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Situational awareness - December 13, 2019

Good morning from Salt Lake City.

It's Friday the 13th, so let's all be careful out there today.


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Here are the stories you need to pay attention to this morning:

  • The Utah Legislature passes a massive tax cut as part of their tax reform proposal.
  • The House Judiciary Committee will likely vote on articles of impeachment after 14 hours of debate on Thursday.
  • President Trump may not participate in the 2020 presidential debates.

Friday trivia

There is no legal requirement that a member of Congress live in the district they represent. Currently, Rep. Ben McAdams lives outside of the 4th Congressional District, but he's not the first Utahn to do so.

Who was the first Utah member of Congress not to live inside the district they represented in Washington?

The THIRD reader with the correct answer will get the honor of asking our next trivia question. Send your guesses to me at [email protected]


TICK TOCK

Days to the first day of the 2020 Utah Legislature: 45 (1/27/2020)

Days to the 2020 Iowa Caucuses: 52 (2/3/2020)

Days to the Utah presidential primaries: 81 (3/3/2020)

Days to the final day of the 2020 Utah Legislature: 90 (3/12/2020)

Days to the 2020 Utah primary elections: 200 (6/30/2020)

Days to the 2020 election: 326 (11/3/2020)



Today At Utah Policy

images/1000px_Capitol_Photos/House_Floor_10.jpgLawmakers pass sweeping tax reform measure
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
After months of debate and public meetings, the Utah Legislature passed a sweeping tax reform package on Thursday evening, despite vocal opposition from many members of the public.
images/1000px_Logos/Zions_Bank_Logo_01.pngHousing and recreation prices lift Wasatch Consumer Price Index
By Zions Bank
The Zions Bank Wasatch Front Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased 0.7% from October to November on a non-seasonally adjusted basis. Year over year, the Wasatch Front Consumer Price Index has grown 3.5%, while the national Consumer Price Index has increased 2.1% since November of last year.

OTHER UTAH HEADLINES

Deseret News

Salt Lake Tribune



NATIONAL HEADLINES

14 hours and no vote

The House Judiciary Committee abruptly adjourned on Thursday evening after 14 hours of debate on two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump. Thursday's hearing featured fierce debate and members hurling insults at each other. The panel is expected to take a final vote on Friday [AP].


"We all know how it's going to end"

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Thursday night there's "no chance the president's gonna be removed from office" when the Senate holds an impeachment trial next year [USA Today].


Trump's revenge

President Trump's advisors are worried about his anger once the impeachment process ends, saying he will be angry and looking for revenge [New York Times].


Schiff rips Republicans for defending Trump

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff scorched Republicans Thursday for "willfully blinding themselves" to President Trump's misconduct [Washington Post].


Shutdown averted

Congressional negotiators say they've reached a deal in principle to approve $1.3 trillion in federal spending for next year [Washington Post].


Trump may not debate in 2020

President Donald Trump is reportedly discussing with advisers the possibility of sitting out the general election debates next year because he is worried about who will be chosen as moderator [New York Times].


Trade deal

President Trump has signed off on a phase-one trade deal with China which will avert new tariffs on about $160 billion of consumer goods [Bloomberg].


Brexit

Conservatives in Britain won a landslide victory in Thursday's election, giving a major boost to the Brexit effort [Washington Post].


Trump's financial records

The Supreme Court could decide as soon as Friday whether President Trump can shield his financial records from Congress and New York prosecutors [Bloomberg].



BUSINESS HEADLINES


Policy News

Casual Friday: Weekend Events & Outdoors Report
Outdoors Report--Salt Lake Tribune:Is paid parking at Utah's Solitude catching on? Some skiers are sold. Others aren't buying it.--KSL.com:
Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes joins bipartisan coalition in calling for fentanyl to remain a Schedule I drug
Utah Attorney General Sean D. Reyes has joined a bipartisan coalition of all 56 attorneys general in calling for Congress to permanently classify fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs.
Utah first state to receive federal approval of Family First Act plan
The Utah Department of Human Services' (DHS) Family First Prevention Services Act plan, approved by the Federal Children's Bureau will allow more children at risk of entering foster care or juvenile justice to remain safely at home. Utah is the first state and second child welfare agency (Washington D.C.) to have an approved prevention plan.

More National Headlines


ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

1862 - Union troops suffered a major defeat in the Civil War battle of Fredericksburg. An estimated 12,000 northern soldiers were killed or wounded, about three times the toll suffered by Confederate forces.

1918 - President Woodrow Wilson arrived in France to attend the post-World War I peace conference at Versailles, becoming the first chief executive to visit Europe while in office.

1972 - Astronaut Gene Cernan climbs into his lunar lander on the moon and prepares to lift off. He is the last man to set foot on the moon

2001 - The Pentagon released a captured videotape of Osama bin Laden in which the al-Qaida leader said the deaths and destruction achieved by the Sept. 11 attacks exceeded his "most optimistic" expectations.

2003 - Ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was captured by U.S. forces while hiding in a hole under a farmhouse in Adwar, near his hometown of Tikrit.


Wise Words

Finding Truth


"The truth is found when men are free to pursue it."Franklin D. Roosevelt

Lighter Side

Bah Humbug


"Yep, the House is moving forward with impeachment and now it's looking like Trump could be impeached before Christmas. But, if he behaves, Nancy will let Trump open one of his charges on Impeachment Eve."- JIMMY FALLON

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