About Utah Politics - March 5, 2014

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Wednesday, March 5, 2014 - 8:00am

Local News Highlights: Daily Briefing

How to Sound Smart About Utah Politics - March 5, 2014

Senate hijacks a school funding bill. Lawmakers not sure they'll come to an agreement on Medicaid before the end of the session. The compromise measure over "Count My Vote" could come up for a vote Wednesday or Thursday.

Countdown:

8 days until the final day of the 2014 Legislature
9 days until the Utah candidate filing period opens
13 days until the Utah Democratic Party caucus meetingsThe15 days until the Utah candidate filing period closes
15 days until the Utah GOP caucus meetings
52 days until the Utah State Republican and Democratic conventions
111 days until Utah's 2014 primary elections
244 days to the 2014 midterm elections
607 days to the 2015 elections
672 days until the 2016 Iowa Caucuses
978 days to the 2016 presidential election

Today's Utah political news highlights:

The Senate hijacks a bill to equalize funding between school districts to fund Speaker Lockhart's plan to increase technology use in classrooms. Lockhart says she was surprised by the move [Tribune].
It's not clear if lawmakers will be able to find an accord on Medicaid expansion before the end of the session, and Gov. Gary Herbert suggests it may take a special session to resolve the issue [Deseret News, Tribune].
SB 54, the compromise measure between lawmakers and "Count My Vote" could be up for a vote in the House today [Daily Herald].
"Count My Vote" organizers continue gathering signatures for their citizen's initiative even while the compromise measure winds its way through the legislature [Deseret News].
A House panel approves ameasure to provide more money from gas taxes [Tribune].
Lawmakers advance a bill to get rid of the so-called "Zion Curtain" [Tribune].
The House passes a measure providing a tax incentive for the construction of a convention hotel in Salt Lake City [Deseret News, Tribune].
Legislators push ahead with a measure authorizing the state to keep the national parks open if the federal government has another shut down [Daily Herald].
A resolution supporting the relocation of the state prison sailed through the House on Tuesday [Tribune].
Anumber of clean air measures move forwardon the Hill [Tribune].
The Senate unanimously approves a bill establishing more oversight of the USTAR program [Tribune].
A new study says Utah has the highest rate of mental illness in the nation [KSL].

On this day in history:

The Boston Massacre took place when British soldiers opened fire on colonists, killing five people in 1770.
The Nazi party won 44% of the vote in German parliamentary elections in 1933. These were the last free elections in Germany until after World War II.
Winston Churchill delivered his famous"Iron Curtain" speech,referring to the Soviet Union's influence in Eastern Europe in 1946.
Soviet leader Josef Stalin died in 1953.
The nuclear non-proliferation treaty went into effect in 1970.
Comedian John Belushi was found dead from a drug overdose at the age of 33 in 1982.
Martha Stewart was convicted of obstructing justice and lying to the government in 2004.

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