Gary Herbert, Anthony Scaramucci, and repeal and replace fails. Your Friday morning political briefing from UtahPolicy.com

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Local News Highlights: Daily Briefing

Morning must reads for Friday, July 28, 2017

Good Friday morning from Salt Lake City. Today is the 209th day of the year. There are 156 days remaining in 2017.

State leaders vow to crack down on the homeless problem in downtown Salt Lake City. Orrin Hatch breaks with President Trump on the issue of transgendered soldiers. The Senate fails again to pass an Obamacare repeal measure.

The clock:

18 days until the 2017 Utah primary election (8/15/2017)102 days until the 2017 election (11/7/2017)178 days until the opening day of the 2018 Utah Legislature (1/22/2018)223 days until the final day of the 2018 Utah Legislature (3/8/2018)466 days until the 2018 midterm elections (11/6/2018)1,194 days until the 2020 presidential election (11/3/2020)

Today's political TL; DR -

Get the skinny on what happened this week in Utah politics and, more importantly, why with our week in review video [Utah Policy]. Here's a podcast of the program if you prefer that medium [Utah Policy].
Gov. Gary Herbert reiterates his commitment to ending the violence and lawlessness surrounding the homeless population in downtown Salt Lake City [Utah Policy].
Bob Bernick explains why Gov. Gary Herbert decided to endorse John Curtis in the 3rd District GOP primary. Herbert is also showing his commitment to the SB54 compromise despite constant attacks against the law by GOP hardliners [Utah Policy].
Rep. Chris Stewart introduces a bill to crack down on leaks of classified information to the press [Utah Policy].
The League of Women Voters files suit to keep Utah from handing over voter information to President Trump's election integrity commission [Utah Policy].
Sen. Howard Stephenson explains what he meant when he said we might have to wait for teachers who are reluctant to adopt classroom technology "to die off" [Utah Policy].
Gov. Gary Herbert says he opposes President Trump's plan to bar transgendered individuals from serving in the armed forces [Tribune].
Sen. Jake Anderegg says he decided to vote for Tanner Ainge in the 3rd District GOP primary because Ainge admitted he made a mistake by not going through the delegate/convention route to get to the ballot. Ainge has reportedly committed to using the delegate/convention route in the future [KUTV].
Nearly 70,000 ballots were sent to unaffiliated voters in Utah County for next month's GOP 3rd District primary. Only registered Republicans are allowed to vote in the election, so it will cost the county up to $20,000 to sort out that mistake [Deseret News, Tribune].
Oof! 64 local governments are proposing property tax increases this year as valuation notices start arriving in Utahns mailboxes [Tribune].
Outdoor enthusiasts and advocates rally at the Utah State Capitol in support of public lands [Deseret News, Tribune].
Eagle Mountain Mayor Christopher Pengra is stepping down early to take a job with Rocky Mountain Power [Tribune].

National headlines:

Here's what everybody is talking about. Incoming White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci called reporter Ryan Lizza and went on a profanity-laced tirade against White House "leakers" and other staff members including Reince Priebus and Steve Bannon. He also threatened to fire the entire White House communications staff unless Lizza gave up a source [New Yorker].
Repeal and replace crashes and burns. The Senate failed to pass their last-gasp effort to repeal and replace Obamacare on Thursday night. Sen. John McCain was the deciding vote against the so-called "skinny repeal" [Washington Post].
After the failure of the health care fight, Republicans are hoping the Senate returns to normal as they turn their attention to tax reform [Time].
President Donald Trump's tax reform proposal would mean Americans making between $150,000 and $300,000 per year could see a tax hike of $3,000 to $4,000 per year [Wall Street Journal].
Russia has retaliated against new economic sanctions approved by Congress by ordering the U.S. to cut diplomatic staff in Russia. The Russian government also seized some property used by U.S. diplomatic staff in Moscow [Reuters].
Russian President Vladimir Putin is growing tired of constant criticism saying he could not "put up forever with this boorishness," referring to the investigations and sanctions against his country [New York Times].
Here's how special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election could reveal some of Donald Trump's business dealings with that country [USA Today].
Senate Republicans are moving to block President Donald Trump from ousting Attorney General Jeff Sessions [Wall Street Journal].
Attorney General Jeff Sessions stands by his decision to recuse himself from the Russia investigation despite an onslaught of criticism from President Donald Trump [Fox News].
Build the wall? Prototypes of Donald Trump's proposed border wall, which are set to be unveiled in San Diego, may be delayed until this winter [Los Angeles Times].
The U.S. ordered family members of employees at its embassy in Venezuela to leave the country amid escalating violence and unrest in that country [Reuters].
Boring but important #1. Japan is imposing a 50% tariff on some frozen beef from the U.S. and other countries, which some are worrying could spark a trade war [Wall Street Journal].
Boring but important #2. Rents across the U.S. are at an all-time high. Not surprisingly, the number of Americans between the age of 18-34 living with their parents is also at an all-time high [ZeroHedge].

On this day in history:

1794 - Maximilien Robespierre, a leading figure of the French Revolution, was sent to the guillotine.

1868 - The Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, guaranteeing due process and the equal protection of the laws to former slaves, was declared in effect.

1914 - World War I began as Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia.

1945 - A U.S. Army bomber crashed into the 79th floor of New York City's Empire State Building, killing 14 people.

1965 - President Lyndon B. Johnson announced he was increasing the number of American troops in South Vietnam from 75,000 to 125,000.

Today At Utah Policy

Maybe this is how Trump drains the swamp - Bernick and Schott on politics #336 By Bryan Schott and Bob Bernick Ballots have gone out to voters in the GOP primary in the 3rd CD. Provo Mayor John Curtis has a lead, but will it hold up?...

Bob Bernick's notebook: Outside attacks pushed Herbert to endorse Curtis By Bob Bernick, Contributing Editor GOP Gov. Gary Herbert said Thursday that he disagrees with the state Republican Party's new rule that only sends one candidate out from convention is a special U.S. House election....

'Let my students go!' - Moses to the education bureaucracy By Sen. Howard Stephenson Yesterday in Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee we discussed School Technology Programs and the low utilization of effective reading software in our classrooms....

Rep. Stewart introduces legislation to stop leaks of classified information By Press Release Rep. Stewart (R-Utah) introduced H.R. 3448 to prevent the leaking of classified information. The Classified Information Protection Act simplifies existing law and imposes penalties for unauthorized disclosure of classified information....

League of Women Voters of Utah files suit to protect voter privacy By Press Release If the lieutenant governor of Utah hands over voter data to the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity, he would be violating state law, the League of Women Voters of Utah and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) of Utah argued in a lawsu...

Herbert vows to end lawlessness around Rio Grande neighborhood By Bob Bernick, Contributing Editor GOP Gov. Gary Herbert said Thursday that he doesn't defend President Donald Trump's Tweet banning transgender people from serving in the U.S. military....

Weekly survey: Will negative attacks on Curtis work? By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor Outside groups have launched a series of negative attacks against Provo Mayor John Curtis in the GOP primary election for Utah's 3rd Congressional District. Will they work? Vote now in our weekly survey....

Podcast: Bernick and Schott on politics #336 By Bryan Schott and Bob Bernick Bob Bernick and Bryan Schott dissect a busy week in Utah politics....

Policy News

Casual Friday: Weekend Events & Outdoors Report Outdoor Notes--Tribune:Utah Hike of the Week: Lofty Lake in the Uinta Mountains--Tribune:40 things we learned touring Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in southern Utah--Tribune:Contest aims to lure anglers to Panguitch Lake after recent wildfire closureWeekend EventsNew Films--...

Hatch introduces bill to provide land for support of higher education Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT), the senior Republican in the United States Senate, introduced the Confirming State Land Grants for Education Act-a bill that would make certain federal lands available for the purpose of raising revenue for Utah's educational institutions....

Local Headlines

Salt Lake Tribune

Editorial: Herbert's War Cabinet gets serious about the Rio Grande neighborhood

In a year, Gov. Herbert hopes Pioneer Park will be so safe he can play tennis there

Utah retailers bummed out - to say the least - as massive outdoors trade show makes final SLC run

Utah Gov. Herbert joins Sen. Hatch in speaking out against Trump's ban on transgender military service

Eagle Mountain mayor to make early exit after landing job with Rocky Mountain Power

Rolly: Where's Jackie? KSL's parade coverage skips past Salt Lake City's gay mayor and her wife

Mike Fowlks to head Utah wildlife agency

Group sues to block release of voter information to Trump's election fraud commission

Boisterous Outdoor Retailer rally at Capitol is more about supporting public lands than decrying Utah politicians

Oops. Utah County sends Republican primary ballots to 68,000 unaffiliated voters

He went from foster care in Utah to the White House, and he wants more Latinos to lead

A narrow margin on a 'skinny repeal': Hatch, Lee vote yes on Senate health care bill that McCain helps defeat

Deseret News

Jay Evensen: Enough tough talk about Rio Grande. Let's see some action

Op-ed: We need to demand more from local politicians

Editorial: Monument designations and other issues could be resolved with compromise

Herbert: Goal is to be able to play tennis at Pioneer Park a year from now

Eagle Mountain mayor resigns to take new job

Sacramento Bee opinion writer says Mormons, Utah culture could help California's housing crisis

From foster care to the White House, Mickey Ibarra urges Latinos to 'dream big'

More than 68,000 mistakenly sent GOP ballots in Utah County

Public lands enthusiasts march, sing and chant at state Capitol

Other

Utah County trying to figure out how Republican ballots were mailed to unaffiliated voters (Daily Herald)

Pleasant Grove City Council candidates debate city's future and road debacle (Daily Herald)

Ogden council hopes virtual town hall will spur involvement in city budget process (Standard-Examiner)

Driverless cars, Uber, wayfinding to be discussed in Ogden transportation plan (Standard-Examiner)

Logan mayoral candidates answer questions (Logan Herald Journal)

National Headlines

Intelligence chairman accuses Obama aides of hundreds of unmasking requests (The Hill)

Hill Reporter Lays Into Media on Wasserman Schultz Scandal Cover Up (NewsBusters)

Maxine Waters interrupts Treasury Secretary's single answer - 12 times! (American Mirror)

Three Republicans threaten to vote no on healthcare (Reuters)

African-American women are increasingly buying guns, statistics show (New York Times)

Senate Republicans prepare to pass Obamacare repeal few of them back (Politico)

Justice Department Says Rights Law Doesn't Protect Gays (New York Times)

Senate panel advances measure to protect medical marijuana states (The Hill)

ICE chief: Sanctuary cities are criminals' 'biggest friends' (Washington Examiner)

Bezos knocks Gates off perch as richest person in the world - for a few hours (Washington Post)

Falling tech stocks pull down S&P 500 and Nasdaq, but Dow sets another record (Los Angeles Times)

Wise Words

Mistrust

"The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted." James Madison

Lighter Side

Sessions

"President Trump said in a new interview that he had regrets about appointing Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Sessions said today that he will continue to serve as long as it is appropriate. So only until about 1955." Seth Meyers

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