Local News Highlights: Daily Briefing Morning Must Reads for Thursday, November 17, 2016

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Thursday, November 17, 2016 - 9:45am

Utah Policy

Local News Highlights: Daily Briefing

Morning Must Reads for Thursday, November 17, 2016

Good Thursday morning from Salt Lake City. Today is the 322nd day of the year. There are 44 days left in 2016.

Orrin Hatch says he is seriously considering running for an eighth term. Lawmakers will have to come up with more than $100 million to deal with student growth. A report says Utah is not losing money by refusing to expand Medicaid.

The clock:

32 days until the Electoral College meets to cast their votes for president and vice president (12/19/2016)
64 days until Donald Trump is inaugurated as the 45th President (1/20/2017)
67 days until the first day of the 2017 Utah Legislature (1/23/2017)
112 days until the final day of the 2017 Utah Legislature (3/9/2017)
355 days until the 2017 municipal elections (11/7/2017)
719 days until the 2018 midterm elections (11/6/2018)

Ten talking points for Thursday:

Sen. Orrin Hatch says he's being urged by supporters to mount a bid for an eighth term in Washington despite his vow that this would be his last go-round [Utah Policy, Roll Call, Tribune].
Utah lawmakers will have to come up with more than $100 million to pay for new students in the state's public schools [Utah Policy].
A new report shows Utah is not losing money by refusing to expand Medicaid [Utah Policy].
Lawmakers will spend about $50,000 to fund a public opinion survey about non-compete contracts [Utah Policy].
Drain the swamp! Donald Trump announces people who join his administration will be banned from becoming a registered lobbyist for five years. They will also not hire anyone who is a current lobbyist [CBS News].
Donald Trump's policy advisors are reportedly considering adopting a registry for Muslims who enter the United States. One of his supporters says Japanese-American internment camps set a precedent for the move [Huffington Post]. Constitutional law experts say requiring Muslims entering the country to sign up for a registry would not be illegal [Politico].
Lawmakers fix a problem in the funding calculations for the money raised from last year's gas-tax hike [Deseret News, Tribune].
Traffic could become a major headache for planners deciding what to do with the land near Point of the Mountain once the prison is moved [Tribune].
Former Rep. Kraig Powell wins confirmation as a state judge despite opposition from the LGBT community [Deseret News, Tribune].
Rep. Jeremy Peterson says a state income tax credit for rooftop solar panels will take $80 million from Utah's education budget over the next two years unless lawmakers make some changes [Deseret News].

On this day in history:

1800 - The U.S. Congress convened in at the Capitol in Washington for the first time.
1871 - The National Rifle Association was founded.
1973 - President Richard M. Nixon told an Associated Press managing editors meeting in Orlando, Fla., "I'm not a crook."
1993 - The U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution to establish NAFTA.
2003 - Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger was sworn in as governor of California.

Today At Utah Policy

Utah Not a 'Donor State' Under Obamacare
By Bob Bernick, Contributing Editor
While Utah’s Medicaid expansion debate – which has dominated the last three legislative sessions – may be over with for a while, state House Republicans were told Wednesday that GOP Gov. Gary Herbert’s argument that Utah was losing hundreds ...

Legislators Launching Survey on Non-Compete Contracts
By Bob Bernick, Contributing Editor
The Legislature will spend about $50,000 to pay half the cost of an extensive public opinion survey on non-compete contracts, which more and more employers are demanding their employees sign to get or keep a job....

Lawmakers Will Have to Find More than $100 Million for New Students
By Bob Bernick, Contributing Editor
And so it begins.Utah legislative leaders are starting to find out just how much more it will take to fund state government, education and public colleges next year, and so far the numbers are not good....

Forbes Ranks Utah Best State for Business
By Press Release
Forbes magazine named Utah the 2016 Best State for Business and Careers. Utah has ranked no. 1 on the list six out of the last seven years, with 2016 marking the third consecutive year in the top spot....

Hatch Seriously Considering Running for an Eighth Term; McMullin Possibly Considering a Run Too
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
Despite vowing that his current term would be his last, Sen. Orrin Hatch says he's got a lot of supporters urging him to run again in 2018....

Op-Ed: Land Transfer Agenda Threatens Public Lands and State Budgets
By Chris Saeger Director, Western Values Project
Folks in the West love our public lands, and for many reasons; the ample places to hunt, fish, camp, hike, ride and otherwise enjoy the great outdoors are a significant reason they choose to live, work and raise our families where we do. ...

Policy News

Salt Lake Chamber Celebrates Authentic Leadership at the 40th Annual American Express Women & Business Conference and Wells Fargo ATHENA Awards Luncheon
The Salt Lake Chamber Women’s Business Center hosted its 40th Annual American Express Women & Business Conference and Wells Fargo ATHENA Awards Luncheon on Tuesday, November 15th, 2016 at the Little America Hotel....

Utah Achieves National Top Volunteerism Rate for 11th Year
Utah continues to lead the country in volunteerism, according to data released Tuesday by the Corporation for National and Community Service. The release of the Volunteering and Civic Life in America report marks the 11th year Utah has led the nation in total volunteerism....

U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch & General James T. Conway to Convene 300+ Utah Leaders for Forum on National Security and Economic Prosperity
The U.S. Global Leadership Coalition will host U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch and General James T. Conway, among other key, local political and business leaders, for a lunch forum on Friday, November 18 to discuss how to strengthen America’s leadersh...

Salt Lake City is Accepting Applications for its Capital Improvement Program
Salt Lake City is accepting applications for its Capital Improvement Program to help expand or replace the city’s infrastructure. Applications must be received by November 30th, 2016 at 3 p.m....

Womply to Join Silicon Slopes
Womply and the Governor’s Office of Economic Development announced the small business data analytics company will open a Utah office, adding up to 175 high-paying jobs to the community....