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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 lwebb@utahpolicy.com,.

Situational Analysis - October 14, 2020

Welcome to Wednesday. Washington State entomologists have lost track of a "feisty" female murder hornet after feeding her strawberry jam and outfitting her with a tracking device. She's out there somewhere . . . marshaling forces and plotting an attack on the country. Par for the course for 2020.

TICK TOCK

1 day to the 3rd Congressional District debate (10/15/2020)
1 days to the second presidential debate (10/15/2020)
5 days to the 2nd Congressional district debate (10/19/2020)
7 days to the Utah Attorney General debate (10/21/2020)
8 days to the third presidential debate (10/22/2020)
20 days to the 2020 election (11/3/2020)
97 days to inauguration day (01/20/2021)
103 days to the start of the 2021 Utah Legislature (1/25/2021)


Today At Utah Policy

images/mugs/MERRILL-NELSON.jpgGuest opinion: Thoughts on democracy and republic
By Rep. Merrill Nelson, R-Grantsville
Sen. Mike Lee is, of course, technically correct that the United States is a Republic rather than a Democracy. The Constitution itself "guarantee[s] to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government." (Art. IV, Sec. 4) We solemnly "pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands." Our Founders never used "Democracy" and "Republic" interchangeably-they understood the difference and warned against the extremes of democracy.
images/mugs-300/LaVarr_Webb.jpgWebb's Wrap: Battling the pandemic . . . Lee at SCOTUS hearings . . . 2nd district race
By LaVarr Webb
The state's new pandemic-fighting regime should motivate all Utahns to take personal responsibility for staying healthy and slowing the spread of COVID-19. Notably, the new guidelines don't shut the state down. Businesses can keep operating and children can continue to go to school. The economy can continue its growth. The main focus is on mask-wearing and social distancing - which is where the emphasis should be. The focus is also on social and family gatherings, which is where the spread is mostly occurring. In a Salt Lake Chamber board meeting Tuesday morning, business leaders noted that workplace and classroom spread is minimal, but employees and students are catching the virus at home and at social gatherings.
Guest opinion: Amendment G is sleight of hand
By Dr. Richard Kendell
I would like to propose a different interpretation of the purposes commonly suggested by Constitutional Amendment G proponents. The amendment language says that education money can be spent for children and people with disabilities. Currently the state uses approximately $600 million of general revenue funds for programs that fall into the category of children and the disabled. With Amendment G, the Legislature can pay the same $600 million for children and the disabled by simply switching funding sources. In brief, general fund revenue is replaced by education fund revenue.

Utah Headlines

Deseret News

Salt Lake Tribune

Other



National Headlines



Policy News

Meet Amendment G: Education funding & taxes, Utah's proposed constitutional amendment
As part of the Salt Lake Chamber's Meet the Candidates Series, we will virtuially discuss Amendment G on Thursday, Oct. 15, 4-5 p.m. Amendment G is the proposed constitutional amendment addressing income tax and education funding. Join our panel of education leaders, tax experts and the Legislative architects of the proposal to learn how this amendment is intended to address education funding and the structural issues of Utah's tax system. Register HERE.
Speaker Wilson statement on the new Transmission Index
Brad Wilson, speaker of the Utah House of Representatives, issued the following statement regarding the governor's announcement of the new Transmission Index: "As COVID-19 cases have risen sharply across our state, it has become evident that the color-coded system implemented during the first weeks of the pandemic was no longer meeting the needs of the ongoing response. The new Transmission Index is data-driven and sets statewide standards while empowering local elected and health officials to tailor restrictions to address local needs. Most importantly, this places responsibility for our state's response with each of us individually. By showing where we are and what it will take for restrictions to be relaxed, we should all be eager to do our part as individuals, families, and businesses to drive our case rate as low as possible."
U.S. Chamber endorses Blake Moore in Utah's 1st Congressional District
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has announced its endorsement of Blake Moore (R) to represent Utah's First Congressional District in this open-seat contest. The U.S. Chamber is proud to endorse Moore in efforts to promote free enterprise and job-creating policies for businesses across all regions and sectors.
McAdams' competitor to endorse him
Jonia Broderick, United Utah Party congressional candidate in the 4th District, will endorse Congressman Ben McAdams on Wednesday. McAdams said in anticipation of the event, "I'm honored and grateful to have this endorsement from another 4th Congressional District candidate. I know from my conversations with Jonia that she supports my track record of bridging divides and bringing Utahns together to solve challenging issues and believes I'm the candidate who will deliver on that. I greatly respect her effort to serve Utah voters in elected office and thank her for her contributions as a candidate and as a community leader. I serve Utahns from all political parties as their independent voice in Congress."

BUSINESS HEADLINES


ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

(From History.com)

1912 - Presidential candidate Theodore Roosevelt is wounded by a gunman before a campaign speech in Milwaukee, Wisc. He recovers, but is defeated by Democrat Woodrow Wilson.

1947 - U.S. Air Force Captain Chuck Yeager becomes the first person to break the sound barrier, flying an X-1 rocket plane over Rogers Dry Lake in California, reaching a speed of 662 mph.

1957 - "Wake Up Little Susie" becomes the Everly Brothers' first No. 1 hit.

1964 - Civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his nonviolent resistance to racial prejudice in America.


Wise Words

Saint and Sinner: "The only difference between the saint and the sinner is that every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future." Oscar Wilde

Lighter Side

Three Questions

A new client had just come in to see a famous lawyer.
"Can you tell me how much you charge?", said the client.
"Of course", the lawyer replied, "I charge $200 to answer three questions!"
"Well that's a bit steep, isn't it?"
"Yes it is", said the lawyer, "And what's your third question?"

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