Situational awareness - March 12, 2018

Situational awareness - March 12, 2018

 

Good Monday morning from Salt Lake City. Welcome to Utah's must-read daily political news roundup. 

Utahns either like President Trump's policies, but not him or dislike everything about him according to a new poll. Our "Political Power" bracket is out. The Trump administration unveils a proposal to arm some school teachers.

Notable: 15 years ago today, Elizabeth Smart was found alive in Salt Lake City. 

Tick Tock:

• 3 days until the filing deadline for the 2018 elections (3/15/2018)
• 8 days until the statewide caucus meetings for Utah Republicans and Democrats (3/20/2018)
• 40 days until the Utah GOP State Convention (4/21/2018)
• 47 days until the Utah Democratic State Convention (4/28/2018)
• 106 days until the 2018 Primary Election (6/26/2018)
• 238 days until the 2018 midterm elections (11/6/2018)
• 322 days until the first day of the 2019 Utah Legislature (1/28/2019)
• 968 days until the 2020 presidential election (11/3/2020)

Do you like podcasts? Give us a download! Listen to our interviews with Utah political newsmakers and "Bernick and Schott on politics" while you're on the go. Hosts Bryan Schott and Bob Bernick have more than 60 years combined experience covering Utah politics, so they bring you knowledge and insight that's unprecedented. You can subscribe using iTunes, Google Play, and Stitcher.

Got a tip or story idea? Send me an email at bschott@utahpolicy.com.

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Here's what's driving the day:

Utah's like Trump's policies, but don't like him as a person

In our latest poll, we asked Utahns their attitude toward President Donald Trump. We found very few said they "liked everything about him." They mostly said they either liked his policies while disliking Trump personally, or they dislike everything about him [Utah Policy].

Utah "Political Power" bracket

It's the Utah political version of "March Madness." We've set our field of 64 Utah political power players. #1 seeds are Mitt Romney, Gary Herbert, Orrin Hatch and Mike Lee. Check out the rest of the seeds and our full bracket. Voting for the tournament starts Tuesday [Utah Policy].

Mike Noel calls it quits

Republican firebrand Mike Noel tells us "It's been a great ride, but 16 years is enough," as he decides to retire from the legislature [Utah Policy].

Turnover on Utah's Capitol Hill

At least 16 members of the Utah House won't be back next year, while 4 members of the Utah Senate are calling it a career. Check out our list of retirements [Utah Policy].

Best and worst from the 2018 Legislature

Our "Political Insiders" weigh in on the highlights and lowlights from the 2018 session that ended last week. Lots of talk about education funding and the attempt to name a highway after President Donald Trump [Utah Policy].

Why consider the United Utah Party in 2018?

UUP Chairman Richard Davis argues Utah voters should give the UUP a chance in this year's elections [Utah Policy]. 

Candidate filings

Candidates are filing to run for office in this year's elections. Stay up to date with our 2018 candidate trackers:

• Congress [Utah Policy]
• Utah Senate [Utah Policy].
• Utah House [Utah Policy].

Other Utah headlines

• Salt Lake City officials are calling on Gov. Gary Herbert to veto the inland port bill. Democratic Senators blast the city's lobbyists for the poor outcome [Deseret News, Tribune].
   
• Backers of the full Medicaid expansion ballot initiative say they will continue pushing to make the November ballot even though the Utah Legislature passed a limited expansion in 2018 [Deseret News].
   
• BYU tells Mitt Romney to stop using campus footage in his campaign videos [Deseret News, Tribune].
   
• The Utah Bar blames "human error" as the reason they emailed boobs to every lawyer in the state [Fox 13, Deseret News].
   
• Employees began moving into the new Salt Lake County DA offices last week [Deseret News, Tribune].
   
• The NRA donated more than $800 to Utah organizations, including $47,00 to schools from 2010 to 2016 [Associated Press].
   
• A bill passed in the just-completed legislative session raises the bar on reading standards in Utah elementary schools [Deseret News].
   
• Dr. Jennifer Plumb, who pushed for wider access to Naloxone for opioid addicts, is running to replace Sen. Jim Dabakis in the Utah Legislature [Tribune].

National headlines

• The White House unveils a plan to "harden" schools by arming some teachers but backed off a proposal to raise the federal age to buy a gun [Washington Post].
   
• Republicans are pouring everything they've got into tomorrow's special Congressional election in Pennsylvania. President Trump won the district in 2016 by 20-points, but Democrat Connor Lamb now has a small lead in the polls [Politico].
   
• Must watch! Education Secretary Betsy DeVos had a train wreck of an interview with 60 Minutes on Sunday night. She could not answer basic questions about school performance and host Leslie Stahl raked her over the coals about her push for school choice [CBS News].
   
• President Trump's lawyers are considering legal action to keep 60 Minutes from airing an interview with adult film actress Stormy Daniels. The news program reportedly plans to air the interview next Sunday [BuzzFeed].
   
• Special counsel Robert Mueller is reportedly close to finishing his investigation into whether President Donald Trump obstructed justice, but may hold off with any action because it may cause witnesses in other parts of his investigation to become uncooperative [Bloomberg].
   
• The Trump administration is reportedly close to unveiling their plan for middle east peace, but the blueprint may be dead on arrival as the Palestinians are upset that Trump declared Jerusalem to be the capital of Israel [New York Times].
   
• President Trump plans to visit a Boeing plant in Missouri later this week to tout the tax cut plan passed by Congress late last year [Reuters].

On this day in history

• 1894 - Coca-Cola is bottled and sold for the first time in Vicksburg, Mississippi, by local soda fountain operator Joseph A. Biedenham.
   
• 1912 - The Girl Guides (later renamed the Girl Scouts of the USA) are founded.
   
• 1933 - Franklin Roosevelt addresses the nation for the first time as President of the United States. This is also the first of his "fireside chats."
   
• 1938 - Nazi Germany invaded and occupied Austria.
   
• 1947 - The Truman Doctrine is proclaimed to help stem the spread of Communism.
   
• 2009 - Financier Bernie Madoff pleads guilty in New York to scamming $18 billion, the largest in Wall Street's history.

 

Today At Utah Policy

Poll: Utahns like President Trump's policies more than they like him
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
Even though he's been in office for more than a year, Utahns still haven't sorted out their feelings about President Donald Trump according to a new poll....

2018 Utah "Political Power" bracket released
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
Who has the most political power in Utah? The 2018 Utah "Political Power" bracket is here!...

'Political Insiders' pick the best and worst from the 2018 Legislature
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
The 2018 Utah Legislature is over. Lawmakers passed more than 500 bills and approved a budget for next year that is close to $17 billion....

Guest opinion: The United Utah Party in 2018 elections
By Richard Davis, chair of the United Utah Party
Wasn't there some new party formed in Utah last year by Jim Bennett to get revenge for his father's defeat in 2010?  Didn't they crash and burn when he only got nine percent of the vote in the Third Congressional District special election.  Didn't they quietly go b...

Number of retirements in the Utah Legislature is growing
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
The 2019 Utah Legislature could look a lot different. So far, 20 lawmakers have decided to call it quits on the Hill or are running for a higher office....

'It's been a great ride." Rep. Mike Noel says he's retiring after 16 years in the Utah Legislature
By Bob Bernick, Contributing Editor
One of Utah's best-known legislators and controversial ones, as well is retiring....

2018 Utah candidate tracker - Congress
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
There's a U.S. Senate seat up for election in 2018 as well as all four U.S. House seats. Here's our list of rumored and declared candidates....

2018 Utah candidate tracker - Utah Senate
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
2018 means another election cycle is upon us. Half of the Utah Senate seats are up for election this year, including an unexpected one because of a retirement. Here's our running list of candidates for those seats....

2018 Utah candidate tracker - Utah House
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
Next week candidates can start gathering signatures to get on the 2018 ballot. All 75 Utah House seats are up for election this year. Here's our running list of who's in, who's out and who's challenging....

 

Policy News

Salt Lake Chamber to host cybersecurity conference
The Salt Lake Chamber will host its second annual Cybersecurity Conference this week to help small and mid-size businesses develop, evaluate and strengthen their cybersecurity programs....

Join us for a diplomatic luncheon with the Ambassador of Ghana
World Trade Center Utah, in partnership with the Governor's Office of Economic Development and the Salt Lake Chamber, is delighted to host a diplomatic luncheon welcoming His Excellency Dr. Barfuor Adjei-Barwuah, Ambassador of Ghana....

Local Headlines

Salt Lake Tribune

Op-ed: An AR-15 is not an 'assault rifle'

Editorial: Legislature takes an incomplete on school governance

Educators say less was more at the 2018 Utah Legislature

Lawmakers punt on school safety and gun reform in Utah

Lawmakers partly expanded Utah Medicaid, took small steps to address suicide, opioid addiction and marijuana issues

BYU asks Mitt Romney to stop using footage from campus in his political campaign

Lawmakers take small steps on Utah's big affordable housing problem

Lawmakers engineer massive overhaul of the Utah Transit Authority

Winners and Losers in the 2018 Utah Legislature

Public-lands debates on Utah's Capitol Hill focused this year on flexing state's rights

Utah Rep. Mike Noel, the powerful, polarizing and anti-federal-government rural voice, won't seek re-election, report says

Lawmakers make vehicle-emissions tests more common in Utah, but penalties for 'rolling coal' are unchanged

No Republican candidates on the Utah ballot this year? It's a possibility after planned fix falters.

'I hope they get fired': Utah senators blame Salt Lake City lobbyists for controversial inland port negotiations

Utah lawmakers made a few tweaks to liquor laws, but abstained from major alcohol legislation in 2018

Utah lawmakers opt to keep capital punishment, toughen some criminal penalties and require jail death reporting

In 45 days, lawmakers pushed to expand and assert their power here, there and everywhere

Here are the tax changes from the 2018 legislative session

Doctor focused on preventing overdose deaths in Salt Lake City now plans to run for Jim Dabakis' state Senate seat

Gehrke: Jim Dabakis may run for Salt Lake City mayor, and Jackie Biskupski may be vulnerable

Deseret News

Frank Pignanelli & LaVarr Webb: Utah legislators - what they said ... and what they meant

Mia Love: Protecting Utah direct sellers from pyramid fraud

Orrin Hatch: The road to responsible financial reform

Gary Herbert: A remarkable legislative session

Editorial: The success of another legislative session remains to be seen

BYU to Mitt: Cease and desist

Longtime Utah lawmaker Mike Noel leaving Legislature

NRA gives $828K to Utah groups, including $47K to schools

It's official: McAdams files for run in 4th District

Salt Lake City leaders call on governor to veto inland port bill

Trump's export tariffs could negatively impact Utah businesses

Utah tech emerges from 2018 Legislature a winner

Legislature passes 'extremely critical' funding for homeless shelter operations, police

What's next for Medicaid? Ballot campaign pushes on despite passage of large-scale expansion bill

5 medicinal cannabis bills pass, but advocates and lawmakers still at odds

Flexing their muscles, Utah lawmakers expand the power of the Legislature

Raccoons, dinosaurs and plastic bags: 2018 Legislature saw some quirky contributions

Legalizing pot: How Utah fits into the nationwide debate

About Utah: Park City sergeant on school shootings: 'We need to be even more prepared'

Other

Utah County Republicans can now participate in caucus remotely thanks to new app (Daily Herald)

Utah Rep. Peterson becomes 4th Weber County lawmaker to forgo re-election (Standard-Examiner)

US Senate hopeful Mitt Romney to visit Ogden, Weber State campus (Standard-Examiner)

2018 election preview: Lots of potential for change from local to federal level (Logan Herald Journal)

Summit County plans to file suit against opioid manufacturers (Park Record)

Two Parkites are looking to join this year's state legislative races (Park Record)

National Headlines

Trump flies solo more, is said to want to rely less on staff (Associated Press)

'Where is Ivanka?' First daughter seeks control in dual role as White House aide (Washington Post)

Tim Berners-Lee: we must regulate tech firms to prevent 'weaponised' web (Guardian)

'I Can Die Happy Now' with Trump Job Performance, Declares Mary Matalin (PJ Media)

White House backs off call to raise minimum age to buy long guns (FOX News)

Elizabeth Warren refuses DNA test to prove Native American heritage (New York Post)

Sen. Warren says she isn't running for president in 2020 (CNN)

ICE seeks illegal immigrant in Colorado fatal hit-and-run who bonded out of jail (FOX News)

China minister says trade war with US would be 'disaster' (Associated Press)

Illinois Steelworkers React To Tariffs (NPR)

Manufacturers Are Hiring, and Hiring (Bloomberg)

Wise Words

Excess

"Never go to excess, but let moderation be your guide." Marcus Tullius Cicero
 

 

Lighter Side

Power

"In the Northeast, 1 million people are without power because of a blizzard. And in Wisconsin, 1 million people are without power because of gerrymandering." Conan O'Brien