Morning Must Reads for Friday, September 30, 2016
Good Friday morning from Salt Lake City. Today is the 280th day of the year. There are 92 days left in 2016.
Utahns support a minimum wage boost. SL City & County fight crime in the Rio Grande area of downtown. Hillary Clinton gets a bump in the polls after debate.
Have a great weekend!
The clock:
Talking points for Friday:
1-A majority of Utahns support a boost in the minimum wage, according to a Utah Policy poll (Utah Policy).
2-Congressman Bishop introduces federalism amendment and LaVarr Webb discusses why it’s a good idea (Utah Policy).
3. Hilllary Clinton is getting a little bump in the polls after her debate performance (The Hill).
4-Salt Lake City and County make a big push to fight crime in Rio Grande area of downtown with “Operation Diversion,” a coordinated effort with law enforcement and social services agencies (Deseret News) (Tribune).
5-Gov. Herbert will seek $400 million more for Utah schools in next state budget (Tribune).
6-Jon Huntsman Jr. disagrees with Trump, but will vote for him (Tribune).
7-Vladimir Putin relishes his role as a disruptor in the world (New York Times).
8-Ammon and Ryan Bundy, in court this week, defend their armed occupation of an Oregon wildlife refuge (New York Times).
9-Health insurance rates on the individual marketplace are estimated to rise 30 percent next year (Deseret News).
On this day in history:
Majority of Utahns Support Minimum Wage Boost
By Bob Bernick, Contributing Editor
Most Utahns want to raise the minimum wage above the current $7.25 an hour, a new UtahPolicy poll finds.But Utahns are split over what the new minimum should be, $15 an hour, $12 an hour or $10 an hour, finds Dan Jones & Associates.Only Congress has the power to lift the...
Policy Buzz: Federalism Amendment Introduced by Bishop
By LaVarr Webb, Publisher
I believe the federal government has grown too big and too expensive, taking over responsibilities that would be better handled by the states and local governments. Because the federal government will never voluntarily relinquish power, the states need tools to push back aga...
Hatch to Dems: 'Public Option' Won't Rescue Obamacare
By Golden Webb
In response to the continuing failures of their healthcare reform law, many Democrats are advocating for the so-called "public option" as the cure for Obamacare's ills. But Sen. Orrin Hatch says there's a reason that idea wasn't included in their original plan...
GOP Leaders May Agree to Primary Run-Off Election as Solution to SB54 Plurality Issue
By Bob Bernick, Contributing Editor
A compromise is in the works, UtahPolicy is told, that could settle the final sticking point over SB54 – what to do if no one wins a majority in a multi-candidate primary election....
Utahns Support Garland Confirmation to Supreme Court if Clinton Wins
By Bob Bernick, Contributing Editor
A majority of Utahns say President Barack Obama’s U.S. Supreme Court nominee, appellate Judge Merrick Garland, should be confirmed by the U.S. Senate, either now or if Hillary Clinton wins the November election, a new UtahPolicy poll shows.But Utah Republicans are agai...
Measure the Right Activities to Achieve Goals in Government and Elsewhere
By Randy Shumway, Zions Bank Economic Advisor
Not everything that can be counted counts and not everything that counts can be counted.--William Bruce CameronI recently sat in an organizational meeting perplexed by the degree to which our group’s ultimate objectives had been slowly commandeered by seemingly-inconse...
Quality Teachers Top Education Priority for Utah Voters
By Press Release
Many Voters Would Pay Higher Taxes to Increase Education FundingSome 40% of voters in the 2016 Utah Priorities Project survey named teacher quality as their top priority with regard to K-12 education. This beat out “college and career readiness,” “class siz...
New Initiative to Solve Problems in the Rio Grande Area
Today we took unprecedented action to restore public safety in parts of downtown Salt Lake City.We are too used to seeing news reports about assaults, stabbings and shootings in the area. The public doesn’t feel safe, our businesses are affected and many vulnerable peo...
Venezuela Resolution Passes House
This week, with Congresswoman Love’s strong support, the House passed H. Res. 851. This resolution, which she cosponsored, expresses profound concern about the political, economic, and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela and calls for the release of political prisoners, i...
Rep. Lee Perry Statement on Bill Allowing Concealed Carry
Representative Lee Perry issued the following statement to clarify recent news stories about a bill file he has opened for the upcoming 2017 Legislative Session:I recently opened a bill file that would allow law-abiding citizens to carry a concealed gun without a permit and ...
Casual Friday: Weekend Events & Outdoors Report
Outdoor Notes-- Tribune: Utah Hike of the Week: Upper Muley Twist Canyon in Capitol Reef National Park Weekend EventsNew Films-- Deepwater Horizon: Tribune review -- Demon: Tribune review -- Masterminds: Tribune review -- Mia Madre: Tribune review -- Miss Peregrine's Home fo...
Utah Public Employees' Assoc. Endorses Gov. Herbert
Citing a track record of listening to and working with public employees, the Utah Public Employees’ Association (UPEA) has announced its endorsement of Gov. Gary Herbert.“State employees have already benefited from Gov. Herbert and Lt. Gov. Cox’s approach t...
NRA Endorses Herbert and Reyes
Fairfax, Va.— The National Rifle Association's Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) recently announced its endorsement of Gary Herbert for re-election as Governor of Utah and Sean Reyes for re-election to the office of Utah Attorney General.“We are proud to endorse G...
Salt Lake Tribune
Editorial: Utah should do its own medical marijuana research
Utah kids living in intergenerational poverty could fill 1,611 school buses
Utah prosecutors oppose immediate appellate review of Swallow email issue
Vandals steal BLM's new Grandstaff Trailhead sign at Moab's Negro Bill Canyon
Huntsman Jr. says he disagrees with Trump on a 'range of issues,' but will vote for him
Gov. Gary Herbert to seek $400 million more for schools in next budget
Utahns likely won't be able to sign up for Medicaid expansion on Jan. 1
Blitz targets drug dealers, addicts in Rio Grande homeless crowds
Deseret News
Op-ed: Leaders need a well-defined vision and willingness to coordinate with others
Op-ed: A common sense and mainstream approach to public service
Editorial: NCAA, Notre Dame president at odds over LGBT North Carolina boycott
Utah lawmakers to again consider 'constitutional carry' gun bill
Shrinking Utah County farms: How to keep pavement at bay
Report: 1/3 of impoverished Utahns spend 1/2 of their income on housing
'Operation Diversion': Separating 'wolves' from vulnerable in Rio Grande neighborhood
Individual exchange health plans to go up average of 30 percent
Other
Editorial: Safe schools are every bit as important as new schools (Daily Herald)
Hill Republicans bet it all on Pence (Politico)
How Mitch McConnell won the SCOTUS fight (for now) (CNN)
Obama Cabinet Official Says It's A Good Thing Justice Scalia Died (Daily Caller)
Gary Johnson struggles to name a world leader he respects (CNN)
Gridlock in Congress may presage more of the same to come (Associated Press)
AGs file suit in last-ditch bid to stop hand-off of internet control (FOX News)
Hillary Clinton Arrives in Iowa for Start of Early Voting (Wall Street Journal)
Obama again defends Kaepernick, but also sends him and other athletes a message (USA Today)
Forbes just reappraised the value of Donald Trump's assets (Quartz)
Yellen Pledges Diversity at Fed Amid Search for Atlanta Chief (Bloomberg)