This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Ted Cruz: Romney didn't try to blow up 'Book of Mormon' play. House minority leader reminds colleagues religious freedom bill may run afoul of the law. Poll: 56% of Utahns want state school board elections.
Happy Tuesday. Sen. Ted Cruz says murdering in the name of religion is wrong — and cited Mitt Romney and the musical, "The Book of Mormon" as an example of religious tolerance. "Right now on Broadway, a play is showing, the 'Book of Mormon,' that is ridiculing and making fun of the Mormon faith," Cruz said at an event. "Last I checked, Mitt Romney didn't show up on Broadway trying to blow up the stage." [http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/melanie-hunter/cruz-mitt-romney-didnt-show-broadway-trying-blow-book-mormon" target="_blank">CNSNews]
Topping the news: House Minority Leader Brian King sent an email to his fellow representatives yesterday with a letter from legislative lawyers saying a new religious freedom bill, HB 322, could potentially be challenged in court because it expands religious protections too far. [http://fox13now.com/2015/02/16/house-democratic-leader-raises-concerns-about-religious-liberties-bill/" target="_blank">Fox13]
-> Lawmakers are still debating how to take care of those who are slightly above the poverty level but still can't afford health insurance. [http://www.ksl.com/?sid=33494190&nid=148&title=medicaid-debate-could-determine-gov-herberts-healthy-utah-plans-fate&s_cid=queue-2" target="_blank">KSL]
-> A Florida-based group, Foundation for Government Accountability, is running ads in Utah trying to tie Gov. Gary Herbert's Healthy Utah Plan to Obamacare. [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/4821-florida-based-group-runs-radio-ads-opposing-healthy-utah" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]
-> A new poll shows 56 percent of Utahns want nonpartisan elections for the state school board. [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/4824-poll-utahns-want-non-partisan-elections-for-state-school-board" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]
Tweets of the day: @https://twitter.com/BenWinslow" target="_blank">BenWinslow "Ran into a lawmaker grabbing lunch today. Seeing them off the Hill is like seeing your teacher outside school. ;)"
@https://twitter.com/utpolcapitol" target="_blank">utpolcapitol "What do you mean the #utleg took today off? You guys have a month left to finish everything!"
Happy Birthday: To Betsy Fischer Martin.
Tune in: At the midpoint of Utah's legislative session, Gayle Ruzicka of Utah Eagle Forum, Jenn Gonnelly of Utah League of Women Voters and Maryann Martindale of the Alliance for a Better Utah join Jennifer Napier-Pearce to assess the issues and legislation of the 2015 legislative session. Watch Trib Talk live at 12:15 p.m. MST on http://sltrib.com/" target="_blank">sltrib.com.
From Capitol Hill: Although the Legislature was off for the holiday, one lawmaker filed a bill that would tear down the "Zion Curtains" in Utah's restaurants that serve alcohol. [http://fox13now.com/2015/02/16/bill-unveiled-that-could-tear-down-zion-curtains-in-utah/" target="_blank">Fox13]
-> Why stop with the LGBT and religious communities? A new House bill would include breast-feeding women in the Utah anti-discrimination act. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865622061/Protections-for-breast-feeding-women-may-be-added-to-Utahs-anti-discrimination-laws.html" target="_blank">DNews]
-> Lawmakers are looking at a new bill that would allow them to accept or trash books they are given that are valued at up to $30. They are currently facing a problem with having to repeatedly send back books, at their own cost, that are mailed to them by FLDS leader Warren Jeffs. [http://fox13now.com/2015/02/16/utah-lawmakers-bill-could-trash-warren-jeffs-mail-in-revelations/" target="_blank">Fox13]
-> And here's today's Legislature schedule: [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2186001-155/utah-legislature-tuesday-feb-17" target="_blank">Trib]
In other news: The number of Utahns signing up for health insurance is up 50 percent under the Affordable Care Act, though Rep. Chris Stewart maintains that it is the worst piece of legislation ever. [http://www.good4utah.com/story/d/story/aca-enrollment-numbers-up-in-utah-but-repeal-effor/63875/eezr4Pk0rUuGePI_6Mul6w" target="_blank">ABC4]
-> The battle continues to find homes for the homeless, with Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker and council members at odds with the Pioneer Park Coalition over the location and process behind new housing plans. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2185912-155/housing-for-the-homeless-a-scrum" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Jon Huntsman isn't apparently ruling out a bid against Sen. Mike Lee, associates say, though the former Utah governor didn't respond to questions about the rumor. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865622078/Huntsman-apparently-hasnt-ruled-out-run-against-Sen-Mike-Lee.html?pg=all" target="_blank">DNews] [http://fox13now.com/2015/02/16/political-experts-talk-about-potential-race-between-sen-mike-lee-and-former-utah-gov-jon-hunstman-jr/" target="_blank">Fox13]
-> There is still no progress with Utah State Fairpark officials request to secure an extension of their lease of the fairgrounds, which they'll need in order to OK plans to have a minor league soccer stadium built. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865622066/Legislative-showdown-erupts-over-Fairpark-soccer-stadium-deal.html" target="_blank">DNews]
Nationally: A federal judge answered the requests of 26 states yesterday and blocked President Barack Obama's executive action on immigration, giving a lawsuit regarding the action time to get through the courts. [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/02/17/federal-judge-temporarily-blocks-obama-immigration-executive-action/" target="_blank">Fox] [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/17/lawsuit-obama-immigration_n_6680366.html" target="_blank">HuffPost] [http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/18/us/obama-immigration-policy-halted-by-federal-judge-in-texas.html?_r=0" target="_blank">NYTimes] [http://news.yahoo.com/federal-judge-stalls-obamas-executive-action-immigration-052549363.html" target="_blank">AP]
-> A new CNN/ORC poll says 57 percent of Americans do not approve of how President Barack Obama is handling U.S. military action against Islamic jihadists and foreign affairs in general. [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/02/poll-barack-obamas-isil-115235.html?hp=l3_3" target="_blank">Politico] [http://www.cnn.com/2015/02/16/politics/cnn-poll-isis-obama-approval/" target="_blank">CNN] [http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/232911-poll-most-support-vote-for-war-against-isis" target="_blank">TheHill]
-> The FAA came out with a new set of rules to govern drone use, giving most businesses more freedom to use unmanned aerial devices. But despite one new rule restricting Amazon from using its drone delivery program, a vice president says the company is still committed to delivering products that way. [http://www.good4utah.com/story/d/story/local-expert-weighs-in-on-new-faa-rules-for-commer/61313/pfXV5V64ekO_L3mBfejShQ" target="_blank">ABC4] [http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2015/02/15/amazon-cool-to-drone-rules/23473791/" target="_blank">USAToday] [http://www.theverge.com/2015/2/16/8046495/five-things-you-need-to-know-about-faa-drone-rules" target="_blank">TheVerge] [http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-proposed-drone-rules-20150216-story.html" target="_blank">LATimes] [http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/faa-releases-proposed-rules-for-domestic-drone-use/2015/02/15/6787bdce-b51b-11e4-a200-c008a01a6692_story.html" target="_blank">WaPost]
-> In honor of Presidents' Day, a new poll named Abraham Lincoln as America's greatest president, with Obama coming in at No. 18. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/monkey-cage/wp/2015/02/16/new-ranking-of-u-s-presidents-puts-lincoln-1-obama-18-kennedy-judged-most-over-rated/" target="_blank">WaPost]
Where are they?
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— Thomas Burr and Erica Palmer
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