Morning must reads for Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Local News Highlights: Daily Briefing

Morning must reads for Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Good Wednesday morning from Salt Lake City. Today is the 88th day of the year. There are 277 days remaining in 2017.  

Utah Democrats are energized by the Trump presidency. Draper volunteers two sites for a possible homeless shelter. Congress votes to undo many online privacy protections.

The clock:

• Today is the last day Governor Gary Herbert can sign or veto bills (3/29/2017)
• 52 days until the Utah Republican State Convention (5/20/2017)
• 80 days until the Utah Democratic State Convention at Weber State University (6/17/2017)
• 223 days until the 2017 municipal elections (11/7/2017)
• 299 days until the opening day of the 2018 Utah Legislature (1/22/2018)
• 344 days until the final day of the 2018 Utah Legislature (3/8/2018)
• 587 days until the 2018 midterm elections (11/6/2018)
• 1,315 days until the 2020 presidential election (11/3/2020)

Today's political TL; DR - 

• Utah's Democratic Party is reaping the benefits from Donald Trump's presidency [Utah Policy].
   
• Sen. Orrin Hatch says he would be willing to step aside if an "outstanding person" like Mitt Romney were to run for his seat [Utah Policy].
   
• Bloomberg looks at how Salt Lake City has become a place where upward economic mobility is easier than other cities [Utah Policy].
   
• President Donald Trump's approval ratings continue to fall, but they're still not the worst pollsters have ever seen [Utah Policy].
   
• Draper steps up and offers two possible sites for a homeless shelter in their city. The offer comes just days before the deadline for choosing a final location for the new facility [Deseret News, Tribune].
   
• Former independent presidential candidate Evan McMullin hints he knows more than what has already been made public about President Donald Trump's ties to Russia. He calls the story is a "big, big deal" [Deseret News].
   
• Salt Lake County Sheriff Jim Winder proposes opening an outdoor camping area for the homeless in downtown Salt Lake City [Tribune].
   
• State alcohol regulators are readying to implement changes passed by the 2017 Utah Legislature, including the demise of the much-maligned Zion Curtain [Deseret News].
   
• Gov. Gary Herbert signs a bill allowing the use of wood for cooking over the objections of the state Air Quality Board [Deseret News, Tribune].
   
• President Donald Trump's business dealings have been linked to some wealthy Russian businessmen, some of whom have alleged ties to criminal organizations [USA Today].
   
• The Trump administration reportedly sought to block former acting attorney general Sally Yates from testifying before Congress about possible links between Russia and Trump's presidential campaign [Washington Post].
   
• It's baaack...kinda! House Republicans are trying to revive their failed healthcare reform bill, but they're not sure how to move forward with the plan, and they surely don't have the votes [Axios]. More states are eyeing Medicaid expansion following the failure of the Obamacare repeal bill in Congress [Wall Street Journal].
   
• President Donald Trump signs an executive order rolling back many Obama-era environmental regulations [New York Times].
   
• Congress has approved a bill undoing some online privacy protections [Washington Post].
   
• Congressional Republicans are working to avoid a budget showdown that could potentially lead to another government shutdown. The fly in the ointment is President Donald Trump wants to include funding for his proposed border wall with Mexico in a spending bill, which could lead to a stalemate. The deadline is April 28 [Washington Post].
   
• The U.K. has officially begun the "Brexit" process for leaving the European Union [New York Times].
   
• Wealthy supporters are launching an ad blitz to shore up support for President Trump [Bloomberg].
   
• President Trump would be the first president in a century to not throw out the first pitch on opening day of the Major League Baseball season [Marie Claire].

On this day in history:

• 1951 - Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were convicted of conspiracy to commit espionage for passing nuclear secrets to the Soviet Union.
   
• 1961 - The 23rd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified. The amendment gave District of Columbia residents the right to vote in presidential elections.
   
• 1973 - The last U.S. combat troops left South Vietnam, ending America's direct military involvement in the Vietnam War.
   
• 1999 - The Dow Jones industrial average closed above 10,000 for the first time.

Today At Utah Policy

Trump's presidency is reaping benefits...for Utah Democrats
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
Utah Democratic Chairman Peter Corroon says the phones at party headquarters have been ringing off the hook with people wanting to help....

Hatch says he would step aside in 2018 if Mitt Romney were to run for Senate
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
Sen. Orrin Hatch, who is angling for an 8th term in Washington, says he would step aside if an "outstanding person" were to run for his position....

Weekly survey: Should Republicans go 'nuclear' to confirm Gorsuch?
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
Democrats are attempting to block the confirmation of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court with a filibuster. Should Republicans change the rules to break the filibuster and confirm Gorsuch? Vote now in our weekly survey....

'How Utah keeps the American Dream alive'
By Golden Webb
Bloomberg columnist Megan McArdle travels to Salt Lake Cityto investigate why the Beehive Stateremains a place whereit's possible for people tomoveupward from poverty, unlike in most of the nation today. Included in her lengthy piece is an interview withBYU economist David S...

Trump's approval rating hits a new low
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
Following the embarrassing failure of the effort to repeal Obamacare, President Donald Trump's national approval rating has hit a new low....

Policy News

Utahns gain confidence in economy as income and employment expectations rise
The Zions Bank Utah Consumer Attitude Index increased in March, jumping 8.8 points to 123.5. The increase primarily resulted from high expectations for the economy over the next six months....

Hatch, Franken introduce Child Protection Improvement (CPIA) Act of 2017
Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Al Franken (D-MN) issued the following statements after introducing the Hatch-Franken Child Protection Improvement (CPIA) Act of 2017, a bill that will allow organizations that provide care to vulnerable populations to have access to nationwid...

Press release: ACLU of Utah to law enforcement agencies: Be wary of involvement with ICE
The American Civil Liberties Union of Utah sent a letter to all 153 law enforcement agencies in Utah, advising them to carefully exercise discretion in complying with requests for resources and cooperation by the federal Immigration and Custom Enforcement agency. ...

Find your voice and pursue public leadership at the Real Women Run Southern Utah training
Real Women Run will host an event for community members wanting to get more involved, current and potential campaign managers and political candidates in Washington, Kane, and Iron Counties on Saturday, April 8, 2017 from 8:30 AM to 2:00 PM at the St. George Area C...

Local Headlines

Salt Lake Tribune

Editorial: Herbert's veto of bad bill means good people must step up

Police social workers? Salt Lake City's unusual program has scores of success stories

Draper steps forward with two new homeless shelter site proposals; Salt Lake County reschedules site evaluation deliberations

Herbert stokes fire over air quality by signing bill allowing use of wood to cook

County sheriff proposes opening Salt Lake homeless camp, reducing Road Home shelter beds, closing liquor store

Member of the state charter school board resigns abruptly over scheduling conflict, says not tied to lawsuit

No vote on teacher salary boost, reform as Jordan School District continues negotiations

President Trump reverses clean power initiative, coal moratorium

Utah guv signs new liquor law - but restaurants can't tear down 'Zion Curtains' just yet

College tuition proposed to go up by 3.4 percent across Utah

Herbert signs polygamy bill into Utah law

Despite 'unhealthy' ranking, Carbon County finds motivation through local programs

Stay away from Main, South Salt Lake residents say of proposed homeless shelter sites

Sen. Orrin Hatch would consider stepping aside for Mitt Romney

Deseret News

Boyd Matheson: The way of the swamp

Op-ed: GOP Obamacare 'replacement' offered wealthy tax cuts, not worker health care

Trump rolls back Clean Power Plan, coal moratorium

Jim Bennett: Trump's proposed budget could hurt the arts, but there is a solution

Governor signs outdoor cooking bill into law

Draper volunteers 2 sites for a new Salt Lake County homeless center

Utah consumer confidence at historic level

Regulators gearing up for big changes to Utah liquor laws

Utah doesn't collect data on LGBT teens, but could a change save lives?

Other

Park City exempt from legislation amending construction and fire codes (Park Record)

Summit County's Democratic Convention will feature first contested slate in 10 years (Park Record)

National Headlines

More Than Half of Senate Democrats Say They Will Vote Against Neil Gorsuch (Wall Street Journal)

May triggers Britain's EU departure (The Times)

Senate braces for fallout over Supreme Court fight (The Hill)

Trump Signs Executive Order Unwinding Obama Climate Policies (New York Times)

Repeal of Affordable Care Act Is Back on Agenda, Republicans Say (New York Times)

Democratic National Committee Asks Its Entire Staff To Resign (Huffington Post)

Trump tells senators: We can deal on health care 'very quickly' (Politico)

Trump gives Chuck the silent treatment (Politico)

Trump touts jobs as Ford invests $1.2 billion in Michigan plants (Washington Post)

The House just voted to wipe out the FCC's landmark Internet privacy protections (Washington Post)

Coal Miners Hope Trump's Order Will Help (New York Times)

Wise Words

Destroying Culture
"You don't have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them." Ray Bradbury

Lighter Side

Saving Time
"There is a new set of emojis. They're going to be released to smartphones in June. This new set will include a hedgehog, a puking face, a brain, and a merman. I'm not going to lie - the merman emoji is going to save me a ton of time." James Corden