This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Romney says he may endorse after March 15. Will Romney's gambit blunt Trump's progress? SL Co. officials concerned by recorder's health.

Happy Friday. Fresh off his scathing takedown of Donald Trump (see below), Mitt Romney says he's still not going to jump into the presidential race but he might endorse a candidate after March 15. "The people who can save this party are Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio or John Kasich," Romney told NBC's "Today" show this morning. He noted that he would not vote for Trump and he wouldn't vote for Hillary Clinton — though he would vote for the GOP nominee, hinting he's pretty sure it won't be The Donald. [http://www.politico.com/blogs/2016-gop-primary-live-updates-and-results/2016/03/mitt-romney-donald-trump-220247" target="_blank">Politico]

Topping the news: At the U.'s Hinckley Institute of Politics, Romney called Trump a "phony" and a "fraud," and said his polices would lead to a recession. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3608256-155/romney-calls-trump-a-fraud-warns" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865649168/Romney-Trump-is-a-phony-a-fraud.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://fox13now.com/2016/03/03/romney-to-call-trump-a-fraud-phony-at-utah-forum/" target="_blank">Fox13] [http://kutv.com/news/local/romney-attacks-trump-in-speech-at-university-of-utah" target="_blank">KUTV] [http://www.good4utah.com/news/top-stories/mitt-romney-lashes-out-at-donald-trump-encourages-republicans-to-vote-for-other-candidates" target="_blank">ABC4] [http://kuer.org/post/romney-trashes-trump-university-utah" target="_blank">KUER] [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/8722-romney-eviscerates-trump-in-university-of-utah-speech" target="_blank">UtahPolicy] Trump punched back saying Romney would have "dropped to his knees" for his endorsement in 2012. [http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/03/politics/donald-trump-mitt-romney-would-have-dropped-to-his-knees-for-my-endorsement/" target="_blank">CNN] [http://www.good4utah.com/news/local-news/trump-responds-to-romney-attacks" target="_blank">ABC4] Romney is reportedly developing a plan to block Trump at the convention.[http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/03/politics/mitt-romney-stop-trump-at-convention/index.html" target="_blank">CNN] However, it may be too late to stop Trump. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3613591-155/romneys-attack-on-trump-turning-point" target="_blank">Trib]

-> A white nationalist paid for robocalls to Utahns, supporting Trump. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3613685-155/white-nationalist-slams-romney-lauds-trump" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Salt Lake County GOP officials will meet with County Recorder Gary Ott amid concerns about his health affecting his ability to do his job. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865649270/SL-County-GOP-plans-to-meet-with-recorder-about-health-concerns.html" target="_blank">DNews] And Paul Rolly offers his thoughts on Ott's health and other news of the week. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3607280-155/rolly-was-salt-lake-county-recorders" target="_blank">Trib]

Tweets of the day: From https://twitter.com/mckaycoppins?lang=en" target="_blank">@mckaycoppins: "Isn't this the problem with the Cruz-Rubio "unity ticket" idea? Cruz is pretty emphatically against it. "

From @http://www.twitter.com/danielhberger" target="_blank">danielhberger: "'TRUMP: I RUINED MY CARPET ENDORSING ROMNEY' is the best @CNN lower-third in history."

From @http://www.twitter.com/politicoroger" target="_blank">politicoroger: "Romney attacks Trump's 'absurd third-grade theatrics.' I agree! America deserves a politician with at least absurd fourth-grade theatrics!"

Happy Birthday: To state Rep. Stephen Handy and Taylorsville City Recorder Cheryl Cottle and on Saturday to former Trib intern Laura Schmitz.

Tune in: Tribune reporters Matt Canham, Erin Alberty, Robert Gehrke and Christopher Smart along with columnist Paul Rolly join Jennifer Napier-Pearce to talk about the week's top news stories including Mitt Romney's take on Donald Trump, the shooting of a teenager by Salt Lake City police and the defeat of a hate crimes bill. Listen to Behind the Headlines live at 9 a.m. MT on http://sltrib.com/" target="_blank">sltrib.com.https://ssl.gstatic.com/ui/v1/icons/mail/images/cleardot.gif" alt="" />

From Capitol Hill: The "Tesla" bill died after no deal could be struck between lawmakers and the auto company. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3614154-155/tesla-bill-dies-after-car-dealers" target="_blank">Trib]

-> The $14.7 million dollar proposed budget has been released with education faring well. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3614025-155/education-fares-well-as-lawmakers-fine-tune" target="_blank">Trib] [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/8730-budget-details-coming-into-focus" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]

-> A committee approved a plan to transfer $20 million to the lowest funded schools in the state. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3611712-155/committee-signs-off-on-proposal-to" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865649206/Bill-would-raise-funding-floor-for-lowest-income-school-districts.html" target="_blank">DNews]

-> Sen. Mark Madsen's medical marijuana bill faces a tough battle in its House committee hearing. [http://fox13now.com/2016/03/03/medical-marijuana-bill-faces-a-rough-road-in-the-utah-house/" target="_blank">Fox13]

-> A House committee rejected a plan to impose a 86.5% tax increase on e-cigarettes. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3611863-155/865-tax-on-e-cigs-vaporized-by" target="_blank">Trib]

-> An amendment on the floor stalled a bill to require parents to watch a video before gaining an vaccination exemption. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3612200-155/utah-vaccine-education-bill-ailing-after" target="_blank">Trib]

-> A bill to ban drive-through liquor sales and make restaurant liquor licenses easier to obtain passed a Senate committee. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865649174/Bill-proposes-to-ban-drive-thru-liquor-sales-increase-restaurant-licenses.html" target="_blank">DNews]

-> The Senate approved a bill to outlaw drones that interfere with fighting wildfires. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3612174-155/senate-oks-bill-to-ban-drones" target="_blank">Trib]

-> A bill to provide incentives to refineries who manufacture cleaner burning fuel cleared the Senate. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3613125-155/bill-seeks-to-speed-up-sale" target="_blank">Trib] [http://kuer.org/post/senate-approves-incentives-cleaner-gasoline" target="_blank">KUER]

-> Utah lawmakers rejected a raise to the minimum wage for the third year in a row. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3614365-155/utah-lawmakers-quickly-junk-plan-to" target="_blank">Trib]

-> A House committee approved a proposal to declare porn a "public health hazard." [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865649263/House-panel-approves-resolution-declaring-porn-a-public-health-hazard.html" target="_blank">DNews]

-> Rep. Keven Stratton is pushing to have the "Hole in the Rock Area" designated as a state park. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865649148/Supporters-hope-for-new-Hole-in-the-Rock-state-park.html" target="_blank">DNews]

-> A bill to require some training for people receiving public assistance took one step closer to becoming law. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865649177/Bill-would-require-training-for-some-public-assistance-recipients.html" target="_blank">DNews]

-> Utah Democrats called for the public to get behind full Medicaid expansion.  [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865649228/Utah-Democrats-urge-support-of-full-Medicaid-expansion.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://kuer.org/post/democrats-call-gop-medicaid-plan-cop-out" target="_blank">KUER]

-> Lawmakers approved yet another plan to make school grades a little tougher. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3614841-155/house-committee-makes-changes-to-school" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865649277/Lawmakers-advance-new-changes-to-school-grading-system.html" target="_blank">DNews]

-> A Senate committee rejected a plan to make fatal human trafficking a capital crime. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865649261/Senate-committee-kills-human-trafficking-bill.html" target="_blank">DNews]

->  The House passed a resolution to honor Lin-Manuel Miranda, the author of the smash Broadway hit "Hamilton." [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3613523-155/singing-for-votes-in-the-utah" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Here is today's legislative committee schedule. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3613443-155/legislative-committees-friday-march-4" target="_blank">Trib]

In other news: Salt Lake County Sheriff Jim Winder announced a new jail booking policy aimed at curtailing overcrowding. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3614007-155/new-booking-policy-launched-to-reduce" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865649269/Some-wont-go-to-jail-under-new-program.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://fox13now.com/2016/03/03/sheriff-winder-says-solution-to-overcrowding-at-county-jail-is-to-arrest-fewer-people/" target="_blank">Fox13]

-> About 14,000 students will be eligible to get free tuition from Salt Lake Community College. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3611816-155/salt-lake-community-college-to-offer" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865649199/New-program-would-cover-tuition-fees-for-eligible-SLCC-students.html" target="_blank">DNews]

-> Residents in the Sugar House area are raising concerns about anti-Trump signs that feature swastikas. [http://fox13now.com/2016/03/03/swastikas-in-sugar-house-posters-against-trump-offending-residents/" target="_blank">Fox13]

-> A single mother was evicted from her apartment after police told her landlord she was "trouble." [http://kutv.com/news/get-gephardt/mother-loses-her-home-after-cops-warn-her-landlord-shes-trouble" target="_blank">KUTV]

-> Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski responded to criticism from a former police chief that the city should release body cam footage of the Rio Grande shooting on Saturday. [http://kutv.com/news/local/slc-mayor-issues-tough-response-to-former-police-chiefs-criticism" target="_blank">KUTV] District Attorney Sim Gill said releasing the footage was too risky. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3613841-155/da-says-utah-shooting-investigation-too" target="_blank">Trib]

-> A Utah clinic settled a lawsuit with the family of a prison inmate who died after no one showed up to provide his dialysis. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3612816-155/utah-clinic-settles-suit-after-inmate" target="_blank">APviaTrib]

-> It began as a great year for water in the state, now it's drying up. But officials aren't giving up hope yet. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3613505-155/utahs-hopes-of-a-banner-water" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Bob Bernick and Bryan Schott discuss Romney's takedown of Trump and the soon-to-be end of the legislative session. [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/8728-bernick-and-schott-on-politics-episode-274" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]

-> Pat Bagley offers his take on Utah lawmakers' ideas for future energy. [http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/3614392-155/bagley-cartoon-utah-lawmakers-bright-idea" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Sens. Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz along with Ohio Gov. John Kasich all said they would back Trump if he was the nominee. [http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2016/03/03/marco-rubio-ted-cruz-john-kasich-donald-trump-debate/81301178/" target="_blank">USAToday]

-> States that implemented stricter voting laws may hurt Democrats more than Republicans. [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/voter-id-laws-democratic-turnout_us_56d8c5bae4b0000de403f238?utm_hp_ref=politics" target="_blank">HuffPost]

-> Rubio's only hope to win the nomination at this point may be a brokered convention. [http://www.politico.com/story/2016/03/marco-rubio-2016-path-220190" target="_blank">Politico]

Where are they?

  • Gov. Gary https://twitter.com/GovHerbert" target="_blank">Herbert  greets Ambassador of India Arun Singh and Pacific Alliance ambassadors, then talks with lawmakers.
  • Lt. Gov. Spencer https://twitter.com/SpencerJCox" target="_blank">Cox meets with a Cambodian ambassador and the Cabinet.
  • State Auditor John https://twitter.com/frugaldougal?lang=en" target="_blank">Dougall attends a hearing on HB473.
  • SL Co. Mayor Ben https://twitter.com/MayorBenMcAdams" target="_blank">McAdams attends a meeting on homelessness, then chats with Derek Miller, president of World Trade Center Utah and Pacific Alliance ambassadors.
  • President Barack https://twitter.com/BarackObama" target="_blank">Obama meets with Secretary of State John Kerry.
  • 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 Michael Anderson

    https://twitter.com/thomaswburr" target="_blank">Twitter.com/thomaswburr and https://twitter.com/MKrusenews?lang=en" target="_blank">Twitter.com/mkrusenews