Trouble viewing this email? Read it online

Utah's Daily Policy Resource, Brought to you by Utah Policy

---

Situational awareness - April 11, 2018

Good Wednesday morning from Salt Lake City.

Hughes believes there's enough support for a veto override session. Mitt Romney qualifies for the primary ballot. The LDS Church issues a statement opposing the medical marijuana ballot initiative. Trump wanted to fire Mueller in December.

Thanks for subscribing to Utah's must-read daily political news roundup. If you have co-workers, friends, or family who would enjoy this newsletter, please have them sign up for our newsletter here.

Got a tip or story idea? You can send me a secure email at bryanschott@protonmail.com.

Tick Tock

• 5 days until the signature-gathering deadline for statewide ballot initiatives (4/16/2018)
• 10 days until the Utah GOP State Convention (4/21/2018)
• 17 days until the Utah Democratic State Convention (4/28/2018)
• 26 days until the final day a veto override session may begin (5/7/2018)
• 76 days until the 2018 Primary Election (6/26/2018)
• 210 days until the 2018 midterm elections (11/6/2018)
• 293 days until the first day of the 2019 Utah Legislature (1/28/2019)
• 940 days until the 2020 presidential election (11/3/2020)

Take a minute and subscribe to the "Bernick and Schott on politics" podcast. Listen to Utah's best political analysis while you're on the go. Hosts Bryan Schott and Bob Bernick have more than 60 years combined experience covering Utah politics, so they bring you knowledge and insight that's unprecedented. You can subscribe using iTunes, Google Play, and Stitcher.

Here are the news stories driving Wednesday

Veto override coming?

House Speaker Greg Hughes says there's enough support in the House for a veto override session, but the Senate "could go either way." Legislators have until 5 pm Wednesday to make their decisions [Utah Policy].  

Romney qualifies for the ballot

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mitt Romney officially has enough signatures to qualify for the GOP primary ballot. He accomplished the feat without the use of paid signature gatherers [Utah Policy].

Cybersecurity for Utah's elections

Utah is part of a pilot program from the Department of Homeland Security to make election officials aware of potential cyber threats that could disrupt the 2018 midterms [Utah Policy].

Other Utah headlines

• The LDS Church issued a statement on Tuesday opposing the ballot initiative to legalize medical marijuana [Deseret News, Fox 13].
  
  
• Democrat Ben McAdams narrows the fundraising gap with Republican Mia Love [Deseret News].
  
  
• Salt Lake County sues big pharma over the opioid crisis [Deseret News, Tribune].
  
  
• Mayor Jackie Biskupski warns of a potential water shortage this summer and issues an advisory to residents to conserve [Utah Policy, Deseret News, Tribune].
  
  
• Utah's Senators in Congress get an opportunity to question Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg over the recent controversies surrounding the use of users data [Deseret News, Tribune].
  
  
• A new study says Utah has the largest gender wage gap in the country, with women earning just 70% of their male counterparts [Tribune].

National headlines

• President Trump taunted Russia and Syria on Twitter early Wednesday morning, telling Russia to "get ready" because "nice and new and 'smart'" missiles will be coming [Axios].
  
  
• President Trump is reportedly considering firing Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to rein in or even fire special counsel Robert Mueller [CNN].
  
  
• President Donald Trump wanted to fire special counsel Robert Mueller in December following inaccurate media reports that he had issued subpoenas about Trump's business dealings with Deutsche Bank [New York Times].
  
  
• Senators question Facebook head Mark Zuckerberg over privacy issues and suggest the social media platform's days of self-regulation may be coming to an end [New York Times].
  
  
• The FBI raid on Michael Cohen's office sought information related to hush money paid to two women who had affairs with Donald Trump before he became president [New York Times].
  
  
• President Trump canceled a trip to Latin America to deal with the growing crisis in Syria [New York Times].
  
  
• The EPA is examining posts on social media to justify the costly security measures being taken by Scott Pruitt, the agency's administrator [New York Times].
  
  
• A new poll shows half of Americans support sending troops to the border with Mexico [Politico].
  
  
• Gas prices are expected to rise 14% this summer [CNN Money].

On this day in history

• 1945 - Allied troops liberated Buchenwald concentration camp in Germany.
  
  
• 1947 - Jackie Robinson became the first African-American player to take the field for a Major League Baseball team during an exhibition game. Four days later he made his MLB debut.
  
  
• 1951 - President Harry Truman relieves General Douglas MacArthur of overall command in Korea.
  
  
• 1968 - President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act of 1968.

 

---

---

Today At Utah Policy

Hughes says he thinks there are enough votes for a veto override session By Bob Bernick, Contributing Editor Get ready for a rare veto override session by the Utah Legislature....

---

Romney qualifies for primary ballot By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor Republican Mitt Romney has qualified for the GOP primary ballot. That means, no matter what happens at the Utah Republican convention next week, he cannot be eliminated by Republican delegates....

---

Securing Utah's midterm election from cyberattacks By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor As we head into election season, the securing U.S. election systems from Russian hackers is a primary concern for U.S. elections officials....

---

Mayor Biskupski will initiate first stage of addressing potential water shortage: A call for Salt Lake City agencies, residents, and businesses to conserve By Press Release  With snow levels and early spring run-off well below average this year, Mayor Jackie Biskupski will declare a Stage 1 Advisory for water conservation, in keeping with Salt Lake City's 5-stage Water Shortage Contingency Plan....

---

Weekly survey: Will Romney get a primary challenger? By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor Mitt Romney will likely qualify for the primary ballot through the signature gathering route. Do you think Republican delegates will force him into a primary at this month's GOP convention? Vote now in our weekly survey....

---

Mexico and Utah to establish a working group to advance energy cooperation By Press Release Marking the first day of Utah's trade mission to Mexico City, Governor Gary R. Herbert met with Mexico's Secretary of Energy, Pedro Joaqun Coldwell, to advance energy cooperation through the establishment of a working group.  ...

---

---

Policy News

Treasurer Damschen announces $38.4 million new lost property now online for claim Utah State Treasurer David Damschen announced that the Utah Unclaimed Property Division received more than $38.4 million in lost property at the end of 2017....

---

Wise Words

Justice

"Justice in the life and conduct of the State is possible only as first it resides in the hearts and souls of the citizens." Plato

Lighter Side

Wall

"Trump said that two of the most incredible days of his life were spent in China mainly because it was the closest he'll ever get to seeing a great wall." Jimmy Fallon

---

This email is intended for newsletter@newslettercollector.com.
Update your preferences or Unsubscribe