Morning must reads for Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Local News Highlights: Daily Briefing

Morning must reads for Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Good Wednesday morning from Salt Lake City. Today is the 81st day of the year. There are 284 days remaining in 2017.

Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch hearings continue Wednesday. Passage of GOP healthcare bill is in doubt, despite Trump telling House members they may lose next election if they don’t support bill.  

The clock:

• 7 days until the last day Governor Gary Herbert can sign or veto bills (3/29/2017)
• 59 days until the Utah Republican State Convention (5/20/2017)
• 87 days until the Utah Democratic State Convention at Weber State University (6/17/2017)
• 230 days until the 2017 municipal elections (11/7/2017)
• 306 days until the opening day of the 2018 Utah Legislature (1/22/2018)
• 351 days until the final day of the 2018 Utah Legislature (3/8/2018)
• 594 days until the 2018 midterm elections (11/6/2018)
• 1,322 days until the 2020 presidential election (11/3/2020)

Today's featured stories

• Salt Lake County’s homeless shelter site list grows as opposition mounts in South Salt Lake and West Valley City (Deseret News).
   
• Trump tells House Republicans to vote for GOP healthcare bill or they will lose their seats (New York Times). Republican leaders are scrambling to secure votes before Thursday roll call (Politico).
   
• In marathon session, Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch asserts his independence and is one step closer to winning a majority vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee (Politico).
   
• International: Secretary of State Rex Tillerson won’t attend NATO meeting in April, but Trump will appear at NATO summit in May (Washington Post). Sen. Mike Lee is part of group criticizing billionaire leftist icon George Soros for interfering in European politics (Politico). North Korean missile explodes seconds after launch (Washington Post). Trump wants to cut billions from United Nations budget (Deseret News).
   
• Gov. Herbert kicks off Talent Ready Utah program, providing grants to prepare young people for jobs industry needs (Deseret News), (Utah Policy), (Tribune).
   
• Editorial laments Utah’s low voter turnout (Deseret News).
   
• Webb provides 2017 municipal election candidates with campaign to-do list (Utah Policy).
   
• Feminist activist is accused of creating workplace environment abusive to women (Washington Post).
   
• Acting chair of the National Transportation Safety Board says Utah’s .05 percent DUI law will save lives (Deseret News), but Tribune calls on governor to veto bill.

On this day in history:

• 1622 – First American Indian (Powhattan) massacre of Europeans in Jamestown, Virginia, 347 killed.
• 1765 – Stamp Act passed; first direct British tax on colonists.
• 1790 – Thomas Jefferson becomes the first U.S. Secretary of State under Pres. George Washington.
• 1882 – Edmunds Act adopted in U.S. to suppress polygamy; 1,300 men later imprisoned under the act.
• 1933 – Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt makes wine & beer with up to 3.2% alcohol legal.
• 1963 – Beatles release first album, “Please, Please Me.”

Today At Utah Policy

Winning the political game: Basic elements of a campaign
By LaVarr Webb, publisher
2017 is a municipal election year, which actually features more candidates than an even-year election. The election season won’t heat up until the late summer and fall, but it’s not too early to be planning campaigns for mayor or city council slots. Here’s ...

U.S. Chamber gives Rep. Mia Love Spirit of Enterprise Award
By Press Release
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has honored Rep. Mia Love with its annual Spirit of Enterprise Award, given in recognition of her support for pro-growth policies in the second session of the 114th Congress.   These policies affect businesses in Utah.“During her ...

WTC Utah President & CEO Derek B. Miller receives a CEO of the Year award
By News Release
Utah Business magazine presented World Trade Center Utah (WTC Utah) President and CEO Derek B. Miller with a CEO of the Year Award today at ceremony held at the Grand America Hotel. “I have always been interested in international development, international busines...

West Valley lawmakers oppose shelter plan
By News Release
A bipartisan group of legislators representing West Valley City and surrounding communities have published an open letter voicing their opposition to Salt Lake County’s proposal for a possible homeless shelter within West Valley City. Citing the rushed rollout of the p...

Smith, Carpenter form new public policy consulting business
By News Release
Long-time communications and public policy operatives Marty Carpenter and Wesley Smith have formed a new public affairs strategy shop named 24NINE. Here is a look at this new political consulting business.Tell us about 24NINE -- why you formed the business and what your serv...

Low tax burden is great - but more money needed for education
By LaVarr Webb, publisher
One of the most difficult challenges for policymakers is divining that fine line between a tax burden that is sufficient to provide necessary services to citizens, and a burden that is too high and drives away businesses and hurts economic viability.Where that line is locate...

Policy News

Utah producers could help Trump create jobs
The State of Utah could experience an increase of 1,027 jobs from a potential 25 percent increase in oil and natural gas production, according to John Dunham & Associates. A shift to pro-development policies by the Trump Administration could bring the job total from...

Herbert announces Talent Ready Utah grant program & executive board
Gov. Gary R. Herbert has announced Talent Ready Utah’s first steps in working toward his goal of filling 40,000 new high-skill, high-paying jobs in Utah over the next four years.The governor announced that the Utah Cluster Acceleration Partnership will become the grant...

Brad Baird, EDCUtah's 'loaned executive,' to retire
When Brad Baird joined EDCUtah in 2004, he was the seventh loaned executive from Questar Corporation to put on an economic development hat. In April he'll retire after more than a decade of service to the organization and as the longest tenured loaned executive to work at ED...

U. S., Salt Lake Chambers host cybersecurity conference
The Salt Lake Chamber, in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, will host a conference  on Thursday to help small and mid-size businesses develop, evaluate, and strengthen their cybersecurity programs. Top experts from government, law enforcement, and the ...

Luncheon with the Ambassador of Paraguay
World Trade Center Utah, in partnership with the Governor's Office of Economic Development and the Salt Lake Chamber, is delighted to welcome His Excellency Germán Hugo Rojas Irigoyen, the Ambassador of Paraguay. ...

Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing rolls out updated Controlled Substance Database
Francine A. Giani, Executive Director of the Utah Department of Commerce announced that the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL) has released the newest software version of the State’s Controlled Substance Database (CSD) which records all controll...

Governor signs 84 bills
Gov. Gary R. Herbert has signed 84 bills, bringing the total number of bills signed from the 2017 General Legislative Session to 103....

Local Headlines

Salt Lake Tribune

Mike Winder: Homeless shelter and Jordan River are a bad mix

Editorial: Governor should veto Utah's experiment in DUI limits

Controversial West Jordan councilman Jeff Haaga steps down

Pressure pours in on possible veto of drunken driving bill

Board adopts policy reforms in wake of blistering Unified Fire Authority audit

Gov. Herbert touts work-related school programs in Utah

Hatch emerges as Gorsuch cheerleader for the Supreme Court

Residents opposing paved Dimple Dell trail deliver over 6,000 signatures

Jeremy Johnson to deny prior statements of John Swallow's involvement in federal election fraud case, court filing says

South Salt Lake protests as city lands two more possible homeless shelter sites

Deseret News

Op-ed: News media need to report the full story

Editorial: 'Talent Ready Utah' is one solution to Utah's workforce woes

Utah restaurant associations ask governor to veto .05 DUI law

Another contender emerges for Chaffetz's seat in Congress

Jeremy Johnson to deny claims against ex-Utah A.G. John Swallow in FEC case, court papers say

Which Utah politicians left office by choice?

Utah reimbursed for Gold King Mine spill's initial costs; lawsuit weighed

Revamped program targets state's shortage in a talented workforce

A sixth, possibly seventh site added for new homeless shelter - both in South Salt Lake

Other

Op-ed: The ACA isn't a sensible health care plan. Neither is the GOP alternative (Standard-Examiner)

National Headlines

Ryan's Leadership Is Tested by GOP's Civil War on Health Bill (Wall Street Journal)

Immigration provision cut from Obamacare rollback, angering conservatives (Reuters)

U.S. Raid on Al Qaeda in Yemen Led to Laptop Ban on Flights, Officials Say (Daily Beast)

U.S.-Mexico border wall fight: California considers divesting from companies involved in the project (Mercury News)

Supreme Court nominee Gorsuch stresses his independence from President Trump (Washington Post)

Dems land few punches on Gorsuch (The Hill)

Seven Highlights From the Gorsuch Confirmation Hearings (New York Times)

Devices Banned on Planes From 10 Countries Over ISIS Fears (New York Times)

Wall Street sinks on fears of delays to Trump tax cuts (Reuters)

Trump critique of F-35 costs 'fair,' says Lockheed CEO Hewson (DefenseNews)

Dakota Access pipeline vandalism highlights sabotage risks (FOX News)

Wise Words

Smile
"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened." Dr. Seuss

Lighter Side

Lovin It
"The Twitter account for McDonald's tweeted this: "Donald Trump, you are actually a disgusting excuse of a president and we would love to have Barack Obama back, also you have tiny hands." Who would have thought? Now it turned out that the account was hacked, but still, I've got to say: Ba-da-ba-ba-bah, I'm lovin' it." James Corden