Guest opinion: Trump changes the game on climate by Andrew Sandstrom Hours before Thursdayâs debate, President Donald Trump made a peculiar post on Truth Social. The former president posted a picture of what appeared to be his climate change talking points for the debate, apparently written by his former Environmental Protection Agency Administrator, Andrew Wheeler. âMr. President,â the document began, âI am sure that a climate question will come up during your debate this week.â In preparation for this inevitability, Mr. Wheeler recommended that the former president focus on his climate wins and tout how his administration reduced carbon emissions during his time in office. He also recommended that Mr. Trump list his successes in making America energy independent, insisting that when it came to cutting pollution and increasing energy production, âWe can do both.â From there, the advice started to sound like my own climate advocacy: âWe will continue to reduce CO2 and focus on American made energy,â â[We need to stop] importing more energy from countries that arenât our friends,â âWhen you transport gas halfway around the world, it means more CO2 emissions.â Notably, nowhere in these talking points did Mr. Wheeler suggest the former president dismiss climate change or call it a âhoax.â That is what the Republican Party needs. It needs leadership on climate â a uniquely conservative vision for the future that includes energy affordability, energy abundance, and a decrease in pollution. It may, perhaps, even win us the White House. (Read More) News Releases U.S. Supreme Court blocks Purdue Pharma bankruptcy plan In 2019, the Utah Department of Commerceâs Division of Consumer Protection, through the Utah Attorney Generalâs Office, brought legal action against Purdue Pharma and Richard and Kathe Sackler, alleging that they deceptively marketed the pain relief drug OxyContin as less prone to abuse and addiction and, through their actions, created a public health crisis. Today, the United States Supreme Court invalidated the Bankruptcy Courtâs release of claims against the Sacklers as part of the bankruptcy plan. The Bankruptcy Court has entered a 60-day stay on the bankruptcy proceeding to allow the parties to seek again a negotiated resolution of the claims against Purdue and the Sackler family. Further litigation is expected if that process is unsuccessful. (Read More) Gov. Cox issues statement on EPAâs Good Neighbor rule Gov. Cox issued the following statement: âThe EPAâs proposed Ozone Transport Rule is yet another example of federal overreach. This is one that would have dire consequences for energy security and reliability in Utah,â Gov. Cox said. âTwo years ago Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon, Idaho Gov. Brad Little and I told the EPA why the rule was deeply flawed and bad policy. The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed and stopped the rule in Utah last summer, and I am thrilled to see the U.S. Supreme Court today halt the implementation of the rule for other states impacted.â Nominees announced for Business and Chancery Court vacancy The Business and Chancery Judicial Nominating Commission has selected nominees for a vacancy on the Business and Chancery Court. This position was created by the Legislature during the 2024 Legislative Session. The nominees for the vacancy are: Michael Barnhill, Associate/Partner, Michael Best & Friedrich; David Billings, Shareholder/Partner, Fabian Van Cott; Jason Boren, Associate/Partner, Ballard Spahr LLP; Erin Byington, Executive Director, Utah Family Defenders Association; Rita Cornish, Judge, Second District Court; Mackenzie Hanks, Corporate Counsel, Intermountain Health; Jeffrey Makin, Senior Vice President, Sunrun Inc. Written comments can be submitted to the Business and Chancery Judicial Nominating Commission at [email protected] or Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, P.O. Box 142330, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-2330. The deadline for written comments is noon July 8, 2024. (Read More) Nominees announced for Fourth District Court vacancy The Fourth District Judicial Nominating Commission has selected nominees for a vacancy on the Fourth District Court. This position results from the completion of Judge Robert Lundâs term, effective Jan. 5, 2025. The nominees for the vacancy are: Joshua Esplin, Chief Counsel/Attorney, Utah County Public Defenders Association; Tony Graf, Judge Pro Tempore, Small Claims, Salt Lake City Justice Court, Deputy County Attorney, Davis County Attorneyâs Office; Shawn Howell, Attorney, Utah County Public Defenders Association; Ryan Stack, Deputy County Attorney/Prosecuting Attorney, Summit County; Kasey Wright, Attorney/Owner, Wright Law Firm, P.C. Written comments can be submitted to the Fourth District Judicial Nominating Commission at [email protected] or Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, P.O. Box 142330, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-2330. The deadline for written comments is noon July 8, 2024. (Read More) | 