in exciting new era for Utah transportation
Legislation breaks down silos and creates integrated, multi-modal approach to infrastructure development [Utah Policy].
National headlines:
- Tragedy in Florida: Nation mourns 17 lives senselessly lost. Solutions are elusive. [Washington Post]. AG Jeff Sessions says Justice Department will step up federal prosecutions of gun crimes [The Hill].
- Wall Street Journal suggests Trump might get an immigration deal if aide Stephen Miller wasn't directing the policy [WSJ].
- Inside the Senate's ugly immigration breakdown [Politico] [The Hill].
On this day in history:
- 1934 Thousands of Socialists battle Communists at a rally in New York's Madison Square Garden.
- 1945 American paratroopers land on Corregidor, in a campaign to liberate the Philippines.
- 1959 Fidel Castro takes the oath as Cuban premier in Havana.
- 1965 Four persons are held in a plot to blow up the Statue of Liberty, the Liberty Bell, and the Washington Monument.
Today At Utah Policy
 | What about those 'elitists' using wealth in Utah politics? For years, the far right in Utah has complained about the "elitists" and "wealthy few" who seek to "buy Utah's elections" by supporting the Count My Vote initiative. So it's hard not to escape the irony maybe the hypocrisy of the caucus/convention diehards being bankr... |
 | Bob Bernick's notebook: Is vote-by-mail too successful? Utah's mail-in balloting process is becoming very successful.Maybe too successful.UtahPolicy is hearing that GOP legislative leaders are considering doing something this session about the mail-in voting process in the state.... |
 | Proposal aims to crack down on state employees lobbying lawmakers Some Utah legislators believe there are too many state employees up on Capitol Hill during the 45-day general session lobbying them and taking up state resources.... |
 | Local media employees reportedly being pressured to nix public support for bill banning non-compete contracts It's not often major news organizations publicly lobby the Utah Legislature.... |
 | A fight Romney probably doesn't need to pick - Bernick and Schott on politics Ep. 361 Mitt Romney delays his Senate announcement. When he begins his campaign, he reportedly plans on avoiding questions about President Trump.... |
 | McCay pushing to eliminate constitutional warnings on proposed legislation Legal review "notes" that opinion a proposed bill is unconstitutional are, once again, being attacked from within the Legislature.... |
 | Rep. Hemingway taking care of ill wife in New York Utah Rep. Lynn Hemingway, D-Millcreek, has missed all of the 2018 Legislature so far, now more than halfway through.... |
 | SB136 ushers in exciting new era for Utah transportation & UTA The 2018 legislative session is in full swing and legislators have introduced an unprecedented number of new bills to date. There is a bill currently making its way through the legislative process that could fundamentally change how the state makes transportation investments... |
 | Podcast: Bernick and Schott on politics Ep. 361 Bob Bernick and Bryan Schott examine another big week on the Utah political landscape.... |
 | Weekly survey: What initiatives do you think will make the 2018 ballot? There could be six initiatives on the 2018 ballot, but only if their backers can gather the required number of signatures before mid-April.... |
 | Hughes: Expect lawmakers to pass 'some tax relief' this year Look for a state personal income tax cut coming this year, says Utah House Speaker Greg Hughes.... |
 | Report: Dougall may challenge Romney for GOP nomination: 'I think he's beatable' Utah State Auditor John Dougall says he may challenge Mitt Romney for the Utah GOP Senate nomination this year.... |
Policy News
| Casual Friday: Weekend Events & Outdoors Report Outdoor Notes--Tribune:It was supposed to be eagle day, but mild winter weather brought birds of a different feather to Utah refuges instead--Tribune:Utah's warm winter drives elk out of Hardware Ranch, leading to the early end of another popular outdoors event-- Tribune: Mo... |
| President Niederhauser Announces Temporary Changes In Senate Majority Leadership Today President Niederhauser, with unanimous support of the Senate Majority Caucus, named Senator Kevin Van Tassell as Senate Majority Leader Pro Tem. Senator Van Tassell, who was serving as the Senate Vice Chair of the Executive Appropriations Committee, will temporarily fi... |
 | Housing prices still on the rise as Wasatch Front consumer price index ticks upwards in January The Zions Bank Wasatch Front Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased 0.4 percent from December to January on a non-seasonally adjusted basis.... |
Local Headlines
Salt Lake Tribune
Michelle Quist: The Mormon church can be better at handling domestic violence
Utah lawmakers reject bill calling for mental-health care to be based on scientific evidence
Senate committee sends bill that would create a low-income tax credit to the floor for final vote
A potential Sen. Mitt Romney would have no seniority, but would that matter?
Gov. Herbert says new toughest-in-nation DUI law will stand without major changes
Mitt Romney a carpet-bagging outsider? Governor, lawmakers say he understands Utah well
After another shooting, Utah lawmakers pass a school safety bill - but say solutions are unclear
Salt Lake County township leaders soon may be called 'mayor'
Deseret News
Jay Evensen: Why we're letting Russians tell us how to vote
Editorial: Meaningful work for inmates points to lower recidivism
Panel OKs bill creating sex assault reporting guidelines for Utah universities
Bill allowing schools to install bolt locks to barricade classroom doors passes
Online jobs initiative aims to stop export of young adults from rural Utah
Utah House snuffs out tobacco-free Capitol bill
Utah Legislature has spoken: Philo T. Farnsworth needs to make way for Martha Hughes Cannon
Businesses showcase clean-technology products at Utah Capitol
Herbert talks drugs, alcohol, abortion
Temporary changes made in Senate leadership
Committee OKs bill giving $1M for counties to fight intergenerational poverty
Utah House Speaker Greg Hughes on short list of candidates to lead Salt Lake Chamber
Mitt Romney to launch Senate bid Friday, culling Utah lawmakers' support
Other
Study: Utah could save money with death penalty ban; bill could make it happen (Standard-Examiner)
Utah Rep. Dixon Pitcher won't seek re-election, Ogden lawyer to vie for spot (Standard-Examiner)
National Headlines
DOJ Official Bruce Ohr Hid Wife's Fusion GPS Payments From Ethics Officials (Daily Caller)
Oprah says God hasn't told her to run (CBS News)
Sharyl Attkisson Explains the Origins of the 2016 'Fake News' Narrative in TedX Talk (PJ Media)
Trump says he'll visit Florida, emphasize mental health after school shooting (Politico)
Senate Fails To Advance Any Immigration Proposals (NPR)
Rebuffing Sessions, senators advance criminal justice reform bill (CNN)
Peter Thiel, retreating from Silicon Valley's tech scene, is moving to LA (Los Angeles Times)
Wise Words
Standing Alone
"A leader does not deserve the name unless he is willing occasionally to stand alone." Henry Kissinger
Lighter Side
Elon Musk
"Elon Musk's company SpaceX is pretty amazing. They've successfully launched the world's most powerful rocket into space headed towards Mars. The rocket is named Falcon Heavy, although it prefers to be called Falcon Hey I'm Just Big-Boned." James Corden
