About Utah Politics - March 7, 2014

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Friday, March 7, 2014 - 9:45am

Local News Highlights: Daily Briefing

How to Sound Smart About Utah Politics - March 7, 2014

Herbert threatens to veto Lockhart's education plan if it costs too much. Payday lender crackdown sails through the legislature. Autism treatment bill one step closer to approval.

Countdown:

6 days until the final day of the 2014 Legislature
7 days until the Utah candidate filing period opens
11 days until the Utah Democratic Party caucus meetings
13 days until the Utah candidate filing period closes
13 days until the Utah GOP caucus meetings
49 days until the Utah State Republican and Democratic conventions
109 days until Utah's 2014 primary elections
242 days to the 2014 midterm elections
605 days to the 2015 elections
670 days until the 2016 Iowa Caucuses
976 days to the 2016 presidential election

Today's Utah political news highlights:

Gov. Gary Herbert threatens to veto Speaker Becky Lockhart's education technology initiative if it costs more than $30 million [Tribune, Deseret News, Daily Herald].
A measure to tighten restrictions on payday lenders is headed to the Governor [Tribune].
Insurers would have to cover autism treatments under a bill headed to the House for debate [Tribune].
House Minority Leader Jennifer Seelig announces she won't run for another term [Deseret News, Tribune].
The House passes two bills stemming from the John Swallow scandal [Tribune, Deseret News].
A bill allowing state regulators to adopt air quality standards more strict than the feds dies in a Senate committee [Deseret News].
A House committee advances a bill exempting homeschoolers from state regulation [Tribune].
A Senate committee approves a bill allowing the use of cannabis oil for treating seizures [Deseret News, Standard-Examiner].
The Senate sends a bill banning panhandling along highways to the governor's desk [Tribune].
Sen. Mike Lee speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference [Tribune].
The Utah Senate gives thumbs up to a bill banning the use of drones for spying [Tribune].
February storms helped boost Utah's snowpack [Deseret News].

On this day in history:

Daniel Webster gave a three-hour speech endorsing the Compromise of 1850.
Alexander Graham Bell received a patent for the telephone in 1876.
Adolf Hitler ordered German troops into the Rhineland in 1936.
State troopers broke up a march by civil rights demonstrators in Selma, Alabama in 1965.
John Bolton was nominated by President George W. Bush to be U.S. ambassador to the UN in 2005.

Today At Utah Policy

Did Jim Matheson Tip His Hand About 2016?
Rep. Jim Matheson said something during his benedictory address to the Utah State Legislature that seemed a bit...foreshadowey....

Sen. Gene Davis Calls for Utah to Accept Full Medicaid Expansion (Video)
Senate Minority Leader Gene Davis (D-Salt Lake City) is going all-in on Medicaid expansion. He has introduced legislation calling for the state to accept full expansion under the Affordable Care Act....

Mike Lee Speaks at CPAC, Quotes Emo Philips (Video)
Sen. Mike Lee took the stage at the annual Conservative Political Action Committee to talk about his vision for a "reform agenda" for conservatives....

Measure Aims to Make Utah Most 'Broadband Friendly' State in the U.S. (Video)
Sen. Howard Stephenson (R-Salt Lake City) wants Utah to make it easier for the private sector to expand the infrastructure for high-speed internet in the state....

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....

Featured Items

Bernick and Schott on Politics - Episode #179
Welcome Billy Hesterman from the Provo Daily Herald to talk about the waning days of the 2014 Legislature. We discuss the deal lawmakers made with "Count My Vote" and how legislators are going to pay for Speaker Lockhart's education initiative. Plus, we find out how Billy do...

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....

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....