 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 - October 24, 2019Good Thursday morning from Salt Lake CityThanks for subscribing to Utah's must-read daily political news rundown. Please encourage your friends and colleagues to sign up for our emails.Here are the stories you need to pay attention to this morning:
Watch this space!We will be releasing an exclusive poll on the Salt Lake City mayoral race from our partners at Y2 Analytics later today. Giveaway!
It's spooky season with Halloween just around the corner. We've got tickets to the Fear Factory haunted house to give away to our readers. Fear Factory is a nationally acclaimed Halloween attraction, ranked #3 in the world (buzzfeed.com), and top-10 in the U.S. For more information visit www.fearfactoryslc.com. Send us an email to be entered in a drawing to win a pair of tickets. TICK TOCKDays to the 2019 Utah municipal elections: 12 (11/5/2019) Days to the first day of the 2020 Utah Legislature: 95 (1/27/2020) Days to the Utah presidential primaries: 131 (3/3/2020) Days to the 2020 Utah primary elections: 250 (6/23/2020) Days to the 2020 election: 376 (11/3/2020) Today At Utah Policy Utah GOP Vice Chair Aaron Starks mulling congressional bidBy Bryan Schott, Managing Editor Current Utah GOP vice chair Aaron Starks tells UtahPolicy.com he is seriously considering jumping into the race to replace retiring Rep. Rob Bishop in Utah's 1st Congressional District.  2019 PTAC Symposium attendees learn about government contractingBy GOED Team The 2019 Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) Symposium, sponsored by the Utah Governor's Office of Economic Development, was held on Oct. 16 at the Salt Lake Community College in Sandy, Utah (Miller Campus).  Huntsman, Cox among favorites in new 2020 poll; Mendenhall leads Escamilla in SLC Mayor raceBy Bryan Schott, Managing Editor A new survey of the potential 2020 gubernatorial race suggests both Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox and former Gov. Jon Huntsman are well-positioned to make a strong run at the GOP nomination next year. OTHER UTAH HEADLINESDeseret News
Salt Lake Tribune
Other
NATIONAL HEADLINESStorm the barricadesAt least 30 Congressional Republicans stormed into the secure area of the House Intelligence Committee where investigators have been conducting private interviews. The protest delayed the testimony of deputy assistant secretary of defense Laura Cooper for about five hours [New York Times]. President Donald Trump gave his blessing to the stunt after meeting with several Republican Congressmen on Tuesday [Bloomberg]. 13 of the Republicans involved in the protest already have access to the closed-door hearings [Axios]. Ukraine scandalThe president of Ukraine discussed pressure from President Trump to investigate Joe Biden with aides before taking office in May [AP]. Ukrainian officials were told about President Trump's decision to freeze $391 million in military aid in early August and were told to reach out to acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney to try and fix the situation [New York Times]. The Trump administration sought to cut foreign aid programs aiming to combat corruption in Ukraine despite claims from the White House they are concerned about fighting corruption in that country [Washington Post]. A federal judge ordered the State Department to turn over documents related to Ukraine to House investigators within 30 days [CNN]. White House aides were worried President Trump was using an aide to the House Intelligence Committee as a back-channel method of communicating with Ukraine [New York Times]. Whiskey. Tango. Foxtrot.A lawyer for President Trump argued in federal court Wednesday that a sitting president could not be prosecuted for any crime while they were in office, including murder [Politico]. ImpeachmentHouse Democrats are aiming to take the impeachment hearings public as soon as mid-November [Washington Post]. A new poll finds 55% of Americans approve of the House impeachment inquiry into President Trump [Quinnipiac]. But...his emails?The National Archives has launched an investigation into Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross' use of a private email account for official business [Politico]. Great ideaThe House passed a bill on Wednesday making animal cruelty a felony [CNN]. BUSINESS HEADLINES
Policy NewsBeer tax increasing in NovemberThe tax on beer will increase beginning November 1, 2019. The tax rate on a 31-gallon barrel will increase $.30 from $12.80 to $13.10 as a result of the 2019 SB 132 Beer Amendments. Salt Lake City named as one of the Top American Cities of the Future 2019/20 by fDi Salt Lake City has won four awards of Top 10 rankings in fDi Magazine's American Cities of the Future for 2019/20. The City ranked 4th overall in the Top 10 Mid-Sized American Cities of the Future among 80 cities in the category. Salt Lake City also placed 2nd in the category of Human Capital and Lifestyle, 6th in Connectivity, and 6th in Business Friendliness. More National Headlines
ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY1861 - The first telegram was transmitted across the United States from California Chief Justice Stephen Field to U.S. President Abraham Lincoln in Washington. 1929 - $5 billion in market values were swept away in the Wall Street Crash of 1929, which marked the beginning of the Great Depression. 1940 - The 40-hour workweek went into effect in the United States. 1962 - The U.S. blockade of Cuba during the missile crisis began under a proclamation signed by President John F. Kennedy. Wise WordsJob Well Done "The reward of a thing well done is having done it."Ralph Waldo Emerson Lighter SideTwo Idiots "Trump's attorneys were said to be 'baffled' by Mulvaney's statement. One of his lawyers put out a statement. He wrote: 'The legal team was not involved in the acting chief of staff's press briefing.' Of course not. They already have one idiot shooting his mouth off. They certainly didn't authorize two."- JIMMY KIMMEL Subscribers may receive special messages with information about new features, special offers, or public policy messages from clients and advertisers. |
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