 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 bschott@utahpolicy.com, or message us on Twitter. Situational awareness - January 29, 2020Good Wednesday morning from Salt Lake CityThanks for subscribing to Utah's must-read daily political news rundown.If you know of friends or colleagues who would benefit from our daily news roundup, please encourage them to sign up for our emails.Here are the stories you need to pay attention to this morning:
TICK TOCKDays to the 2020 Iowa Caucuses: 5 (2/3/2020) Days to the New Hampshire primaries: 13 (2/11/2020) Days to the Utah presidential primaries: 34 (3/3/2020) Days to the final day of the 2020 Utah Legislature: 43 (3/12/2020) Days to the 2020 Utah primary elections: 153 (6/30/2020) Days to the 2020 election: 279 (11/3/2020) Days to the start of the 2021 Utah Legislature: 339 (1/25/2021) Today At Utah Policy Lawmakers may add other programs that benefit children to education funding earmarkBy Bryan Schott, Managing Editor Utah's constitution says income tax money can only go toward public and higher education. As lawmakers look for ways to create more flexibility in the budgeting process, they are exploring adding other state programs to that constitutional earmark.  House Republicans still eyeing tax relief despite failure of reform packageBy Bob Bernick, Contributing Editor As Utah lawmakers moved Tuesday to officially repeal the huge tax reform package, talk was surfacing about what to do with the $160 million that would have come in state income tax cuts if the reform had held.  Lawmakers quickly repeal tax overhaul bill as referendum effort officially qualified for the ballotBy Bryan Schott and Bob Bernick With little debate, the House and Senate repealed the huge tax reform package members passed just over five weeks ago. The repeal effort passed with just one vote against in both the House and Senate.  The quest for parking spaces - Bernick and Schott on politics podcastBy Bryan Schott, Managing Editor The 2020 Utah Legislature is underway as lawmakers quickly decide to repeal the tax reform bill they passed just one month ago. Don't expect much else to happen with tax reform this year, though. OTHER UTAH HEADLINESDeseret News
Salt Lake Tribune
Other
NATIONAL HEADLINESWitness fightSenate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says he does not yet have enough votes to block witnesses in President Donald Trump's impeachment trial [Washington Post]. ImpeachmentThe trial moves into the question phase today as Senators are allowed to query both sides. Questions must be submitted in writing and signed. They will be read aloud by Chief Justice John Roberts [New York Times]. A trio of Democratic Senators are mulling whether to vote to acquit Trump [Politico]. Republicans have shifted their arguments, conceding the president is probably guilty of withholding aid to Ukraine for political purposes, but they say that's not impeachable [CNN]. Non-starter in the Middle East?President Trump released his long-awaited Middle East peace plan that gives Israel most of what it wants while offering Palestinians a state with limited sovereignty. Most experts say the plan has little chance of success [AP]. CoronavirusMore than 6,000 cases of the new coronavirus have been confirmed in China, passing the number of people who were stricken by SARS [Washington Post]. British Airways is suspending all flights to and from mainland China due to the outbreak [Fox News]. The White House is considering a ban on flights between the U.S. and China [USA Today]. 2020House Republicans are sounding the alarm ahead of November's elections because Democrats are outpacing them in fundraising [Politico]. Hostile takeover?Democrats are already planning for a rocky transition period in case President Donald Trump loses the 2020 election. Democrats are worried Trump's political team won't act in good faith to ensure a smooth transition if they lose in November [Politico]. EconomyAmericans are set to inherit $764 billion this year according to a new study. Most of that wealth will be tax-free [Bloomberg]. BUSINESS HEADLINES
Policy News Romney: We must act now to prevent looming debt crisisU.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT), a member of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs participated in a hearing on the causes of America's unsustainable fiscal path.  Sen. Lee statement on President's Middle East peace planSen. Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement Tuesday after reviewing President Trump's Vision for Peace, Prosperity, and a Brighter Future for Israel and the Palestinian People: More National Headlines
ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY1820 - Britain's King George III, who lost the American colonies, died at the age of 82. 1850 - Henry Clay introduces the Compromise of 1850 to the U.S. Congress. 1861 - Kansas is admitted as the 34th state. 1886 - German Karl Benz was awarded a patent for the gasoline-driven automobile. 1907 - Charles Curtis of Kansas becomes the first Native American U.S. Senator 1980 - The Rubik's Cube makes its international debut at the Ideal Toy Corp. in London. 2002 - In his State of the Union address, President George W. Bush described "regimes that sponsor terror" as an Axis of evil, in which he includes Iraq, Iran and North Korea. 2009 - Governor of Illinois Rod Blagojevich is removed from office following his conviction on several corruption charges. Wise WordsStrategic Planning "If you think in terms of a year, plant a seed; if in terms of ten years, plant trees; if in terms of 100 years, teach the people."Confucius Lighter SideGo Home "The trial did not end until almost 10 p.m. last night, but Democratic senator Dianne Feinstein walked out of the Senate chamber at 8:45. She said good night to two reporters standing nearby and left the Capitol. Well, that's a bold new take on the Democrats' battle cry: When they go low, we go home."- STEPHEN COLBERT Subscribers may receive special messages with information about new features, special offers, or public policy messages from clients and advertisers. |
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