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Situational awareness - July 19, 2018
Good Thursday morning from Salt Lake City.
Salt Lake City officials end up on opposite sides over the inland port. Lawmakers approve child tax credit for big Utah families. Trump was told that Putin personally ordered the 2016 attack to sway the presidential election shortly before he took office.
TICK TOCK
110 days until the 2018 midterm elections (11/6/2018) 193 days until the first day of the 2019 Utah Legislature (1/28/2019) 838 days until the 2020 presidential election (11/3/2020)
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HERE ARE THE STORIES YOU SHOULD PAY ATTENTION TO TODAY
Inland port brawl
Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski and the city council end up on opposite sides as lawmakers pass changes to the controversial inland port bill - http://bit.ly/2uOHuQO
Who decides party membership
A new UtahPolicy.com survey finds most Utahns, including an overwhelming number of Republicans, oppose letting party leaders decide who belongs to a political party, and who doesn't - http://bit.ly/2JAiTV9
Trump criticism was justified
Rep. John Curtis, a member of the House Foreign Relations Committee, says criticism of President Trump following his meeting with Vladimir Putin was entirely justified. Download the podcast of our conversation here - http://bit.ly/2zLFxdv
OTHER UTAH HEADLINES
Newly public letters show Speaker Greg Hughes, as a member of the UTA board, might have profited from a development deal near a TRAX station before staffers discovered the conflict and he withdrew from the project [
Deseret News].
Lawmakers approve a $30 million child tax credit during Wednesday's special session. The tax break works out to about $170 for a family with five children [
Deseret News,
Tribune].
Democrats in Congress want Ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman to testify about this week's Trump-Putin summit [
Tribune].
Sen. Mike Lee meets with Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, says he will support his confirmation later this year [
Tribune].
Utah cops are preparing for the state's new 0.05% DUI law which goes into effect next year [
Deseret News,
Tribune].
Legislators may consider a proposal requiring gun owners to lock up their firearms when they're not carrying them [
Deseret News,
Tribune].
Lawmakers will once again consider banning the use of hand-held cell phones by Utah drivers [
Deseret News,
Tribune].
NATIONAL HEADLINES
Two years ago President Trump was given classified intelligence indicating that Vladimir Putin personally ordered cyberattacks to sway the 2016 election -
https://nyti.ms/2LsjJoB
President Trump said in an interview he holds Russian President Vladimir Putin responsible for attacking the 2016 election -
https://cbsn.ws/2JCiem1
American officials are scrambling to understand what was agreed to as Russian officials say they made "verbal agreements" with President Trump during his meeting with Vladimir Putin -
https://wapo.st/2JC8oR8 A new poll shows most Americans disapprove of the way Trump handled his press conference with Vladimir Putin, but nearly 80% of Republicans approve of Trump's interactions with Putin -
http://bit.ly/2Lsam8j
What? The White House is considering a proposal to allow Russian officials to question several Americans, including the former ambassador to Moscow, about alleged "illegal activities" -
http://bit.ly/2Lv9U9u
A bill in the Senate would kick in fresh sanctions against Russia if the Kremlin attacks the U.S. election system again -
https://reut.rs/2Lw54Jd
Troubling! Most states are not prepared to fend off cyberattacks on their election systems ahead of the 2018 midterms -
http://bit.ly/2JCry9t
President Trump is threatening to impose tariffs on automobile imports to win concessions from trading partners. Auto industry executives and members of congress are uncomfortable with the plan -
https://on.wsj.com/2Lw5CPh
President Trump's tariffs are leading to layoffs for American workers -
https://wapo.st/2LsLGwu
Donald Jr. and Eric Trump racked up nearly $250,000 in Secret Service costs in one month as they traveled overseas on Trump family business -
http://bit.ly/2LuNiWq House Democrats unveil their new election slogan: "For the People" -
http://bit.ly/2LtJPrb
GOP congressman Jason Lewis made misogynistic comments on his radio show he hosted from 2009 to 2014, including lamenting that women can no longer be called "sluts" -
https://cnn.it/2Lsm7vz
The proposal to split California into three separate states has been kicked off the November ballot by that state's supreme court -
https://cnn.it/2JGBMG4
A new study shows air pollution in national parks is nearly as bad as air quality in the 20 largest cities -
https://cnn.it/2LwdX5o ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY
1911 - Pennsylvania became the first state to pass laws censoring movies.
1977 - The world's first Global Positioning System (GPS) signal was transmitted.
1989 - United Airlines Flight 232 crashes in Sioux City, Iowa killing 111.
1993 - President Bill Clinton announced the "don't ask, don't tell, don't pursue" policy toward gays in the military. The policy was lifted in 2011.
Today At Utah Policy
Utahns oppose political party leaders deciding who can and cannot be a memberBy Bob Bernick, Contributing Editor If Utah Republican Party leaders decide that they, not voters, decide who can and who cannot be a Republican, the leaders will be going against the wishes of 90 percent of their own rank-and-file party members, a new UtahPolicy.com poll shows....
Inland port legislation puts Salt Lake City leaders on opposite sidesBy Bryan Schott, Managing Editor Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski stood virtually alone on Wednesday, at odds with most Republican state lawmakers and the Salt Lake City council as she pushed back against changes to the controversial inland port....
United Utah Party noiminates Tim Zeidner in Third Congressional DistrictBy Bryan Schott, Managing Editor The United Utah Party nominated a replacement for Melanie McCoard, who was stepping down as the UUP candidate for US Congress in the Third Congressional District due to health concerns. ...
Sen. Lee statement on European Commission Google decisionBy Press release Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement Wednesday responding to the European Commission's Google decision....
U.S. Air Force looks for innovative ideas in Utah, across the United States to develop new technologiesBy Brian Somers, USTAR Managing Director The Utah Science Technology and Research Initiative (USTAR), in partnership with the Air Force Research Laboratory, hosted an industry reception at the Capitol on July 10 in support of the Air Force Science and Technology 2030 Initiative....
Podcast: Rep. John CurtisBy Bryan Schott, Managing Editor Rep. John Curtis joins Managing Editor Bryan Schott to discuss the aftermath of President Trump's meeting with Vladimir Putin. Curtis, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, says the criticism of Trump following the meeting was justified....
Weekly survey: Biskupski vs. Salt Lake City CouncilBy Bryan Schott, Managing Editor Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski and the city council are on opposite sides of the inland port issue. Who do you think is taking the right approach? Vote now in our weekly survey....
Policy News
Downtown Alliance leader Jason Mathis stepping down Community and business leader, Jason Mathis announced his resignation from the Downtown Alliance this week. Mathis has served as the executive director of the Alliance and executive vice president of the Salt Lake Chamber since 2008....
Department of Commerce announces new Director of the Division of Corporations Francine A. Giani, Executive Director of the Utah Department of Commerce, announced that effective July 30, 2018 Jason Sterzer has been appointed as the new Director of the Division of Corporations and Uniform Commercial Code. ...
Local Headlines
Salt Lake Tribune
Editorial: Council, governor come up with a better Inland Port bill
Inside Mayor Biskupski's strategy of silence as Salt Lake City Council members negotiated their own Inland Port deal
New UTA board nominees include members from old one that was criticized for lax oversight. Will that hamper effort to restore public trust?
Longtime director of Salt Lake City's Downtown Alliance is leaving the state
Utah and its cops are bracing for new 0.05 DUI law, which rolls out in five months
United Utah Party picks Mormon MTC director as a replacement congressional candidate
Sen. Mike Lee says Kavanaugh is the 'kind of originalist jurist we need on the court'
Utah lawmakers debate requiring gun locks: lifesaver or infringement of rights?
Utah lawmaker hopes her proposal to let cops pull over drivers for using cellphones won't get killed this year
Utah lawmakers turned down a tax cut for big families in March. On Wednesday they passed a $30M reduction during their one-day special session.
Democrats want Ambassador Huntsman to testify about Trump-Putin summit
With Salt Lake City Council and mayor lobbying on opposite sides, state lawmakers OK changes to law that will dictate much future development
Deseret News
Chris Stewart: America is our last best hope, but hope is not a strategy
Op-ed: Sitting out on inland port negotiations wasn't an option
Editorial: Reducing teacher licensure qualifications may not be the best answer
UTA letters raised concerns about potential conflict of interest with Greg Hughes
Lawmakers weigh possible ban on driving while talking on phone
Utah lawmakers look at bonds for affordable housing
Panel debates requiring Utahns to lock guns away
Heat on the Hill: Utah Legislature passes 'not perfect' inland port bill backed by Salt Lake Council, fought by mayor
Lawmakers approve $30 million child tax credit for Utah families in special session
Utah on its own as FAA bails out of drone regulation
Raising the bar on K-3 reading takes money and explicit focus, specialists tell lawmakers
Sen. Orrin Hatch takes a swing at defending Supreme Court nominee
National Headlines
Poll: only 28 percent of young voters say they will certainly vote in the 2018 midterms (Vox)
Cynthia Nixon Demands Fair Treatment From Democratic Arm That Aided Cuomo (HuffPost)
Ex-Clinton press secretary Fallon rejects Comey endorsement of Democrats in midterms (The Hill)
Joe Lieberman: If Ocasio-Cortez is a Party Model, 'The Dems Won't Have a Very Bright Future' (FOX News)
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's error on unemployment shows why politicians need to listen to economists (Quartz)
GOP bill applauding ICE approved in House, as Dems lament 'stunt' (FOX News)
Measure to break California into 3 states removed from November ballot after court ruling (CNN)
Trump's man in Florida overtakes gubernatorial frontrunner (Politico)
Trump Administration Investigating Uranium Imports Under National Security Concerns (Wall Street Journal)
FCC votes to refer Sinclair merger to judge, possibly dooming it (The Hill)
Congress may put American retirement vehicle in play (Washington Post)
Perspective
"One cannot and must not try to erase the past merely because it does not fit the present." Golda Meir
Winter
"This is the final season of "Game of Thrones," but HBO is working on a prequel that reportedly takes place 10,000 years before the original. Which means winter won't be coming for a very long time: 10,000 years." Jimmy Kimmel
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