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| 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 editor@utahpolicy.com Situational Analysis - March 23, 2021Hello there Tuesday. Such sad news of a mass shooting in a Boulder, Colorado grocery store. Ten people are dead, including the first police officer on the scene. The suspect is in custody. At the rural bill signings at SUU yesterday, Governor Spencer Cox gave a little lesson on the proper use of titles. When he is not present, it is appropriate to call the second-in-command "Governor." (And not by her first name.) Since Tanner Ainge announced he was resigning as Utah County Commissioner, three candidate have announced they are running: Current Utah County Clerk/Auditor Amelia Powers Gardner, Highland Mayor Rod Mann and former commission candidate Christopher Forbush. Expect more to jump in before filing closes this week. If you only have time for one thing today: Check out this true labor of love: Telling the stories of Utah's fallen WWII veterans. All of them. Beginning in July 2020, 125 volunteers from Utah, and more than a dozen other states, took on the challenge of writing the stories of all 2,100 Utah WWII fallen. Six months later, all of these stories are accounted for. In the near future a smartphone app will allow anyone to visit the graves and memorials of these fallen, scan their names and read their stories. Here's a taste: Despite being relocated to an internment camp with his family, Fred Yamamoto still volunteered to serve his country and was posthumously awarded the Silver Star after fighting to rescue American troops cut off by the Germans. Marine Tyndale Llyod was a Salt Lake Tribune sports reporter before the war. As a Marine he earned the Bronze Star and fought at Kwajalein, Saipan, Tinian, and Iwo Jima where he died on the second day of the battle. Countdown 22 days until the end of the Cox/Henderson administration's first 100 days (04/14/2021) Today At Utah PolicyTweets of the day: Gabby Giffords weighs in on Boulder shooting, Romney weighs in on sanctionsBy Holly Richardson Another mass shooting, sanctions for China, a volcanic eruption and a million pounds of food.Romney and carbon tax, Sidney Powell says no reasonable person should have believed her and Project Iceworm By Holly Richardson Romney and carbon tax - Senator Mitt Romney might not be ready to introduce a bill - or sign on to a current proposal - but he is seriously considering and reviewing the merits of a carbon tax that would return the revenue to taxpayers.Guest opinion: Vanita Gupta is being unfairly maligned and should be confirmed By Scott Howell Vanita Gupta, President Biden's nominee for Associate Attorney General, is a classic American success story. The daughter of Indian immigrants Mrs. Gupta obtained a B.A. magna cum laude from Yale University and then graduated at the top of her class from the New York University School of Law. Rather than pursuing a lucrative career in private practice Mrs. Gupta dedicated her life to serving others. In her work with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the ACLU Mrs. Gupta protected the rights of some of the most vulnerable in our society. Utah HeadlinesDeseret News A Christian survival guide for a secular age - America offers robust religious freedom protections. But that doesn't mean people of faith shouldn't be concerned about the future. Utah Gov. Cox signs inland port 'infrastructure banks' bill despite calls for veto - Legislative leaders said they intend for that bank to help provide loans for rural "satellite" project areas for the port. The 'long-haul' effect of COVID-19 on our communities and economy - Societal inequalities and national debt, issues that were serious pre-pandemic, were exacerbated by COVID-19. Bridal Veil Falls: Will it be a monument or a state park? State study considers options - The future of Bridal Veil Falls is in the hands of the Utah Department of Parks and Recreation.Salt Lake Tribune Increased oversight is coming to Utah's 'troubled-teen' industry - Gov. Spencer Cox on Monday signed a bill that will put more regulations in place at youth residential treatment centers. Access, influence and pardons: how a set of allies shaped Trump's choices - The efforts to seek clemency for these wealthy or well-connected people benefited from their social, political or financial ties to a loose collection of lawyers, lobbyists, activists and Orthodox Jewish leaders who had worked with Trump administration officials on criminal justice legislation championed by Jared Kushner. Now Utah uranium mill plans to export rare earth materials to Estonia - A permit request to import radioactive material from the same Eastern European plant is pending. How close is Utah to having the coronavirus 'under control?' - From herd immunity to test positivity rates, experts are looking at these benchmarks next.Other Utah officials give word on April 10 mask mandate lift (ABC 4 Utah) - "Even though COVID-19 numbers have dropped and are continuing to drop significantly over the last few months, mask-wearing is still vital, we are not done." Man offers to buy historic 'Utah Theater' from Salt Lake City (FOX 13) - There's a snag. Salt Lake City already agreed to sell it to a firm called Hines and the LaSalle Group, who plan to demolish the theater to build a 31-story residential skyscraper. Governor Cox signs bills to boost rural Utah (FOX 13) - Appearing with a group of lawmakers at SUU, where he has opened an office specifically focused on rural issues, the governor touted resolutions and bills passed by the legislature with an eye toward advancing rural interests. Kane County commissioners say masks no longer required; state disagrees (KSL) - State officials reiterated the mask mandate still remains in effect for all of Utah for now, including Kane County.COVID Corner Utah confirms lowest daily COVID-19 case count since May, but 1st case of Brazilian variant reported (Deseret News) - While the numbers bring optimism, Utah also reported its first case of the more-contagious COVID-19 variant that first cropped up in South America on Monday. Utah vaccine coordinator's biggest worries: Supply now and demand later (FOX 13) - Problem number two isn't the kind of thing you can manufacture or plan your way out of - demand. Americans wait for COVID-19 vaccines as US commits millions of doses for Mexico, Canada (Fox News) - US plans to send 2.5M doses of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine to Mexico, and 1.5M doses to Canada. Long-term Covid can affect multiple organ systems, highlighting treatment challenges (NBC News) - A new review details the wide-ranging impact the virus can have on the body. Fully vaccinated people can visit unvaccinated family and friends, but one household at a time, CDC official says (CNN) - There are two important exceptions: One is if any of the unvaccinated people are at increased risk of severe Covid-19, such as older adults, pregnant women, or people with Down Syndrome, among others. The other would be if more than two unvaccinated households are mixing. Sen. Tim Kaine describes 'weird' COVID-19 symptoms a year later (Deseret News) - I have these weird, neurological symptoms one year later," Kaine said. "They're not debilitating, they're not painful, but they're weird and they're 24/7." They include tingling and "hot spots." Will the New York virus variant lead to more outbreaks? (Deseret News) - There's a potential the New York variant of the coronavirus could create more cases. You can get free Krispy Kreme donuts for getting the COVID-19 vaccine (Deseret News) - Krispy Kreme said Monday it will give a free doughnut to those who can show a valid COVID-19 vaccination card at the company's locations across the country.National HeadlinesSenate confirms Boston Mayor Marty Walsh to lead Labor Department (Politico) - He will be tasked with implementing the Biden administration's agenda at the department, which includes stricter workplace safety enforcement. Speedy House vs. slower Senate: Dems struggle to balance on Biden agenda (Politico) - Senate Democrats welcome the House's progress but are not interested in taking cues from their counterparts on the filibuster's future. With Marijuana Departures, the White House Wages Its Own Culture War (New York Times) - The tradition of treating past cannabis use as a terminable offense leaves the Biden administration out of step with public opinion. White House aides prep $3 trillion jobs package for Biden (CNN) - The proposal, which Biden's top advisers have been deliberating over for weeks, would be segmented into two separate parts -- one focused on infrastructure and clean energy, and a second focused on what's being termed the "care economy" with a focus zeroed in on key domestic economic issues. Biden dispatches top officials to Mexico, Central America as border crisis grows (NBC News) - Separately, a bipartisan pair of border-state senators sent a letter urging the White House to act swiftly to address the influx of migrants. U.S. Joins EU In Sanctions Against China Over Treatment Of Uyghur Muslims (NPR) -The EU and U.S., along with Australia, New Zealand, and Canada released a joint statement saying, "We will continue to stand together to shine a spotlight on China's human rights violations. We stand united and call for justice for those suffering in Xinjiang." Trump: Ending the filibuster would be 'catastrophic' for Republican Party (The Hill) - Trump has been critical of GOP leadership since his 2020 election loss, painting McConnell as "weak" and saying the party should seek new leadership more supportive of his policies. A second House Democrat objects to overturning Iowa congressional election GOP won by six votes (Fox News) - "This election result was certified by the State of Iowa and Rep. Miller-Meeks was sworn in nearly three months ago," said Rep. Chris Pappas of New Hampshire. "As I said when Republicans challenged the Electoral College votes on January 6th, the election is over and it's time to move on." Rep. Tom Reed has apologized over sexual misconduct allegations. Here's what happened (Deseret News) - Republican New York Rep. Tom Reed has issued an apology and declared he won't be running for office in 2022 due to new allegations against him of sexual misconduct. Analysis: More Republicans than Democrats are quitting Congress, and their retirements are shaping the party (Deseret News) -The establishment wing is clearly moving out. You're starting to see a lot more Trump-friendly Republicans take over the Republican conference as he's remade the Republican Party to a significant degree." Is the future of social media partisan? Trump says he's starting his own 'platform' (Deseret News) - Trump advisor Jason Miller said it would be "the hottest ticket in social media, it's going to completely redefine the game."Policy NewsSen. Lee reintroduces Protecting American Jobs ActSen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) today reintroduced the Protecting American Jobs Act, a bill that would strip the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) of its power to prosecute and adjudicate labor disputes.Rep. Stewart on the Fairness for All Act Congressman Chris Stewart (R-UT) penned an op-ed in Roll Call on the Fairness for All Act."Americans are overwhelmingly in agreement that every person deserves their chance at the American Dream, regardless of their race, religion or sexuality. I recently reintroduced a bill that would move Congress - and America - toward greater unity and bipartisanship."Rep. Stewart's statement on the EU's coordinated sanctions on China Today, the United States, Canada, Britain, and the European Union announced coordinated sanctions on China for its genocidal campaign against Uyghur Muslims. Congressman Chris Stewart (R-UT) released the following statement:Utah Taxpayers Association asks US Treasury Secretary for formal guidance The Utah Taxpayers Association and 16 other state taxpayer associations sent a letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on March 17 asking for guidelines to clarify provisions of the American Rescue Plan Act the federal COVID-relief law that includes a provision restricting tax reductions by states that accept relief funds.SLCo GOP Chairman Scott Miller seeks to become Chair of the Utah GOP After a tremendously successful 2020 election year, SLCo GOP Chairman Scott Miller is determined to apply his winning formula state-wide. Chairman Miller stated, "Salt Lake County is the largest, most diverse County in the State of Utah. Every candidate that worked directly with our County election team from start to finish won their respective race!" Business HeadlinesTwitter CEO Jack Dorsey sells NFT of first tweet for $2.9M (Associated Press) - The 15-year old post was sold as a non-fungible token, or NFT - a digital certificate of authenticity that confirms an item is real and one of a kind by recording the details on a blockchain digital ledger. The proceeds were given to the nonprofit GiveDirectly's Africa Response. David Solomon commits to Saturdays off for Goldman Sachs bankers (Financial Times) - CEO's response comes after junior analysts complained about workload. Stocks rise as tech rallies amid falling yields, Nasdaq closes more than 1% higher (CNBC) -U.S. stocks jumped on Monday led by technology shares as investors flocked back into growth names amid declining bond yields. Microsoft in Talks to Buy Discord for More Than $10 Billion (Bloomberg) - Discord is a video game community chat app.On This Day In History(From History.com) 1775 - Patrick Henry gives an impassioned speech wherein he proclaims "Give me liberty or give me death!" 1839 - "OK" enters the national vernacular. Boomer comes later. 1857 - Elisha Otis installs the first public elevator in New York City 1875 - The British survey ship, H.M.S. Challenger discovers the deepest known region of the Earth's oceans when it made its first sounding of the Mariana Trench. 1882 - The Edmunds (Anti-Polygamy) Act is adopted by the US Senate and aimed squarely at the Utah Territory. 1300 men are later imprisoned under the act. 1884 - Florence Ellinwood Allen is born in Salt Lake City. She became the first woman to serve on a state supreme court (Ohio) and later became the first woman to serve as a United States federal judge when FDR appointed her to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. 1981 - The US Supreme Court decides in Kirchberg v Feenstra that Louisiana's 'head and master' law stipulating that marital property was under the control of the husband was, in fact, unconstitutional. In 1981. 1983 - 112 days after becoming the world's first recipient of a permanent artificial heart, Barney Clark dies at the University of Utah Medical Center. 2011 - Elizabeth Taylor dies at age 79Wise Words"I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!" ~Patrick Henry Lighter SideLighter Side"Things got so out of hand that on Saturday, the city was forced to declare a state of emergency and an 8 p.m. curfew. And, surprise, it didn't work. Hot tip for Miami authorities: If you want young people to stop partying, don't instate a curfew, just invite a few dads." - 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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