Davis County GOP legislator Steve Handy loses his seat on Saturday, Utah still in a record-setting drought | | | 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 editor@utahpolicy.com. | | |
Situational Analysis | March 28, 2022 It's Monday, it feels like spring and it's National Black Forest Cake Day What's not to like? Be in the Know The Davis County Republican party held their nominating convention on Saturday and took a hard turn to the right. Multiple veteran lawmakers are now in primaries and Rep. Steve Handy, who did not collect signatures, has lost his seat. Stay tuned for more county conventions before the GOP state convention on April 23. President Zelenskyy gave an in-person interview to The Economist on his country's battle for survival. The Russian Army has been kidnapping mayors. "Some of them we canât find. Some of them we have found already, and they are dead," he said. Russians are leaving their dead in the streets, some 15,000 in the month since the war began. Mr. Zelenskyy says he will stay with his people until the end. And what is the end? âWe believe in victory,â he says. âItâs impossible to believe in anything else. We will definitely win because this is our home, our land, our independence. Itâs just a question of time.â Worth the read. (You will have to register with The Economist but it's free to sign up.) | | |
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Utah Headlines General LDS Relief Society presidency nears the expected end of a remarkable, even radical, run. Five years, three women, one powerful presidency â why the trio of Jean Bingham, Sharon Eubank and Reyna Aburto stands out. (Salt Lake Tribune) Schools have become the latest culture war battleground. Are public libraries next? (Deseret News) Nearly all Americans support public displays of faith (Deseret News) Gold Star families honor lost loved ones at unveiling of monument in St. George (St. George News) Default Happiness: How BYU freshman guard Trey Stewart is blazing trails by building a business (Deseret News) Salt Lake City man sentenced to prison for bomb-making tutorial meant for ISIS supporters (Deseret News) One Utah dancer posted her harassment story online. It prompted a flood of some 250 #MeToo responses. (Salt Lake Tribune) Census: St. George has fastest-growing population in the U.S., again (The Spectrum) Several Utah cities and counties saw major growth in 2021, but one county remained the same (KUER) Politics Utah GOP lurches to the right at Davis County convention, costs longtime legislator his Utah House seat (Salt Lake Tribune) Sen. Daniel Thatcher stood up for trans kids in a remarkable display of political courage. âIf I lose my race, I lose my race standing for what I believe in." (Salt Lake Tribune) Veto Override and Supreme Court Confirmation (Hinckley Report) Education Davis School District named in civil rights lawsuit (Fox13) Environment Want an update on Utahâs drought? Look to Powder Mountainâs new SNOTEL site (Deseret News) Would dredging Utah Lake upset a century of peace over water rights? (Salt Lake Tribune)
Half-century after the Clean Water Act, half of Utahâs waterways remain polluted (Salt Lake Tribune) Utah/Ukraine Connection Utahns helping unaccompanied child refugees at Ukrainian border (KUTV) Utah doctor returns home after week volunteering in Ukraine (KUTV) Ukraine official thanks governor for Utah's support (Fox13) This is how the Russia-Ukraine war is affecting business in Southern Utah (St. George News) National Headlines General Thema Bryant, an ordained minister and specialist in trauma recovery, is taking over leadership of the American Psychological Association at a critical turning point for the field (Washington Post) Taliban bars government employees without beards from work (Reuters) The Taal volcano near the capital of the Philippines blew steam and ash high into the sky, prompting the evacuation hundreds of residents from high-risk villages. (ABC News) ISIS attack kills two and injures six in Israel (CNN) Canada pledges to help countries stop using Russian oil (BBC) New Supply Chain Risk: 22,000 Dockworkers Who May Soon Strike (New York Times) Ice shelf bigger than New York City breaks off eastern Antarctica (Washington Post) After Will Smith slapped Chris Rock, the Oscars took a turn (NPR) Will Smith slaps Chris Rock after Jada Pinkett Smith joke at Oscars (Washington Post) Politics How Biden sparked a global uproar with nine ad-libbed words about Putin. By declaring that the Russian leader âcannot remain in power,â the U.S. president seemed to suggest a drastic change in U.S. policy â prompting a scramble by White House officials (Washington Post)
Rep. Jeff Fortenberry resigns after being found guilty of lying to FBI (Washington Post) Supreme Court fight shows GOP wants to steer clear of Trump (The Hill) Chris Wallace: Working at Fox had become 'unsustainable' (The Hill) Biden's Putin remark, White House walk-back faces scrutiny (The Hill) Trump turns Michigan into MAGA proving ground (Politico) Senate confirmation hearing 'outrageous and beyond the pale,' Booker says. The New Jersey Democrat said "the legitimacy of the Court" has been damaged by confirmation hearing tactics. (Politico) Inside Ted Cruzâs last-ditch battle to keep Trump in power (Washington Post) Ukraine Ukraineâs defense intelligence chief says of Putin: âThere is reason to believe that he is considering a 'Korean' scenario for Ukraine. That is, [Russian forces] will try to impose a dividing line between the unoccupied and occupied regions of our country.â (CNN) Russia shifts focus to try to grind Ukraineâs army in east (AP) Ukraine's three-to-one advantage (The Atlantic) Russian troopsâ tendency to talk on unsecured lines is proving costly (Washington Post) Ukrainians escape embattled enclaves with frightful stories, and little else (Washington Post) As the war in Ukraine moves into its second month, fears grow of Mariupolâs fall to Russia. (New York Times) Zelensky calls for planes and tanks from NATO allies (The Hill) Ukraine and Russia Prepare for Talks in Turkey as Russian Missiles Hit Cities (Wall Street Journal) | | |
Guest Opinion: Utah needs a Republican renaissance by Jessica Egbert, PhD Like over 140,000 others (New York Times, 2021), I left the Republican Party in early 2020. Disenfranchised by ego, discouraged by counterproductivity, and demoralized by hypocrisy to the platformâs values, I had finally reached my tolerance limit. I opted out. In 2021, I realized my mistake. As a conservative, my priorities had never changed. Instead, my faith in the systemâs ability to create change had dissolved. What I failed to consider, however, was that the system established by our forefathers was not necessarily to blame. The individuals functioning within the system can be its very salvation. When I removed myself from the equation and eliminated my voice from the narrative, I was no better than those who complain and do nothing. So, when I realigned in 2021, it was with intention and purpose: to be part of the solution. The Utah Republican Party Platform states, âWe demand honesty, integrity, morality, and accountability of our public officials. We will work to expose and stop corruption.â When a local legislator told me last year that he didnât need his president to be a spiritual leader, I responded confidently, âI do.â I need leaders who not only set good economic policy and collaborate across the aisle to create real solutions but who inspire me, admit mistakes, and show compassion and humility. I want leaders who are tough but civil. I demand honesty, integrity, morality, and accountability for myself and my six-year-old son. And, I am part of that Republican renaissance that is bringing those 140,000 back to the Party to demand the same. Like me, I invite those who abandoned the Party to come back. We need you. And, our voices will change this election â and beyond. Be part of the solution. Letâs demand more. News Releases Utahâs economic position leading the nation The Salt Lake Chamberâs Roadmap to Prosperity Coalition, in partnership with the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, has updated the Economic Dashboard for March 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. âUtahâs consumer confidence continues to climb as the broader U.S. confidence dips for another month,â said Derek Miller, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber and Downtown Alliance. âThis divergence falls in line with Utahâs record unemployment rate and surging economy. Despite some headwinds, Utahâs economic rebound has been broadening and gaining depth across industries. Thankfully, several structural factors are at play in our state to keep us leading the nation economically.â (Read More) Utahâs business resilience provides model for nation The Salt Lake Chamberâs Roadmap to Recovery Coalition, in partnership with the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, released its Economic Dashboard update for March, providing a compelling picture of Utahâs business resilience. The Dashboard provides leaders with actionable intelligence related to current indicators important for guiding their organizations, as it tracks the Stateâs path to a full and complete economic recovery from the pandemic recession and provides context for decision makers. âFrom our most recent data, itâs clear how committed Utah business leaders are to overcoming the pandemic recession. Once again, we have the lowest unemployment rate in the nation at 3.3%, and retail sales continue to provide a surge in revenue for the State,â said Derek Miller, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber and Downtown Alliance. âThis recovery is still in progress â and many are still struggling â but we are encouraged by the nascent growth, returning as vaccine distribution begins to constrain this virus. Our commitment to public health throughout this pandemic has provided stability and confidence for consumers and employees, and while we are emerging from this experience I am heartened by how we have come together to weather it as well as anyone anywhere.â (Read More) Commerce Committee passes multiple Lee amendments Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) offered 54 amendments to the eleven bills considered in a Senate Commerce Committee markup this week. The committee considered bills ranging from the future of 6G technology to incentivizing biological protection programs. Fourteen of Sen. Leeâs amendments were incorporated into the bills passed by the committee. Many of the adopted amendments include key provisions of Sen. Leeâs SHIP IT Act, which he introduced in March of this year. These provisions include authorizing the Coast Guard to expedite certain documents required to work at major ports, provisions supporting the usage of inland port infrastructure, and a report that details the technological competitiveness of U.S. ports compared with those of peer nations. One Lee amendment to free certain federal lands for the temporary storage of containers during our nationâs current supply chain difficulties was defeated on a party-line vote. (Read More) | | |
Upcoming Inflection Point: US-Asia Relations with the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation â Mar 30, 3:00 pm ET Register here Last day for a registered voter to change voter affiliation before the regular primary election â Mar 31 United Utah Party State Convention - April 16, 10 am, West High, SLC 2022 Midyear Conference, Utah League of Cities and Towns - April 20-22, St. George Register here Ballots are mailed â June 7 Primary election day â June 28 General election â Nov 8 | | |
On This Day In History 1834 - President Andrew Jackson is censured by Congress for refusing to turn over documents. Jackson was the first president to suffer this formal disapproval from Congress. 1886 - Clara Lemlich is born. A Jewish immigrant from the Ukraine, labor activist, suffragist, and consumer advocate, she was a leader of the âUprising of 20,000,â a labor strike of shirtwaist workers in New Yorkâs garment industry in 1909. 1895 - Spencer W. Kimball, 12th president of The Church of Jesus-Christ of Latter-day Saints, is born in Salt Lake City, Utah 1899 - Harold B. Lee, 11th president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is born in Clifton, Idaho 1949 - British mathematician and astronomer, Fred Hoyle, coined the term âbig bangâ in an attempt to dispute the theory that all matter was created from one giant explosion. 1969 - Dwight D. Eisenhower, 34th US President (R, 1953-61) and WWII general, dies of congestive heart failure at 78. 1979 - Americaâs worst nuclear accident occurs at Three Mile Island when a pressure valve in the Unit-2 reactor fails to close. On April 1, President Jimmy Carter arrived at Three Mile Island to inspect the plant. Carter, a trained nuclear engineer, had helped dismantle a damaged Canadian nuclear reactor while serving in the U.S. Navy Wise Words "We become not a melting pot but a beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, different dreams." â Jimmy Carter Lighter Side Q: Why did Cinderella get kicked off the baseball team? A: She always ran away from the ball. | | |
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