This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated.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.

Congress' petty cash problem. Romney speaks at UVU. Poll: SLC residents want to ban panhandling.

Happy Friday. Rep. Aaron Schock resigned from Congress after a spate of stories on his campaign cash spending — especially the Downton Abbey-style office — but he isn't the only one to dip into his war chest for off-the-wall expenses. In fact, elected officials routinely use their campaign accounts to pay for things that have nothing to do with re-election. [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/05/congress-campaign-finance-ethics-slush-fund-117541.html?hp=t2_r" target="_blank">Politico]

Topping the news: Mitt Romney spoke to a crowd of thousands of graduates at UVU's commencement ceremony yesterday, telling them to live a large life and encouraging them to get married. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2461286-155/romney-tells-uvu-grads-to-live" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.good4utah.com/story/d/story/mitt-romney-encourages-uvu-graduates-to-live-a-lar/42144/p6BRsGMefE-4hFXkgkM08A" target="_blank">ABC4] [http://fox13now.com/2015/04/30/romney-addresses-uvu-graduates-tells-them-to-live-a-large-life/" target="_blank">Fox13] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865627689/Mitt-Romney-tells-UVU-grads-to-live-a-large-life.html" target="_blank">DNews]

-> Paul Rolly discusses the Salt Lake police officer who refused to ride in a Pride Parade last year and was also the one to write a citation against two gay men for allegedly trespassing on LDS property. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2455935-155/rolly-remember-the-gay-kiss-on" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Nearly two-thirds of Salt Lake City residents believe panhandling should be illegal in the city, a new poll shows. [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/5536-poll-salt-lake-city-residents-think-panhandling-should-be-illegal" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]

Tweets of the day: From @https://twitter.com/CHANDRA_CARNEY5" target="_blank">CHANDRA_CARNEY5: "Don't feel bad for Mitt Romney. He can always go back to being the guy kayaking in any lipitor commercial."

Happy Birthday: Today to the Trib's politics boss Dan Harrie, MSNBC's Abby Huntsman, former Taylorsville Mayor Janice Auger Rasmussen and Wasatch County GOP Chairman Aaron Gabrielson. On Saturday to former state Sen. Karen Morgan and on Sunday to Daniel Burton.

Tune in: Tribune reporters Jennifer Dobner, Kristen Moulton and Kathy Stephenson along with columnist Paul Rolly join Jennifer Napier-Pearce to talk about the week's top news stories including the ongoing Medicaid discussion, gay marriage arguments made before the U.S. Supreme Court and scrutiny of the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Tune in to Behind the Headlines at 9 a.m. on KCPW 88.3/105.3 FM. 

In other news: The U.S. House has advanced a bill with an amendment written by Utah's Rep. Rob Bishop that prohibits the sage grouse from being listed as an endangered species. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2462115-155/bishop-sage-grouse-listing-would-hurt" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Bob Bernick and Bryan Schott discuss this week in politics. [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/5538-bernick-and-schott-on-politics-episode-235" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]

-> A group of Utah County residents has filed a petition for a referendum to oppose a $65 million bond for a new Bus Rapid Transit route. [http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/residents-seek-referendum-to-stall-brt-funding/article_610bf677-d124-5663-8eff-5fb26727382e.html" target="_blank">Herald] [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2460970-155/utah-county-residents-file-petitions-against" target="_blank">AP]

-> The city's Homeless Services Site Evaluation Commission heard feedback from over 100 residents Wednesday night regarding the future of homeless service providers in Salt Lake City. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865627593/Salt-Lake-residents-offer-opinions-on-future-of-homeless-service-providers.html" target="_blank">DNews]

-> Despite Utah's tiny population of wolves, the House passed a budget bill at the very end of the last session that appropriated $500,000 to continue a contract to de-list wolves from the endangered species list. [http://fox13now.com/2015/04/30/utah-pays-high-priced-lobbyist-to-de-list-wolves/" target="_blank">Fox13]

-> Utah announced the closing of two refunding bond sales Thursday and affirmed its especially strong bond ratings. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865627662/Utah-retains-top-bond-rating.html" target="_blank">DNews]

-> A construction crew accidentally unearthed an ancient pit house at Sandy's Dimple Dell Park. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2460865-155/dimple-dell-park-was-home-to" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.good4utah.com/story/d/story/native-american-ruins-dating-back-1500-years-uncov/33780/jyHLienzaEyYTm7kf0gVLA" target="_blank">ABC4]

-> West Jordan debuted its brand new fire station and is inviting the public to come and take a tour. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865627627/West-Jordan-debuts-new-fire-station.html" target="_blank">DNews]

-> Salt Lake City Fire Department Chief Kurt Cook announced his retirement after 30 years of service. [http://www.good4utah.com/story/d/story/salt-lake-city-fire-chief-kurt-cook-steps-down-aft/36814/vbRC3S_VzEicr9OwY5ZchA" target="_blank">ABC4]

Nationally: Self-proclaimed independent socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders officially entered the presidential race under the Democratic Party yesterday, promising to fight inequality. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765672903/Vermont-Sen-Bernie-Sanders-I-am-running-for-president.html" target="_blank">AP] [http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/politicsnow/la-pn-bernie-sanders-presidential-announcement-20150430-story.html" target="_blank">LATimes] Although his bid is considered a longshot, it will be interesting to see what effect his presence has on Hillary Clinton's stance. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2015/04/30/bernie-sanders-presidential-run-really-matters-heres-why/" target="_blank">WaPost]

-> If Sanders were to win, he would be the oldest president in history at age 75, with Clinton just a few years behind. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2461286-155/romney-tells-uvu-grads-to-live" target="_blank">Time]

Where are they?

  • Rep. Chris https://twitter.com/RepChrisStewart" target="_blank">Stewart attends a House Intelligence Committee meeting, votes and flies back to Utah.
  • Rep. Mia https://twitter.com/RepMiaLove" target="_blank">Love attends a Financial Services meeting.
  • Gov. Gary https://twitter.com/GovHerbert" target="_blank">Herbert has no public events.
  • Lt. Gov. Spencer https://twitter.com/SpencerJCox" target="_blank">Cox speaks at tomorrow's commencement at the University of Phoenix and offers remarks at tomorrow's Weekend Warrior event in Springville.
  • SLC Mayor Ralph https://twitter.com/beckerformayor" target="_blank">Becker attends a budget preparation meeting.
  • President Barack https://twitter.com/BarackObama" target="_blank">Obama holds a roundtable with persecuted journalists to mark World Press Freedom Day.
  • Got a tip? A birthday, wedding or anniversary to announce? Email us at cornflakes@sltrib.com" target="_blank">cornflakes@sltrib.com. If you haven't already, sign up for our weekday email and get this sent directly to your inbox. [http://www.sltrib.com/pages/email" target="_blank">Trib]

    — Thomas Burr and Erica Palmer

    https://twitter.com/thomaswburr" target="_blank">Twitter.com/thomaswburr and https://twitter.com/erica_palmer">Twitter.com/erica_palmer