Utah Policy: Big week for former Gov. Gary Herbert, Mother's Day approaches and Utah's transgender population can make their birth certificate match their identification

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Utah Policy Daily Newsletter

The UtahPolicy.com daily newsletter gets you up to speed on the top local and national news about politics and public policy. Send news tips or feedback to [email protected]

Situational Analysis - May 7, 2021

It's Friday, Friday and Mother's Day weekend. Happy, happy, to all you moms out there. Be kind to yourselves. You're doing great.

News You Need to Know

A very happy birthday to former Governor Gary Herbert! It's been a big week. He announced he is joining the Utah Valley Chamber as its Executive Chair and the Herbert Policy Institute at UVU hosted its first forum with Tim Shriver (absolutely worth the watch). To top it all off, he will be the commencement speaker at Dixie State University this morning, where he will be receiving an Honorary Doctorate, AND, he will receive another Honorary Doctorate at UVU tonight. Congratulations! Utah faces some real disparities among races, ethnicities and genders when it comes to measures like income, health, home ownership and more says a new, comprehensive report from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute. The good news? Improvement is easier with solid data. High-five to the Cox-Henderson administration for asking for this study to be done. The Utah Supreme Court rules that transgender people can change their names and sex on their birth certificates. writes about "Our pathetic herd immunity failure" for the New York Times. "Is there any sentient person who thinks today's version of America could have won World War II?," he asks. "We're not asking you to storm the beaches of Iwo Jima; we're asking you to walk into a damn CVS." Pretty sure we know where he stands. Speaking of vaccination stances, a new poll from PRRI finds that three-fourths of US members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints trust their church leaders and two-thirds say vaccinations are a way to love your neighbor but half don't want a COVID-19 vaccine. The largest group of folks hesitant about or opposed to the COVID-19 vaccine are Hispanic Protestants, at 57%.

Countdown

50 days until the Utah Democratic party organizing convention (06/26/21)
127 days until half-way through the Cox/Henderson's administration's 500-day plan (09/11/2021)

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Calendar

Salt Lake Chamber Webinar: Leading a Resilient Workforce. May 7, 12:00-1:00. Register here. Golden Spike anniversary celebration: May 8, 9 and 10. Go here for more information. Salt Lake Chamber Business Women's Forum Webinar: The Science Behind Being a Powerful Speaker. May 18, 11:00-1:00. Register here. Hatch Center: Justice and Mercy: Bringing greater balance to America's legal system with Senator Mike Lee. May 20, 11:00 am. Register here.

Today At Utah Policy

'The wasted year:' The impact of COVID-19 on Utah women and their careers
By Holly Richardson
"The wasted year." That's how a number of working women in Utah have described 2020 in a new research report released by Dr. Susan Madsen and the team at the Utah Women and Leadership Project. They surveyed over 3500 women in January 2021. Part one of the research findings looked at the impact of COVID-19 on Utah women and work addressing "changes, burnout and hope. This second part looks at career advancement challenges for Utah women.Commentary: How to deal with the Trump dilemma. Ignore him
By LaVarr Webb
Donald Trump continues to vilify Congresswoman Liz Cheney, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, and even his former vice president, Mike Pence.In a recent message, Trump called Cheney a warmonger, said McConnell is "gutless and clueless" and blamed Pence for not referring 2020 state election certifications back to state legislators. He also enjoys calling Romney a variety of creative names.

Utah Headlines

Mother's Day

No mom is perfect - except on Instagram. (Deseret News) A twist on traditional parenting. Platonic parenting: How some start families when romance isn't happening or wanted (Deseret News) The great American birth dearth has arrived (Deseret News) On this Mother's Day, the crisis for working moms is hard to miss (Washington Post) DIY Mother's Day cards (ABC4) Typical Utah family? They're more diverse than you think and helping families means moving past Utah stereotypes. (Deseret News) 12 moms on their secret strengths (New York Times)

General News

Hitting close to home: A school shooting in Idaho has at least three confirmed victims - two students and one adult. The shooter was a student at the school, but in a unique twist, the shooter was female. And she is only in 6th grade. (KUTV, ABC4) Utah activists, leader discuss missing and murdered Indigenous people on annual remembrance day (The Spectrum) IN FOCUS Discussion: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (ABC4) LDS Church asks judge to toss Huntsman's tithing lawsuit (Fox13, Salt Lake Tribune) Michelle Quist: Convention delegates gave Utah GOP a black eye (Salt Lake Tribune) Utah man charged in Capitol insurrection to be evaluated for mental competency after outbursts in court hearing (Salt Lake Tribune) President Nelson, Jazz star Donovan Mitchell give University of Utah grads advice on adversity. U of U also awards honorary doctorates to President Russell M. Nelson, William Rutter and Hope Eccles during 2021 commencement exercises (Deseret News)

Show me the numbers: looking at data

First-of-its-kind look at Utah's race, ethnicity and sex disparities gives state a chance to close the gap. Utah leads in upward mobility, but not everyone has the same opportunity to rise. (Deseret News, Salt Lake Tribune, Fox13) Career impacts of COVID-19 for Utah women (Utah Policy, KCPW, KSL) Research: Women score higher than men in most leadership skills. What's holding them back is not a lack of capability but a dearth of opportunity. (Harvard Business Review)

Housing

Majority of low-income renters with severe cost burdens are people of color (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities) Utah's new homeless coordinator didn't see any encampments in Ogden. His initial impression spurred frustration among some service providers and homeless advocates in the Ogden area who know the problem is growing. (Salt Lake Tribune) Look what's coming to downtown Salt Lake City: another skyscraper. Here are the high points (haha) (Salt Lake Tribune)

Service

Church senior service missionaries may now serve anywhere in the world (Deseret News) 'Win-win scenario': Camp K welcomes kids with disabilities and their friends to join in on the fun (ABC4) Building a future: Habitat for Humanity completes home for Tremonton family (Herald Journal) Utah First Lady Abby Cox celebrates champion Special Olympic schools (KJZZ) Utahns rush to help Minnesota Army veteran whose truck broke down in Fillmore (KSL)

Local Government

Spanish Fork getting ready for upcoming municipal elections (Daily Herald) This year's Ogden City budget proposal much more optimistic than last year (Standard Examiner) Utah County considering giving department heads more flexibility in hiring process (Daily Herald) Ongoing drought a concern for officials in Ogden City (Standard-Examiner) Cedar City Council considers repeal of resolution to expand rec center (St. George News)

Economic Development

Popular pizzeria and pub Slackwater moving, to relocate to new site later this year in downtown Ogden (Standard-Examiner)

COVID Corner

Pfizer/BioNTech seeking full FDA approval for their Covid-19 vaccine (CNN) No mask mandate for Utah school kids this fall (Standard-Examiner) Utah is just short of 1 million people fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The state is also about to hit 400,000 cases of the coronavirus. (Salt Lake Tribune) Gov. Spencer Cox says Utah's COVID-19 response is now 'really about personal responsibility' (Salt Lake Tribune) With end of pandemic near, governor calls for 'kindness, humanity, grace' when facing remaining restrictions (Deseret News) Utah anti-vaccine group meets to burn giant syringe, end 'medical tyranny' (KUTV) Utah vaccine providers no longer required to use doses within 7 days (KUTV) Study: Residents left big metros during pandemic for family (AP) Spurred by the pandemic, families are rethinking nursing home care. (New York Times) Tucker Carlson's Fox News colleagues call out his dangerous anti-vaccination rhetoric (CNN) 'The View' reminds audience President Trump pushed for vaccines in interview with Maria Bartiromo (Fox News) COVID-19 long-haulers are showing early signs of neurological disorders: at least 1 in 5 still report brain fog after months (Business Insider) Nepal facing 'human catastrophe' similar to India's amid Covid surge. The country is appealing for international help, with vaccines in short supply and a reported 47% positivity rate (The Guardian) Pressure rises for India lockdown; surge breaks record again with 414,188 confirmed cases and 3,915 additional deaths on Friday. (AP) India Covid: The agony of watching a catastrophe from afar (BBC)

National Headlines

General News

The man who found the Titanic (and 100 other sunken ships) is on a new quest: Find Amelia Earhart's plane. (CNN) What Trump has to fear from Rudy Giuliani (Washington Post) 'It's his own damn fault,' top GOP pollster Frank Luntz says of Trump and Facebook (New York Times) Facing a shortage of lethal injection drugs, South Carolina lawmakers have approved a bill to allow death by firing squad. Only three other states allow that: Utah, Mississippi and Oklahoma. (New York Times) How Trump is hunting down the GOP's leading families. In his attempt to exercise full dominion over the Republican Party, Donald Trump has reserved a special fury for the dynasties that helped shape it. (Politico) That JFK He got around, didn't he? 'You are wonderful': JFK love letters to Swedish mistress up for sale (CNN)

Infrastructure

Biden pushes for his infrastructure plan in reliably Republican Louisiana (AP, The Hill) In Biden's infrastructure moonshot, a big question: Can the nation still achieve its highest ambitions? (Washington Post) Biden frames infrastructure debate as choice between needed investments and tax breaks for wealthy (Washington Post)

Economy

US unemployment claims fall to a pandemic low of 498,00 (AP) Dow ends at record high after upbeat jobless claims report (Reuters) Fed concerned about the risks that accompany soaring markets. Expectations for a strong economic recovery could have some repercussions for financial stability. (Washington Post) McConnell, White House clash on potential worker shortage as labor pressures intensify (Washington Post)

Liz Cheney

Republicans aren't just trying to oust Liz Cheney from leadership. They want to boot her from Congress entirely. (Politico) The learned helplessness of the Republican elites. GOP donors and thinkers and writers are all very concerned about what's happening to Liz Cheney. And none of them are interested in doing anything about it. (Bill Kristol in The Bulwark) In turning on Liz Cheney, the GOP bows to Trump's election lies and a demand for fealty to a single person rather than policy principles (New York Times) What is driving the House GOP effort to oust Cheney? (Washington Post) Stefanik emphasizes support for false election claims, Trump movement ahead of leadership vote (Washington Post) MAGA world pans Stefanik. Donald Trump's populist base has serious issues with the New York congresswoman who's poised to replace Rep. Liz Cheney. (Politico) The real reason Republicans want to out Liz Cheney. It's not her view on Trump but her relationships with fellow Republicans. (Politico) Sen. Joni Ernst defends fellow Republican leader Cheney - but calls for intra-GOP peace (Politico) Loyalty trumps policy in Stefanik's rise, Cheney's fall. Stefanik has a "dismal" 37% score with FreedomWorks. Club for Growth also on the attack. (The Hill) 'Not who we are as a country': Elise Stefanik once harshly blasted Trump's rhetoric and policies (CNN)

Elections

Justice Department warns Arizona Senate president of civil rights violations in 2020 election audit (CNN) Arizona Republicans push back against Justice Department concerns, setting up possible clash over Maricopa County recount (Washington Post) Florida GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law a controversial voting bill aimed at curbing access to mail-in voting in the state. (CNN, The Hill) F.E.C. Drops Case Reviewing Trump Hush-Money Payments to Women (New York Times) BREAKING: Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms won't run for reelection (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

There's a law against that??

More than 20 states are now considering "Right to Repair" bills that would let consumers repair devices, from tractors to iPhones. Who knew they were prohibited from doing so (Bloomberg)

International

Nearly 20 years since the U.S. invaded Afghanistan and toppled the Taliban regime, women are bracing themselves to defend the gains they have made in public and private life. (NBC News) At least 25 dead during Brazilian police raid in Rio (AP, Washington Post) A REUTERS SPECIAL REPORT: Ethiopia's crackdown on ethnic Tigrayans snares thousands (Reuters)

News of the Weird

A Belgian farmer was annoyed by the stone in his tractor's path. He moved it - and the French border (BBC) I don't get it. Truly. I don't get it. "Demand for butt implants saw huge spike during pandemic" (The Hill, Bloomberg)

News Releases

Curtis, Neguse, bipartisan Wildfire Caucus members request robust federal funding to tackle western wildfires
Today, Congressman John Curtis (R-UT) and Congressman Joe Neguse (D-CO) are leading members of the Bipartisan Wildfire Caucus in a letter to Appropriators in Congress urging them to include robust funding to programs in the Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill that will support improved wildfire preparedness, mitigation, and response across the United States. The letter indicates that such funds could be used to increase the pace and scale of hazardous fuels management and forest restoration; improve ecosystem health; reduce the risk of severe flooding and erosion in forests after fire; protect critical watersheds; and bolster support for the wildland firefighting workforce. UDAF and USBE Announce $250,000 Utah-Grown Incentive Program to Benefit Children and Utah Farmers
The Utah State Board of Education (USBE) Child Nutrition Program will be administering $250,000 in collaboration with the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) for a farm to fork Utah-grown school meal incentive program. This program aims to improve school meal quality and support Utah farmers during the 2021-2022 school year. Money will be paid out to schools as part of their per-meal state reimbursement. School districts that spend a higher portion of their funds on unprocessed Utah-grown food products will receive a higher per-meal state reimbursement.Emergency Broadband Benefit Program Offers Discounts
Today, the Utah Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED), divisions of the Utah Department of Cultural and Community Engagement, the Utah State Board of Education, and Utah Communities Connect jointly announced their efforts to help build consumer awareness about the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB), a new Federal Communications Commission (FCC) program. Vic Hockett named New Talent Ready Utah director
The Utah Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED) announced Vic Hockett of St. George as its Talent Ready Utah Center director."Hockett will be a great leader of the Talent Ready Utah team," said Dan Hemmert, GOED's executive director. "He's got the perfect skill set and mentality to take Talent Ready Utah to the next level. And in support of Governor Cox's One Utah vision, Vic will be a remote worker, not located along the Wasatch front."Utah Taxpayers Association Supports Advancing Clean Energy in Pro-Growth, Taxpayer-Friendly Way
While much has changed since our founding in 1922, the Utah Taxpayers Association has remained stoic in its commitment to protect the interests of taxpayers and promote efficient, economical government, along with fair and equitable taxation. While we are mainly focused on all things taxes, we believe that our organization has a role to play in ensuring the vitality and health of our economy, and by extension, the environment, now and for years to come.

Business Headlines

Steel prices have tripled. Now Bank of America is sounding the alarm about a bubble (CNN) Desperate buyers are going to extremes to land a home (CNN) The Lithium Gold Rush: Inside the Race to Power Electric Vehicles (New York Times) Nearly 1 in 3 new stores opening in the US is a Dollar General (CNN) American Express puts $40M into fund to help minority-owned small businesses recover (The Hill) Southwest named best carrier in challenging 2020: Airline quality report (The Hill) Tech Stocks Shake Off Fifth Day Of Losses, But Insiders Are Cashing Out While Retail Traders Splurge (Forbes) This New Coalition Wants To Close The Opportunity Gap For Black-Owned Startups (Forbes)

On This Day In History

(From History.com)

558 - In Constantinople, the dome of the Hagia Sophia collapses. Justinian I immediately orders the dome rebuilt. 1826 - Varina Howell (Davis) is born. She became the first lady of the Confederate States of America when her husband became the president. 1843 - The first Japanese immigrant arrives in the US, a 14-year-old fisherman named Manjiro. 1845 - Mary Eliza Mahoney is born. She became the first Black registered nurse in the US. 1867 - Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel patents dynamite in England, the first of three patents he would receive for the explosive material. (And yes, that Nobel) 1915 - A German submarine torpedoes and sinks the Lusitania, killing 1198 people. 1994 - Edvard Munch's "The Scream" is recovered after its theft three months earlier. 2020 - Father and son arrested for the murder of Ahmaud Arbery in Brunswick, Georgia, after video of the killing surfaces.