Situational Analysis | November 10, 2021

Welcome to Wednesday and a very happy 246th birthday to the US Marine Corps. 

Be in the Know

1. The Utah House voted 50-22 to approve the congressional map during yesterday's special session. That map heads to the Senate today. More voting to come on state House, Senate and school board maps as the special session continues.

2. New House leadership was elected yesterday since Majority Leader Francis Gibson's resignation created an opening in the leadership team. Rep. Mike Schultz is the new Majority Leader, Jefferson Moss is the House Majority Whip and Val Peterson keeps his position as Majority Assistant Whip. There continues to be no women in House majority leadership. 

FROM OUR SPONSOR

"The Hinckley Report" covers the most pressing political issues facing our state. Hosted by Jason Perry, each week’s guests include Utah’s top journalists, lawmakers and policy experts. "The Hinckley Report" airs on PBS Utah Fridays at 7:30 p.m. and is also available to stream or as a podcast.

Utah Headlines

General

• 10-year-old girl dies by suicide after she was bullied at school over autism, race, her family says (Deseret News)
• Utah lawmaker says suicide of 10-year-old girl is 'wake-up call' (KUTV)
• The DOJ found widespread ‘racial harassment’ at a school district. Weeks later, a Black student died by suicide. (Washington Post)
• Perspective: The looming peasant state. The disappearance of the middle class is the erosion of an American ideal (Deseret News)

Politics

• Utah Legislature special session: Redistricting, Biden vaccine mandate, Dixie name change and more (Deseret News)
• Lawmakers pass redistricting maps; citizen referendums and ballot initiatives possible (Fox13)
• Here’s what the $1.2T infrastructure bill will look like in the West (Deseret News)
• Rep. Mike Schultz of Hooper elevated to Utah House majority leader (Standard-Examiner)
• Supporters and opponents of the Dixie State name change show up for last chance public hearing (St. George News)
• Parowan Mayor-elect Mollie Halterman reflects upon successful write-in campaign, eyes town’s future (St. George News)
• Election takeaways, payments to illegal immigrants, Biden infrastructure bill (Political as Heck)
• Utah women are trailblazing in political leadership (The Daily Universe)
• Republican Erin Rider challenging Chris Stewart for GOP nomination in 2022 (Salt Lake Tribune)
• Salt Lake City Council names election winner Victoria Petro-Eschler to fill vacant spot (Salt Lake Tribune)

COVID Corner

• 1558 new cases, 13 new deaths
• Mountain West states make up nation’s largest COVID-19 hot spot (Deseret News)
• You’re 20 times more likely to die from COVID if you’re unvaccinated, study finds (Salt Lake Tribune)

Business

• Ho, ho, heck: Early holiday shoppers ran into 2 billion out-of-stock messages in Oct. (Deseret News)

Education

• Future name of Dixie State University now in hands of Utah lawmakers (Deseret News)
• Those for, against Dixie State name change clash at Utah Capitol (The Spectrum)

National Headlines

General

• Peruvian family dog turns out to be a fox (BBC)
• Malala Yousafzai announces her marriage on Twitter (AP)
• ‘The end of the GE we knew’: Breakup turns a page in modern business history (Wall Street Journal)
• U.S. consumer prices surge; weekly jobless claims fall (Reuters)
• U.S. inflation reached 30-year high in October (Wall Street Journal)

Politics

• Trump officials violated Hatch Act (USA Today)
• Rep. Gosar posts anime video showing him striking Biden, Ocasio-Cortez (The Hill)
• Senate set to cut provisions in House Democrats’ $2 trillion spending plan (Wall Street Journal)
• Defense policy amendments pour in ahead of Senate floor action (Roll Call)
• Gov. Newsom says he canceled climate summit plans because kids wanted him home for Halloween (The Hill)
• Sununu announcement act rubs top Republicans the wrong way. The New Hampshire governor not only blindsided the Senate GOP, he plugged his own presidential prospects. (Politico)
• Sununu exit underscores uncertain GOP path to gain Senate majority (The Hill)
• GOP centrists come under increased attacks from own party (The Hill)

Courts

• Oklahoma's Supreme Court tossed out a landmark $465 million opioid ruling against J&J (NPR)
• Federal judge refuses Trump request to block Jan. 6 records (AP)
• Legal battle over Biden’s vax-or-test mandate for businesses is just beginning (Washington Post)

Policy News

Owens co-sponsors bipartisan legislation to help military families save for retirement

Representative Burgess Owens (UT-04) co-sponsored the Military Spouses Retirement Security Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by Representatives Brad Wenstrup (OH-02) and Jason Crow (CO-06) to help spouses of active duty servicemembers save for retirement by expanding access to employer-sponsored retirement plans.

“America is the home of the free because of our brave men and women in uniform who have answered the call to serve in Utah, across the country, and abroad,” said Rep. Owens. “I’m a proud supporter of this bipartisan legislation to help alleviate the financial toll active duty can take on Utah’s military families and their retirement security.” (Read More)

Utah State Board of Education names new Student Advisory Council members

The Utah State Board of Education (USBE) appointed nine new students to its 15-member Student Advisory Council (SAC) as voting members, in its meeting on November 4. The students will join the returning six members to advise the USBE on issues relevant to high school students throughout the state.

They were selected following an application period this fall. Appointed students attend both charter and traditional schools and represent diverse backgrounds. They report interest in issues including: mental health and bullying, access to personalized competency based learning, homelessness, issues perpetuated by the COVID-19 pandemic. credit recovery, college readiness, and school funding. (Read More)

State Educational Technology Directors Association honors Dr. Sydnee Dickson

This past weekend, the Log Cabin Republicans presented Rep. Chris Stewart (R-UT) with the Congressional Champion Award. This award is given to a member of Congress who has proven themselves to be a reliable leader for causes important to the conservative LGBT community. Rep. Stewart was the recipient of this award for his introduction of and continued persistence for the Fairness For All Act.

“It’s an honor to be recognized by such an important community,” said Rep. Stewart. â€œEveryone deserves their chance at the American Dream, regardless of their race, religion, or sexuality. That ideal can only be realized by loving our neighbors and striving for greater unity. The Fairness For All Act is a balanced, commonsense means of achieving that end. This country can accommodate civil liberties for both LGBT individuals and religious freedom. And I will not stop working until we do just that.” (Read More)

Smith’s seeks to hire 1,500 veterans

In celebration and recognition of our veterans and active military and their family members, Smith’s Food & Drug Stores â€“ a division of the Kroger Family of Stores – is hosting a virtual hiring event for veterans, active military and their family members on Wednesday, November 10, from 12-3 p.m. MST.  

Smith’s is looking to fill full-and part-time positions across the company including all-purpose clerks, manufacturing, distribution centers and delivery, department managers, e-commerce, pharmacy, and more.

Veterans, active military, and their family members interested in joining the Smith’s team should apply at https://thekrogerco.com/careers/ (Read More)

Number of the Day

Upcoming

• Common Good Awards with Envision Utah, virtual event â€“ Nov. 11, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm. Register here
• Utah Philanthropy Day Awards – Nov. 15, 6:00 - 7:00 pm on ABC4.
• Growth, Grit and Grace - SLC Chamber's Women & Business Conference and ATHENA awards – Nov 19, 8:00 am - 3:30 pm Register here

On This Day In History

From History.com

• 1483 - Martin Luther, German theologian and key figure in the Protestant Reformation, born in Eisleben, Saxony, Holy Roman Empire
• 1775 - Birth of the U.S. Marine Corps
• 1871 - Henry Morton Stanley encounters David Livingstone at Ujiji, near Lake Tanganyika in Central Africa, with the immortal words 'Dr Livingstone, I presume?'
• 1903 - Mary Anderson patents windshield wiper
• 1969 - “Sesame Street” debuts
• 1971 - Holly Black, an American writer and editor best known for The Spiderwick Chronicles, was born today.
• 1976 - Utah Supreme Court approves execution of convicted murderer Gary Gilmore
• 2001 - George W. Bush addresses the United Nations regarding terrorism

Wise Words

“Power is much easier to acquire than it is to hold on to.”

-Holly Black

Lighter Side

“Kamala Harris has an approval rating of 28 percent, which is — makes no sense, because she basically has nothing to do. I mean, it’s like criticizing a backup quarterback: ‘Tom Brady is OK — I don’t love the way Blaine Gabbert has his legs folded on the bench.’” 

— JIMMY KIMMEL

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