About Utah Politics - March 11, 2014

Local News Highlights: Daily Briefing

How to Sound Smart About Utah Politics - March 11, 2014

Lockhart's education proposal comes up empty in the final budget deal. Herbert signs the "Count My Vote" compromise. Senate advances Medicaid plan.

Countdown:

• 2 days until the final day of the 2014 Legislature
• 3 days until the Utah candidate filing period opens
• 7 days until the Utah Democratic Party caucus meetings
• 9 days until the Utah candidate filing period closes
• 9 days until the Utah GOP caucus meetings
• 45 days until the Utah State Republican and Democratic conventions
• 105 days until Utah's 2014 primary elections
• 238 days to the 2014 midterm elections
• 601 days to the 2015 elections
• 666 days until the 2016 Iowa Caucuses
• 972 days to the 2016 presidential election

Today's Utah political news highlights:

• House Speaker Becky Lockhart's education technology proposal gets shut out in the final budget deal negotiated by lawmakers [Utah Policy, Deseret News, Tribune].
• House Speaker Lockhart says proposed gas and property tax hikes are dead this session [Tribune].
• Gov. Gary Herbert signs the compromise between the Legislature and "Count My Vote" into law, ending the citizen initiative [Deseret News, Tribune].
• The Utah Senate advances a plan to partially expand Medicaid that includes Gov. Herbert's idea to ask the federal government for flexibility on how to use those federal funds [Utah Policy, Tribune].
• House GOP leaders say they won't consider the Senate plan, meaning there will be no decision on Medicaid by Thursday's end to the 2014 session [Deseret News].
• Lawmakers consider changing their own rules to eliminate constitutional review notes on legislation [Utah Policy].
• The Utah House advances a plan to allow election-day voter registration [Utah Policy, Tribune].
• The House kills a bill to put caps on political donations [Tribune,Deseret News].
• Lawmakers reject a call for Utah to join aconstitutional convention [Utah Policy, Tribune].
• The House gives the thumbs up to a plan for moving Utah's 2016 presidential primary to first in the nation ahead of New Hampshire and Iowa [Utah Policy, Deseret News, Tribune].
• The House approves a tax break for employers who hire homeless people [Tribune, Deseret News].
• Utah transit ridership jumped 3 percent in 2013, which is above the national average [Tribune].

On this day in history:

• 1861 - The Confederate States of America adopted its constitution.
• 1930 - William Howard Taft became the first U.S. president to be buried in the National Cemetary.
• 1941 - President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Lend-Lease Act into law.
• 1942 - General Douglas MacArthur leaves the Philippines saying, "I shall return."
• 1985 - Mikhail Gorbachev was chosen as leader of the Soviet Union.
• 1993 - Janet Reno was confirmed by the Senate as the nation's first female attorney general.
• 2011 - Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker signed a measure to eliminate most union rights for public employees.
• 2011 - Japan is hit by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake that triggers a deadly tsunami. The earthquake also damaged the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.

Today At Utah Policy

Utah House Kills Measure Calling for Constitutional Convention
So, who in the Utah House is really, really afraid of the monster at the end of the book?Well, it is both Republicans and Democrats....

Lockhart's Education Initiative Gets Shut Out in Final Budget Deal
The Utah House had a vision; the Senate wanted to make a deal....

Lawmakers Mull Ditching Constitutional Notes
For years any number of Utah legislators have disliked the idea of getting what's called a "constitutional note" on any of their bills....

Measure to Move Utah's Presidential Primary to First in the Nation Passes House
Utah takes another step toward picking a fight with New Hampshire and Iowa in the presidential primary arena....

Bill to Crack Down on Texting While Driving Moves Forward
Utah Senators sent a measure to the house tightening up penalties for using a cell phone while driving....

House Passes Same-Day Voter Registration
For the second session in a row, the Utah House on Monday passed a same-day voter registration bill....

Senate Advances Medicaid Plan
The Utah Senate made quick work of their plan allowing the governor to seek a block grant from the federal government in order to give healthcare coverage to poorer Utahns....

A Conversation with Rep. Brian King (Video)
2014 has been a relatively quiet session for Utah's Democrats, but Rep. Brian King (D-Salt Lake City) saysthere are some successes if you're willing to look....

Rep. Brian King vs. the Utah Policy 'Lightning Round' (Video)
Rep. Brian King (D-Salt Lake City) has 60 seconds to answer as many stupid questions as possible. Find out which member of the Utah media he would definitely beat in a fight. It's the Utah Policy "Lightning Round."...

Featured Items

Chaffetz In 'High Stakes' Battle to Replace Issa
Rep. Jason Chaffetz is one of severalcontenders in an intense power struggle to replace Darrell Issa as chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Adding to the intrigue: Issa, who's term-limited,doesn't want to give up the gavel....

Local Headlines

Salt Lake Tribune

Op-ed: Count My Vote/SB 54 is a step away from liberty

Editorial: Utah shouldn't grab for first primary slot

Utah sees major transit growth and hopes to double ridership by 2020

Election Day voter registration in Utah advances

Senate to Gov. Herbert: Negotiate Utah Medicaid plan

Tax break for premium cigars is snuffed out

Utah lawmakers reject call for constitutional convention

Senate OKs bill targeting distracted driving

Salt Lake City leaders attend Congressional City Conference

With Lockhart ed-tech plan out, lawmakers make budget deal

Senate OKs hotline for anonymous reports in schools

Guv signs bill, ending Count My Vote bid

Utah could have first-in-nation presidential primary

Breathalyzers-in-Utah-bars bill advances

Gas, property tax hikes declared dead

Bill: Remove barrier to electric car charging stations in Utah

House moves to fix fund for leaky gas tanks

Bill to overhaul Utah court system shelved for further study

New drivers may face extra test

Carrying a gun is not disorderly conduct, Utah House says

Bill would offer tax credit for hiring homeless

House kills campaign donation limits bill

Deseret News

Op-ed: SB54 will politically and culturally reconstruct Utah

Editorial: Obama's immigration enforcement too harsh

Senate passes bill creating student safety tip line

House won't consider Senate's partial Medicaid expansion plan

Senate passes bill to further restrict cellphone use behind the wheel

House passes bill blocking schools from asking about gun ownership

Clean energy shines at Utah Legislature

Bill seeks to clarify law for carrying firearms in public

Utah employers who hire homeless may qualify for tax credit

Lawmaker will attempt to revive bill on interstate compact among state father registries

Count My Vote halts initiative drive after governor signs deal

House passes bill allowing State School Board to sanction districts for accepting federal funds

Bill looking to set campaign contribution limits fails in House after close vote

No money for House Speaker Becky Lockhart's education technology plan in budget

House gives go-ahead to prepare Utah for first U.S. presidential primary in 2016

South Jordan mayor says idea to split Jordan School District 'losing momentum'

Commuter rail travel increased from 2012 to 2013, report says

Other

Bill looks to tighten restrictions on cell phones in cars (Daily Herald)

UVU a big winner in state budget (Daily Herald)

Brad Dee: Education spending to increase in WPU funding (Standard-Examiner)

Stephen Handy: My HB41 bill can help clean Utah's air (Standard-Examiner)

Task Force to study UTOPIA's future (Standard-Examiner)

Davis lawmaker's bill could have saved Powell children, some say (Standard-Examiner)

Sequestration means fewer F-35s (Standard-Examiner)

National Headlines

Citing Liberal Bias, Investigative Reporter Sharyl Attkisson Resigns From CBS News (Townhall)

GOP eyes Dem help on ObamaCare (The Hill)

Obama drops Medicare changes (The Hill)

Worst Congress ever? (The Hill)

Snowden: NSA 'Set Fire' to Internet, Techies Are 'Firefighters' (NBC News)

U.S. Subpoenas Port Authority Records Tied to Chairman, a Christie Ally (New York Times)

House Republicans Balk at Wording in Obama Emergency Aid Package for Ukraine (New York Times)

26 Democrats Plan a Senate All-Nighter on Climate Change (New York Times)

U.S. justices deliver blow to 'rails-to-trails' policy (Reuters)

Supreme Court Won't Hear Dispute Over 'Boobies' Bracelets (Fox News)

Who Flew? FBI to Check Thumbprints of Impostor Passengers (NBC News)

2014 Bizarre, Crazy, Silly, Unknown Holidays & Observances

*Dream 2014 Day

*Johnny Appleseed Day

Organize Your Home Office Day

*World Plumbing Day

Festival of Owls Week: 7-9 (First Full Week)

American Crossword Puzzle Weekend: 7-9
National Rattlesnake Roundup: 7-9 (2nd Weekend)
American Council on Education: 8-11
National Procrastination Week: 8-14
*Universal Women's Week: 8-14 Link
National Agriculture Week: 9-14
Teen Tech Week: 9-15
Girl Scout Week: 10-15 Link (Always the week with March 12)
International Brain Awareness Week: 10-16
Stand Up! LGBT Awareness Week: 10-14 Link 
*Turkey Vultures Return to the Living Sign: 11-17