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Political lessons from a pig pen. Your Wednesday morning political briefing from UtahPolicy.com

Wednesday, July 5, 2017 - 8:00pm
Utah Policy

Local News Highlights: Daily Briefing

Morning must reads for Wednesday, July 5, 2017

The clock:

  • 19 days until ballots for the August primary are mailed to voters (7/25/2017)
  • 40 days until the 2017 Utah primary election (8/15/2017)
  • 124 days until the 2017 election (11/7/2017)
  • 200 days until the opening day of the 2018 Utah Legislature (1/22/2018)
  • 245 days until the final day of the 2018 Utah Legislature (3/8/2018)
  • 488 days until the 2018 midterm elections (11/6/2018)
  • 1,217 days until the 2020 presidential election (11/3/2020)

Today's political Highlights

  • LaVarr Webb draws lessons from a pig pen to explain reaction to Trump's tweets [Utah Policy].
  • Sen. Mike Lee seeks to build consensus on healthcare reform, instead of throwing bombs [Deseret News). Pressure on McConnell to deliver ObamaCare repeal [The Hill].
  • U.S., Korea respond to North Korea ICBM launch with 'show of force' [The Hill]. Missile launch marks a direct challenge to Trump administration [Washington Post]. Trump options on North Korea are few and risky [New York Times]. U.S. warns North Korea it's ready to fight if provoked [Wall Street Journal].
  • Uproar over Gordon Hayward dumping Utah for Boston [Deseret NewsTribune].

On this day in history:

  • 1775 Second Continental Congress drafts the Olive Branch Petition to King George III.
  • 1814  American defeat British and Canadians at Chippewa, Ontario.
  • 1935 FDR signs National Labor Relations Act.
  • 1994 Amazon.com is founded in Bellevue, Washington by Jeff Bezos.
  • 2016  FBI releases report saying Hillary Clinton was "extremely careless" in handling classified emails.

 

 

Today At Utah Policy

Lessons from a pig pen - the media frenzy around Trump's tweets
By Super User
 I'm a fairly traditional person who believes we ought to play nice (although I sometimes fall short of my own aspirations). I also believe politics ought to be civil and respectful.So, like many people, I've been baffled by the president's late night/early morning twee...

Poll: Utahns have varying summer vacation plans
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
Most Utahns say they will hit the road for vacation this summer....

'Political Insiders' say medical marijuana ballot initiative will not pass in 2018
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
Our "Political Insiders" think the proposed 2018 initiative to legalize medical marijuana in Utah will get enough signatures to get on the ballot next year, but they're not so sure it will pass....

5 Things to Say to Someone Who Hates America on July 4th
By Jared Whitley
July 4th is the best day of the year for food, friends, fireworks, and er fpatriotism. However, for some, there is no room for love of country in their hearts. They may even want to pollute your red, white, and blue-wearing good times with their attitude! Well, don't ...

Beg to Differ podcast: 'Dipsy Doodles'
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
Bryan Schott and Mike Winder make you the smartest person in the room when you talk about politics....

Attorney General refuses open records request to release opinion on special election process
By Bob Bernick, Contributing Editor
As expected, the Utah Attorney General's Office has denied UtahPolicy's GRAMA request to see the office's opinion written and signed, but held, on whether GOP Gov. Gary Herbert had the proper authority to set up the current 3rd U.S. House District's special election....

Multi-use policies can prevent fires like Brian Head
By Matthew Anderson
Utahns should be tired of charred trees, black smoke, and forest mismanagement. The Brian Head Fire has grown to over 50,000 acres with no end in sight....

UTPS announces lawsuit on State School Board elections
By Kim Burningham
Some of you may be aware that my health has suddenly and significantly worsened and that the time I have left is now short.  This change has given my time to ponder what I value and has strengthened my desire to speak up for those values....

Weekly survey: Will the medical marijuana ballot initiative be successful?
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
A group has launched an initiative to put legalizing medical marijuana in Utah on the 2018 ballot. Will they be successful? Vote in our weekly survey....

It's entirely possible that Tanner Ainge wins the August GOP primary election
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
Several well-connected Republicans are whispering that Tanner Ainge may very well win the August 15th primary in the 3rd Congressional District....

Policy News

President's Message
Earlier this week two of our WTC Utah team members participated in the SelectUSA Investment Summit in Washington, DC.The summit is the highest profile event dedicated to promoting foreign direct investment (FDI) in the United States and helps connect global businesses to inv...

 

Can Trump make America an energy powerhouse?
Economist and CNN analyst Stephen Moore says the United States is poised to become not just energy independent, but energy dominant globally thanks to shale energy. Trillions of new tax dollars could be generated to fund public programs. Writes Moore:At the Unleashing Americ...

 

Casual Friday: Weekend Events & Outdoors Report
Outdoor Notes--Tribune: Utah Hike of the Week: Desert Voices Trail - Dinosaur National Monument--Tribune: In this Cedar City studio, a passion for the outdoors carved in wood--Tribune: Exploring Utah: On the wonders of dinosaurs - at any age--Tribune: Camping in Utah over th...

Registration Open for Governor-led trade mission to Singapore and Vietnam
World Trade Center Utah is currently accepting registrants for the Governor-led Singapore and Vietnam Trade Mission, which will occur Aug. 25 through Sept. 3. ...

 

Sens. Lee and Crapo introduce the Silencers Helping Us Save Hearing Act
Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Mike Crapo (R-ID) introduced the Silencers Helping Us Save Hearing Act of 2017 a bill that would ensure the elimination of all federal regulations of suppressors....

Local Headlines

 

Salt Lake Tribune

Op-ed: A positive note about UTA and its rail system

Op-ed: Let's make sure Utah's housing shortage doesn't become like California's

Op-ed: The conservative case for paid family leave

Op-ed: Don't forget the brave firefighters this holiday

Editorial: Don't piecemeal immigration reform

Jason Chaffetz is done, and Utah is now without one representative

High-power developer, ex-UTA official Terry Diehl pleads not guilty to bankruptcy fraud

Told to remove all families or lose funding, The Road Home is grappling with some harsh math

Utah loses $650 million each year due to sales tax exemptions

Ballot initiative forming to create independent commission to redraw political districts

Wrecking ball set for four Murray historic structures, each over 100 years old - and too costly to save

What happens to Utah schools when the district next door can pay its teachers more?

He's dared Utah to prosecute him for polygamy. Now he's running for mayor. What if someone calls his bluff?

Tiny Utah city drops appeal to U.S. Supreme Court in Ute boundary dispute, says it wants to negotiate 'in good faith'

Deseret News

Frank R. Pignanelli and LaVarr Webb: Political fireworks lighting up Utah and the nation

Op-ed: A better flight plan for air traffic control

Editorial: A bipartisan effort to empower states is a worthy endeavor

Editorial: With markets, well-meaning minimum-wage laws can prove cruel

Backers of Utah medical marijuana ballot initiative tout poll showing strong support

Road Home on track to relocate families by mid-July, but not without struggles

Initiative creating independent redistricting commission in the works

Public asked to comment on $5 billion, multiyear transportation plan

Sen. Lee seen as shifting from 'bomb thrower' to consensus builder on health care

Groups say ACA repeal without replacement could hurt 200K Utahns

Other

WFRC transportation plan reflects Northern Utah's exploding population (Standard-Examiner)

Utah's DUI law could be buzzkill for Park City tourism (Park Record)

Summit County leaders leaning toward a property tax increase (Park Record)

National Headlines

Trump tells troops in Fourth of July speech: I have your back (Washington Examiner)

White House details Trump meeting with Putin (The Hill)

Five changes GOP might make to healthcare bill (The Hill)

Two Silicon Valley billionaires want to reinvent the Democratic Party with a new project called 'WTF' (Business Insider)

Trey Parker on giving voice to 'Despicable Me 3' villain, mulling the end of 'South Park' and ignoring Trump (Los Angeles Times)

Media errors give Trump fresh ammunition (The Hill)

Cannabis could soon be attraction at California county fairs (San Francisco Chronicle)

Foreigners own 1 million+ acres of Georgia ag land (AJC)

Kim Jong-un riles Trump on the Fourth (Daily Mail)

Illinois Senate nixes vetoes of budget plan with tax hike (Washington Post)

Neil Gorsuch's first few months begin to reveal how nine-justice Supreme Court will develop (Washington Examiner)

Wise Words

Speech

"People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use." Soren Kierkegaard
 

 

Lighter Side

Dumb Question

"A woman gave birth to a baby on a recent Spirit Airlines flight. When the flight attendant said, "Is there a doctor on board?" the passengers said, "Of course not. This is Spirit Airlines." Jimmy Fallon