Volatile markets, crypto dropping like crazy, troops massing on Ukraine/Russia border and North Korea keeps firing missiles. Good times. | | | The Utah Policy newsletter is your one-stop source for political and policy-minded news. We scour the news so you don't have to! Send news tips or feedback to Holly Richardson at [email protected]. | | |
Situational Analysis | January 25, 2022 It's Tuesday and only 11 months until Christmas Day! It's also Plan for Vacation Day, so give yourself something to look forward to after the winter doldrums. Be in the Know Deciding when to move schools online became the purview of Utah's political leaders yesterday when HB183 passed the house 55-16. Schools who want/need to pivot to online learning need to submit a request in writing to the local school board, which then will need to hold a public meeting. If board members vote to approve the request, they need to then ask permission of the Governor, the president of the Senate, the Speaker of the House and the state superintendent for their permission, which must be unanimous. The legislation does not require a time frame for them to respond. The bill now goes to Governor Cox's desk for his approval. Legislators have already indicated they plan to overturn a veto. | | |
| | FROM OUR SPONSOR Ready to make a difference? This free, four hour bootcamp will give you detailed, actionable information to become an effective citizen advocate. Join us at the Utah State Capitol on Saturday, Jan. 29 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Learn how to influence the political process and hit the ground running this legislative session to make a positive impact. Register here. | | |
2022 Legislative Session 5 days done, 40 to go General Tax cuts, cost of living increases and money for schools: How the Legislature wants to spend Utahâs extra $1 billion in revenue. Gov. Spencer Coxâs plan for a food tax credit may take a back seat to cutting taxes. (Salt Lake Tribune) Week One: Taxes, man. (State Street podcast) 2022 Legislative Session Week 1 with Special Guests: Rep. Karianne Lisonbee and Rep. Suzanne Harrison (Political as Heck) Utah leaders say growth is good for the state. Do Utahns agree? (Deseret News) Today Sub-appropriations committee meetings, 8 am Business, Economic Development, and Labor, Infrastructure and General Government, Public Education, Social Services Floor Time Senate: 11:00 - 11:50 House: 11:00 - 12:15 Committee Meetings, 2 pm House Business and Labor, House Education, House Health and Human Services, House Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology, Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice, Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment, Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Other Meetings Legislative Water Development Commission, 4:30 pm Executive Appropriations, 5:15 pm Tomorrow Sub-appropriations committee meetings, 8 am Executive Offices and Criminal Justice, Higher Education, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environmental Quality, Social Services Floor Time Senate: 11:00 - 11:50 House: 11:00 - 12:00 Business and Labor Utahns worry bill about firefighter workersâ compensation will secretly impose martial law on unvaccinated. âThereâs not enough tin foil on Capitol Hill to wrap up this conspiracy," says Senator McKell. (Salt Lake Tribune) Economic Development and Workforce Services Utah bill seeks to close child care gap for 'desperate' parents (KSL) Education âTest to stayâ bill passes, requiring state leaders â not schools â to give permission on shifting students online during COVID-19 outbreaks (Deseret News) Bill to allow Indigenous students to wear tribal regalia at graduations advances (Salt Lake Tribune) Crisis in the Classroom on Capitol Hill: Four bills to know (KUTV) Growing pains hit Utahâs technical colleges (KUER) Utah Headlines General âItâs good to help themâ: Food delivery program calls for help amid driver shortage (ABC4) Latter-day Saint missionaries temporarily leave Ukraine due to political tensions (Deseret News) The crypto market is dropping like crazy. Hereâs why (Deseret News) U.S. small businesses continue to struggle amid omicron surge, ongoing labor shortages (Deseret News) Perspective: âBlessed are the peacemakers.â Itâs true in politics, too (Deseret News) A move away from the 3-commission form of government in Davis County? Commissioner Bob Stevenson said the idea deserves a look. (Standard-Examiner) Education Teacher sues Utah school district, claiming retaliation for reporting harassment (KSL) Parents in Utah are subbing for teachers calling in sick (ABC4) School district, sheriff's office investigating alleged racist bullying on Utah County school bus (Fox13) Immunocompromised Utah family calls for remote learning option at charter school (Fox13) Environment What you need to know about water in Utah and why you should care (Deseret News) Floods and drought: How this man weathers the weather to keep water flowing to your tap (Deseret News) Lake Powell marina closed due to 'unprecedented' low water conditions (Fox13) COVID Corner 21,970 new cases, 33 new deaths over the weekend Utah Valley University censured by teachers' professional organizations over 'mismanagement of COVID-19' (Fox13) Bountiful nurse, veteran dies hours after testing positive for COVID-19 at work in Florida (KUTV) The biggest difference in omicron variant symptoms for vaccinated and unvaccinated (Deseret News) The FDA has restricted two monoclonal antibodies, saying the COVID-19 treatments should not be employed in any states because they are ineffective against the dominant omicron variant (Washington Post) Dr. Fauci has good news about the omicron variant and the end of the pandemic (Deseret News) National Headlines General Wild day for stock market as investors warily await the Fed's moves (New York Times) Russia conducts new military exercises as Biden, Europeans intensify diplomacy on Ukraine (Washington Post) The Webb telescope reached its final stop a million miles from Earth, and will now prepare to study light from the beginning of time. (New York Times) Politics Is the Republican Party now Trumpâs party? (Deseret News) Prosecutors in multiple states are investigating false Electoral College submissions (NPR) Georgia to impanel grand jury in probe of Trump bid to overturn 2020 election (Reuters) Thousands descend on DC for anti-vaccine mandate rally (The Hill) Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's defamation lawsuit against The New York Times will be delayed after she tested positive for COVID-19 again. She is unvaccinated. (AP) Biden caught on hot mic cursing reporter who asked if inflation is political liability (Washington Post) Five Democrats the left plans to target for being too centrist (Politico) Courts Supreme Court will review consideration of race (affirmative action) in college admissions (Washington Post) Supreme Court takes EPA case that could narrow Clean Water Act (Washington Post) International Yemen's Houthis have launched two attacks against the U.A.E. â here's why (NPR) China flies 39 warplanes, breaches Taiwanese airspace (KOMO News) Why is North Korea suddenly launching so many missiles? (New York Times) | | |
News Releases Sen. Romney recognizes National School Choice Week U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) joined his colleagues, led by Congressional School Choice Caucus co-chair Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) and Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), in introducing a resolution designating this week as National School Choice Week. Text of the resolution is available here. âThroughout the course of the pandemic, families have had the added challenge of navigating school closures and balancing hybrid or completely virtual instruction, which has only highlighted the essential role of parents in their childrenâs education,â Senator Romney said. âParents know what is best for their kids, and every family should have the freedom to choose the model of education which best meets the needs of their childrenâwhether that is public, homeschool, or otherwise.â (Read More) Utah Farm Bureau lists âIssues to watch in 2022â The Utah Farm Bureau has released its list of âIssues to Watch For in 2022â upon returning from the national agricultural convention for the American Farm Bureau Federation and at the start of the 2022 Utah general legislative session. Though not exhaustive in scope, the list is based off the Farm Bureauâs policy book, adopted at its recent convention in November. The policy book will guide the general farm and ranch organizationâs public policy actions throughout the upcoming year â including the current legislative session. Top state issues are water, the veterinary school at USU, agriculture and infrastructure. (Read More) Chamber Economic Dashboard shows strength amid uncertainty The Salt Lake Chamberâs Roadmap to Prosperity Coalition, in partnership with the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, has updated the Economic Dashboard for January to help business leaders know where Utah stands in the overall recovery. This tool tracks the stateâs path to a complete economic recovery from the pandemic recession and provides actionable context for decision-makers... Consumer confidence continues to lag as each new variant brings a wave of uncertainty to the market and shakes confidence. Executive confidence remains above baseline but has seen dips as well. The three main challenges facing Utah and the country are well known with rising inflation, labor shortages broadly, and continued supply chain disruptions from China to California. However, Utah maintains its focus on innovation through these headwinds and remains leader of the economic pack. (Read More) Small businesses on the brink: New survey data shows omicron hurting Main Street, leading small business owners to overwhelmingly support Congress passing additional aid Small business owners are being pushed to the brink with an unprecedented set of challenges hurting their bottom line, according to new national survey data released today by Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Voices. Seventy-nine percent of respondents are concerned about the ongoing pandemic and the Omicron variant, with 71 percent reporting that the rise in COVID-19 cases brought on by the Omicron variant has adversely impacted their revenue. Thirty-seven percent said their business had been forced to temporarily close or scale back operations due to the recent rise in COVID-19 cases. Labor shortages were cited as the most significant challenge facing small business owners, with 87 percent of those hiring finding it difficult to recruit qualified candidates for open positions. Hiring and retaining workers is also having a worsening impact on revenue, as a staggering 97 percent of small businesses hiring say labor shortages are impacting their bottom line, reflecting a 17 percent increase from September 2021. There is overwhelming support (82 percent) for the federal government to provide additional emergency financial assistance for small businesses. Eighty-six percent of small business owners support Congress reauthorizing the COVID-Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. The COVID EIDL program expired at the end of 2021. (Read More) Utah Farm Bureau hosts Campaign School teaching how to run for public office Utah Farm Bureau is hosting a two-day campaign management seminar from March 24-25 at the Utah Farm Bureau Federation office in Sandy. The Campaign School is non-partisan, and open to anyone who wants to be actively involved in public office at any level â local School Board, city council, County Commission & Council, State Legislature, or Congressional campaigns. This event is perfect for current and future candidates, their spouses, and campaign managers. (Read More) Rep. Curtis applauds unanimous passage of Bonneville Shoreline Trail construction in Natural Resources Committee Rep. Curtis applauds unanimous passage of Bonneville Shoreline Trail construction in Natural Resources Committee. âI am pleased to see a bipartisan group of my colleagues unanimously support the construction of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail,â said Rep. Curtis. âThis bill strikes the right balance of appropriate recreation and conservation, and I look forward to supporting the completion of this extremely unique 280-mile trail.â (Read More) | | |
Upcoming Legislative Bootcamp with Americans for Prosperity and Libertas Institute â Jan. 29, 9 am - 1 pm. Register here. The Emergence of the Crypto Economy with the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation and special guests â Feb 16, 10 am MST. Register here. State of the Union address â Mar 1, 7 pm MST Utah legislative session ends â Mar 4, 2022, midnight Fireside chat with Justice Clarence Thomas hosted by the Hatch Foundation - Mar 11, 2022, 7 pm Campaign Management Training with Utah Farm Bureau â Mar 24-25, registration deadline March 1. Register here | | |
On This Day In History From History.com 1554 - São Paulo, Brazil is founded. 1759 - Scottish poet Robert Burns is born. 1776 - First national memorial ordered by Congress in honor of Brigadier General Richard Montgomery. 1860 - Charles Curtis is born. In 1907, Curtis became the first Native American Senator (R-Kansas). During his career as a politician, Curtis would serve as the Senate Majority Leader and support the 19th Amendment. In 1928, Curtis was Herbert Hooverâs running-mate and became the first Native American Vice President. 1882 - Author Virginia Woolf is born. 1890 - Nellie Bly, journalist, completed her around the world trip in 72 days, 6 hours, 11 minutes, and 14 seconds after setting sail east to prove she could circle the globe in less than 80 days 1905 - Worldâs largest diamond is found in South Africa. It weighs 3,106 carats. 1924 - The first Winter Olympics is held in Chamonix, France with 13 total events. 1947 - Al Capone dies of neurosyphilis at age 48. 1961 - JFK becomes the first president to hold a televised news conference. 1971 - Charles Manson and his followers convicted of murder. 1981 - Chairman Maoâs widow is sentenced to death for her counter-revolutionary crimes. 1983 - Nazi war criminal Klaus Barbie arrested in Bolivia. 1999 - "The Blair Witch Project" premieres at the Sundance Film festival 2017 - Mary Tyler Moore dies at age 80. 2021 - Janet Yellen is confirmed as the first female treasury secretary by the US Senate. Wise Words âOh would some power the gift give us, to see ourselves as others see us!â -Robert Burns Lighter Side âWell, guys, this weekend was the divisional round of the N.F.L. playoffs, and after all four games were decided on the final play, people are calling it the greatest playoff weekend of all time. Well, everyone from Buffalo, Green Bay, Tennessee, and Tampa are like not, âEh, not so much.ââ â JIMMY FALLON | | |
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