Error message

About Utah Politics - March 18, 2014

Tuesday, March 18, 2014 - 7:45am

Message Center

Utah's Daily Policy Resource | Brought to you by Utah Policy

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Local News Highlights: Daily Briefing

How to Sound Smart About Utah Politics - March 18, 2014

Herbert sends staff to Washington to negotiate his Medicaid expansion plan. Lee says he's not the target of an investigation stemming from the Swallow scandal. Final caucus meetings under the current system are this week.

 

Countdown:

  • The Utah Democratic Party caucus meetings are tonight
  • 2 days until the Utah candidate filing period closes
  • 2 days until the Utah GOP caucus meetings
  • 38 days until the Utah State Republican and Democratic conventions
  • 98 days until Utah's 2014 primary elections
  • 231 days to the 2014 midterm elections
  • 314 days to the start of the 2015 Utah Legislature
  • 594 days to the 2015 elections
  • 659 days until the 2016 Iowa Caucuses
  • 965 days to the 2016 presidential election

Today's Utah political news highlights:

  • Some of Gov. Gary Herbert's staff head to Washington to begin negotiations on his Medicaid expansion plan [Deseret News, Standard-Examiner].
  • Sen. Mike Lee says he is unaware of being the target of an investigation stemming from the John Swallow scandal [Deseret News, Tribune].
  • Utah's political parties hold their final caucus meetings under the current system [Utah Policy, Tribune].
  • The Count My Vote group officially stops their petition drive following the compromise they came to with lawmakers [Tribune].
  • Candidates continue to file for political office [Deseret News, Tribune].
  • Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker addresses the United Nations Human Rights Council on a number of topics, including homelessness [Tribune].
  • Kentucky Sen. Rand Paulmakes a fundraising trip toUtah [Deseret News, Tribune].
  • Legislators reflect on what did and didn't get done in the 2014 session [Deseret News].
  • Who will benefit from Utah's new mandate for insurance coverage of autism treatment? [Tribune].
  • The LDS Church asks the "Ordain Women" group to move their demonstration off Temple Square during Conference [Deseret News].

On this day in history:

  • 1766 - Britain repealed the Stamp Act.
  • 1837 - Grover Cleveland, the 22nd and 24th president of the United States, was born in Caldwell, N.J.
  • 1922 - Mohandas Gandhi was sentenced to prison in India for civil disobedience.
  • 1942 - President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed an executive order authorizing the relocation of Japanese-Americans.
  • 1963 - The Supreme Court ruled state courts were required to provide legal counsel to criminal defendants who could not afford to hire their own attorney.
  • 1965 - Soviet cosmonaut Aleksei Leonov went on the first spacewalk.
  • 1974 - Most of the Arab oil-producing nations ended an embargo against the United States.

 

Today At Utah Policy

2014 Candidate Tracker
Who's in and who's challenging? Keep up to date with the latest candidate filings....

Caucus Meetings This Week Mark End of Political Era in Utah
Don't look for the 2014 Democratic and Republican party neighborhood caucuses to be anywhere nearly as large as 2012, leaders of both parties and experts tell UtahPolicy....

Analysis: Utah Fares Miserably Electing Women to Congress
An analysis finds, since 1989, Utah has elected just 2 women to Congress in 37 chances - putting the beehive state far behind the rest of the country....

The Fight Against .sucks Domain Names
Recently, the group that manages internet web addresses approved top-level domain names like .car or .pizza. One Senator wants the organization to resist approving the .sucks domain....

Utah Had the 4th Lowest Unemployment Rate in January
Utah's economy continues to chug along as the state posted the 4th lowest unemployment rate in the nation in January....

Featured Items

New Business Boot Camp Aimed to Get Utah Companies in Shape
Most emerging businesses face serious challenges. Thanks to the upcoming MountainWest Capital Network Business Boot Camp, young Utah businesses can receive an arsenal of practical ideas and ammunition to battle the most difficult business challenges....

U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Announces Salt Lake City to Host 2014 National Convention
The United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce officially announced its 2014 National Convention the largest gathering of Hispanic business leaders in America will be held September 21-23 at the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City, Utah....

Utah Policy/KSL Insider Survey: Grading the 2014 Legislature
We asked our "Political Insiders" and readers to give a final grade to the 2014 Utah Legislature....

Local Headlines

Salt Lake Tribune

Will White House ambitions fracture tea party?

Mia Love, other candidates make it official.

Count My Vote officially jettisons petition drive

Bishop, Chaffetz hoping to lead committees in next Congress

Utah parties to hold final caucuses under current system

Sen. Mike Lee says he's not aware of any investigation into his conduct

Utah's oldest coal mine aims to expand into an uncertain future

Who will Utah autism insurance mandate help, leave out?

Deseret News

Op-ed: Natural family is the key to a free society

Robert Bennett: Reduce the shrillness level of political rhetoric

Editorial: Obama administration IRS rules to politicize non-profit world

Editorial: To enhance the knowledge of voters, support the Utah Debate Commission

Sen. Mike Lee says he's not target of any investigation

Lawmakers say they made strides but need to look to the future

Governor's staff begins negotiations on Medicaid expansion plan

Rand Paul talks 2016 presidential race during Utah trip

Doug Owens, Mia Love file candidacies for 4th Congressional seat

Other

Political party caucuses on Tuesday and Thursday (Daily Herald)

Editorial: Pols pan panhandling (Standard-Examiner)

National Headlines

Democratic legacies on line in November (Politico)

Bill Clinton: Vladimir Putin is one smart Russian (Politico)

In midterms, a battle of billionaires (The Hill)

Abbas to Obama: 'Time is not on our side' (The Hill)

WH reassessing surgeon general pick after NRA opposition (The Hill)

Obama targets Putin aides with sanctions after Crimea vote (The Hill)

U.S. warns Russia on moves near east, south Ukraine (Associated Press)

Obama's Ukraine policy: Scream loudly, carry no stick (CNN)

California man arrested at Canadian border, accused of trying to support al-Qaida in Syria (Fox News)

U.S. Navy SEALs take over oil tanker for return to Libya (Washington Post)

Yellen to put Fed's new leadership on display (Associated Press)

Wise Words

Actions
"We have too many high sounding words, and too few actions that correspond with them."
Abigail Adams Quotations Page

Lighter Side

World Cup
"It's been very tense between Russia and us recently. In fact, lawmakers in Russia have started a petition to get the U.S. kicked out of this year's World Cup. Or they could just take the easier route and wait until we lose in the first round to literally any other country." Jimmy Fallon Political Humor

2014  Bizarre, Crazy, Silly, Unknown Holidays & Observances

Awkward Moments Day

*Forgive Mom and Dad Day

*National Biodiesel Day

 

 

 

On this day in 1988

"Never Gonna Give You Up" by Rick Astley was the #1 song.

 

 

How well do you know

"The Greatest Music Of All Time?"

 
What’s the name of the female country music singer, born Brenda Webb, who has a famous singing sister, and more than 50 country hits to her credit, four of which crossed over to be Top 20 pop hits between 1977 and 1982?

The answer to the music trivia question can be found at the end of today's post.
 

 

 

 

Today's Celebrity Birthdays 

 

Actress (Bunheads) Julia Goldani Telles, 19.  Actress (The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, The Blind Side, Mirror Mirror) Lily Collins, 25.  Actor (All My Children, Major Crimes, Life Lines: Before His Last Breath) Cornelius Smith, Jr., 32.  Actress (One Life to Live, One Tree Hill, Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay) Danneel Ackles, 35.  Actress (Bunheads, Broadway's Shrek the Musical, Thoroughly Modern Millie) Sutton Foster, 39.  Comedian/actor (Mr. Brooks)/producer/director (Tourgasm)/ writer/cartoon voicist (Crank Yankers) Dane Cook, 42.  Singer (Cue The Rain)/actress (Living Single, Chicago)/cartoon voicist Queen Latifah, 44.  Actor (Medium, Traders, Ali) David Cubitt, 49.  Miss America-1984/singer (Save The Best For Last)/actress (Ugly Betty, Shaft, Eraser) Vanessa L. Williams, 51.  Television host (Dirty Jobs, Deadliest Catch)/commercial spokesman Mike Rowe, 52.  Singer (Flashdance-What A Feeling, Fame)/ actress (The Electric Company, Fame, City Heat) Irene Cara, 55.  Actress (The Secret of the Sahara, Bolero, The Gamble) Ana Obregón, 59.  Doobie Brothers drummer (China Grove) John Hartman, 64.  Actor (Deadwood, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Dune) Brad Dourif, 64.  Actor (Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman, King Kong, Knowing) Jim Knobeloch, 64.  Actor (Knots Landing, Kojak, Midway) Kevin Dobson, 71.  Singer (Kiss An Angel Good Morning)/Country Music Hall of Famer Charley Pride, 76.  Stage musicals composer (Chicago, Cabaret, Woman of the Year) John Kander, 87.