Friday's news at a glance: GOP leaders are racing to pass the alternative to Medicaid expansion. A controversial transgender bill may be unconstitutional. Utah could allow the permanent storage of depleted uranium.
Friday's political trivia: Gov. Gary Herbert delivered his 10th State of the State address this week. Herbert is currently the third longest-serving governor in Utah's history. Who is the longest-serving governor in the history of the U.S. and what other high offices did he hold? Send your guesses here via email. The first three people to get it right will get a shout out in Monday's newsletter.
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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. Our news is curated by Managing Editor Bryan Schott, along with help from Golden Webb. ((Click here to subscribe))
Today is the 32nd day of the year. There are 333 days remaining in 2019.
4 days until President Trump gives his State of the Union address (2/5/2019)
41 days until the final day of the 2019 Utah Legislature (3/14/2019)
92 days to the Utah State Republican Party Organizing Convention (5/4/2019)
122 days until the municipal election filing period opens (6/3/2019)
126 days until the municipal election filing period ends (6/7/2019)
193 days to the 2019 Utah primary elections (8/13/2019)
277 days to the 2019 municipal elections (11/5/2019)
360 days to the first day of the 2020 Utah Legislature (1/27/2020)
368 days to the 2020 Iowa Caucuses (2/3/2020)
636 days until the 2020 presidential election (11/3/2020)
Legislative lawyers warn a bill barring transgender Utahns from legally changing their sex on birth certificates may be unconstitutional
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
Legislative lawyers are warning a proposed bill to ban transgender Utahns from legally changing their gender on their birth certificate may be found unconstitutional if the law is challenged in court....
Bob Bernick's notebook: Legal protections for leaking to the media
By Bob Bernick, Contributing Editor
As it now appears, any Utah legislator can request, and then release to the press and public, what is known as a "constitutional note" on any bill, not just their own bill....
A quarter of a billion dollars - Bernick and Schott on politics Ep. 407
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
It's week one of the 2019 Utah Legislature. Bob Bernick and Bryan Schott take you through the big stories from the past week in Utah politics:...
GOP leaders want to get the Medicaid bill to Gov. Herbert's desk by next week
By Bryan Schott and Bob Bernick
Legislative leaders are fast-tracking SB96, the bill to undo the voter-approved Medicaid expansion, and say they plan to have the bill on Governor Gary Herbert's desk no later than next Friday....
House Republicans block 'right to die' bill, likely killing the legislation for 2019
By Bob Bernick, Contributing Editor
A Democratic-sponsored, end of life bill is, for now, dead in the Utah Legislature....
Proposal would allow permanent storage of depleted uranium in Utah
By Bob Bernick, Contributing Editor
Utah would be able to take depleted uranium byproducts for permanent storage under a bill being proposed by state Rep. Carl Albrecht....
Building Utah: 2019 Clear the Air Challenge kickoff
By Salt Lake Chamber
The 2019 Clear the Air Challenge starts Friday, February 1, 2019. The Challenge, issued by business, government and community leaders, is a month-long competition designed to encourage Utahns to reduce their vehicle emissions by choosing alternatives to driving alone....
Deseret News
Op-ed: Licensing hurts, not helps, Utahns
Op-ed: Actually, we can afford Medicaid expansion
Op-ed: Prop. 3 may inject billions into Utah's economy
Jay Evensen: Is it time to restrict voter initiatives?
Bill aims to help rural areas with tire recycling costs
Utah Democrat to file bill to track environmental impact of Utah inland port
Utah House OKs bill to allow candidates to use campaign funds for child care
Did former lawmaker Mike Noel influence monument reduction? Investigation says no
Widow of Utah mayor killed in Afghanistan to attend State of the Union
More than 40 faith leaders oppose efforts to 'delay or limit' Utah's Medicaid expansion
Utah State School Board votes to oppose legislation that would eliminate 'elected' board
Utah tech leaders throw down $5M education gauntlet at Silicon Slopes Summit
Utah House greenlights bill that would allow cyclists to roll through stop signs
Utah Gov. Gary Herbert's proposed sales tax cut 'not going to happen,' lawmaker says
Salt Lake Tribune
Op-ed: Keeping a clear head on sales tax reform
Holly Richardson: Tips for getting lawmakers to read your emails
John Warnock: Utah's Engineering Initiative has boosted state's high-tech boom
For cyclists, red lights soon may not mean stop - but rather slow, look and go if clear
'Fringe gambling' bill headed to vote in full House
Other
Utah County commissioners aim to rise above dysfunction (Daily Herald)
Jennie Taylor, widow of Maj. Brent Taylor, to attend State of the Union address (Standard-Examiner)
Cache lawmakers weigh in on bill to amend Medicaid expansion (Logan Herald Journal)
President Donald Trump calls negotiations over funding for his border wall a "waste of time." In an interview with the New York Times, Trump said he will probably take action to build the border wall without Congress. Trump also brushed off several investigations that have ensnared several of his associates - https://nyti.ms/2GfIvIK
Pelosi: No wall money, period. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday there would not be any money for President Donald Trump's wall in any funding bill passed by Congress - https://nbcnews.to/2SifliJ
The White House is preparing to declare a national emergency to build the border wall. The Trump administration is quietly meeting with outside political groups to build support for President Trump to take such an action - https://politi.co/2GdTBxW
Donald Trump Jr.'s mysterious phone calls weren't with his dad. Senate investigators have new information showing a mysterious phone call from a blocked phone number to Donald Trump Jr. following a 2016 meeting with a Russian lawyer in Trump Tower were with business associates, not his father. The information appears to contradict Democratic suspicions that the call was from then-candidate Donald Trump - https://cnn.it/2Ghdp3m
President Trump bizarrely says top intelligence officials were "misquoted" by the press. The officials contradicted several claims by Trump about national security earlier this week during a public hearing that was carried live on television - https://wapo.st/2Ge7zjq
Trump says the presidency has cost him money. Trump said during an interview on Thursday that he has lost "massive amounts of money" while serving in the White House - http://bit.ly/2GdEGUm
Trump will be surrounded by women during next week's State of the Union address. Along with Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Trump will have a record number of women serving in Congress in the audience next week - http://bit.ly/2GkiCrv
Trump will focus on abortion during next week's speech. The president says he plans to incorporate anti-abortion language into the State of the Union address - https://politi.co/2GlTn8f
Polls! Polls! Polls!
Trump has a massive cash advantage over potential Democratic rivals ahead of 2020. President Trump's campaign raised more than $21 million over the final three months of 2018 - https://wapo.st/2Sn4MLa
Booker joins the 2020 Democratic field. The New Jersey Senator said Friday he would seek the Democratic nomination - https://wapo.st/2GgpxBZ
The US set to withdraw from nuclear treaty with Russia. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will announce the U.S. is pulling out of the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. That is fueling fears of a new nuclear arms race with Russia - https://cnn.it/2Ggd1SS
Polar vortex lets up. The extreme cold gripping the midwest is starting to break. So far the cold is responsible for at least 21 deaths - https://nyti.ms/2ScZjGX
2019 could be the worst year for measles in the U.S. in three decades. More than 300 cases of the disease were identified last year. Several outbreaks this year has health officials alarmed - http://bit.ly/2GeM95H
1790 - The U.S. Supreme Court convened in New York City for its firs session.
1861 - Texas secedes from the United States.
1865 - President Abraham Lincoln signs the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which abolished slavery.
1964 - The Beatles have their first number one hit in the U.S. with "I Want to Hold Your Hand."
1979 - Iranian Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returns to Iran after nearly 15 years of exile.
2003 - Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated during reentry into the Earth's atmosphere, killing all seven astronauts aboard.
Salt Lake Chamber announces Fred Lampropoulos as the Chamber's 40th Giant in our City
The Salt Lake Chamber, Utah's largest and longest-standing statewide business association, announced Fred Lampropoulos as the 40th Giant in our City....
Roger Stone: I will not lie to special counsel (Washington Examiner)
Schultz presidential rollout ignites fury on left (The Hill)
Dem co-sponsor of late-term abortion bill apologizes, says she did not read the text (FOX News)
Warren expected to announce candidacy on Feb. 9 (Politico)
Trump says he'll meet with China's Xi after trade talks end with no deal (FOX News)
Strength and Courage
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage." Lao Tzu
Chapo and Pena
"El Chapo might have bribed the ex-Mexican president $100 million. Although, to be fair, the Mexican president has already denied it from the deck of his $101 million yacht." - TREVOR NOAH
