About Utah Politics - March 6, 2014

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Thursday, March 6, 2014 - 7:30am

Local News Highlights: Daily Briefing

How to Sound Smart About Utah Politics - March 6, 2014

Hosue approves the compromise with "Count My Vote." House and Senate leadership are at odds on how to fund Speaker Lockhart's education technology proposal. Democratic lawmaker introduces a bill for Utah to accept full Medicaid expansion.

Countdown:

7 days until the final day of the 2014 Legislature
8 days until the Utah candidate filing period opens
12 days until the Utah Democratic Party caucus meetings
14 days until the Utah candidate filing period closes
14 days until the Utah GOP caucus meetings
50 days until the Utah State Republican and Democratic conventions
110 days until Utah's 2014 primary elections
243 days to the 2014 midterm elections
606 days to the 2015 elections
671 days until the 2016 Iowa Caucuses
977 days to the 2016 presidential election

Today's Utah political news highlights:

The House approves the compromise with "Count My Vote" [Utah Policy, Deseret News, Tribune].
House and Senate leadership are facing off over how to fund Speaker Lockhart's proposal to increase technology use in Utah's schools [Tribune].
Democratic Senator Gene Davis unveils a bill pushing for the state to accept full Medicaid expansion [Deseret News].
LGBT protesters return to the Hill to rally for the stalled statewide non-discrimination law [Deseret News, Tribune, Daily Herald].
The Senate advances a measure to crack down on payday lenders [Tribune].
Rep. Greg Hughes' measure allowing bars to provide a breathalyzer for use by patrons moves out of a House committee [Tribune, Deseret News].
A House committee approves a bill making cockfighting a felony [Tribune, Deseret News].
Utah's Democrats complain a bill approved by the Senate is just a way to remove members of the minority party from the Utah State Tax Commission [Tribune].
The House approves a plan to make Utah's State School Board elections nonpartisan affairs [Deseret News].
The Senate advances some changes to Utah's controversial school grading system [Deseret News].
Lawmakers delay the effective date of of Utah's guest-worker program until 2017 [Tribune].
Higher education officials are urging Utahns to attend this month's caucus meetings [Deseret News].

On this day in history:

The Alamo fell to Mexican forces in 1836.
The Supreme Court ruled in the Dred Scott case that slaves were not citizensin 1857.
Oreo cookies were first introduced in 1912.
Retired Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. died in 1935.
Walter Cronkiet signed off as anchor of "The CBS Evening News" for the final time in 1981.
Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff, Lewis "Scooter" Libby, was convicted of lying and obstructing the investigation into the 2003 leak of CIA operative Valerie Plame's identity.

Today At Utah Policy

Bryan Schott's Political BS: The Five Stages of Grief and 'Count My Vote'
I was struck by something said during floor debate on the compromise between "Count My Vote" and the legislature....

House Approves 'Count My Vote' Compromise
It was a legislative exhale of resignation...an acceptance of the inevitable. The Utah House voted 49-20 on Wednesday to approve a compromise between Count My Vote and legislative leadership that would keep the caucus system while creating an alternative path to the primary ...

Mike Lee Backs Nebraska Candidate
Sen. Mike Lee is getting involved in the Nebraska Republican Senate primary, backing Ben Sasse in the race to replace retiring Senator Mike Johanns....

House Committee Advances Bill to Move Utah's Presidential Primary to First in the Nation
Utah took another big step toward moving to the front of the line in the 2016 presidential nominating process....

Featured Items

Momentum Builds for Legislature to Take Action to Improve Air Quality
Momentum continues to build in support of H.B. 388, "A Quarter for Clean Air Legislation." The bi-partisan House bill would let voters choose more mass transit to help address the state's air quality challenges....

Hatch Aide Jumps to D.C. Lobbying Shop
Hatch communications director Antonia Ferrier is leaving the Senate to work for Washington, D.C. lobbyingfirm Forbes-Tate....

Weekly Survey: "Count My Vote" Compromise
What do you think of the accordbetween the Utah Legislature and "Count My Vote"? Was it a good compromise, or did caucus defenders fold too quickly? Vote now in our weekly survey....

Brown Offers Perspective on 2014 Legislature
At Utah Data Points, Adam Brown compares the number of bills introduced and passedin the 2014 Legislature with past legislative sessions dating back to 2007....