This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated.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

Why the Hillary Clinton email controversy won't matter. Bennett says he's optimistic about cancer treatments. Utah's Lee pens new book about the Constitution.

Happy Monday. Political science guru Larry Sabato says the recent controversy over Hillary Clinton's private email server isn't going to matter in the end. After all, she's been in the public eye for 23 years and more than 90 percent of the public already has an opinion of her — good or bad. "Other than the very youngest voters, is there really anyone left who doesn't have a mostly fixed view of her?" Sabato says. [http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/03/hillary-email-scandal-history-116262.html?hp=c2_3#.VRAADJPF_Io" target="_blank">Politico]

Topping the news: Former Sen. Bob Bennett said he and his doctors are optimistic about his pancreatic cancer. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865624636/Former-Utah-senator-optimistic-about-pancreatic-cancer-outlook.html" target="_blank">DNews]

-> Utah's Sen. Mike Lee wrote a forthcoming book voicing his beliefs that some modern-day lawmakers are subverting the Constitution. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2314700-155/in-new-book-utahs-lee-says" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Peter Corroon is running unopposed for re-election to head the Utah Democratic Party. [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/5166-democratic-party-leadership-elections-set" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]

Tweets of the day: From @https://twitter.com/ServoKamen" target="_blank">ServoKamen "Irony: A Democrat telling someone in Utah that third parties have no chance of winning."

Tune in: Ryan Bowcutt of FreeBYU and Tribune reporter Annie Knox join Jennifer Napier-Pearce to talk about a complaint against the Brigham Young University policy that allows the school to expel students who lose faith in Mormonism. Watch Trib Talk live at 12:15 p.m. MDT on http://sltrib.com/" target="_blank">sltrib.com.

Opinion: Rep. Mike Mckell, Sen. Curtis Bramble and Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes discusses the need behind Utah's newly created white collar crime registry. [http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/2311705-155/op-ed-white-collar-crime-registry-gives-utahns" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Paul Rolly discusses what he says is a "flip-flop" in the Legislature's views of transparency. [http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/2310262-155/rolly-legislature-creates-transparency-then-takes" target="_blank">Trib]

-> The Tribune's George Pyle discusses House Republicans' opposition to Healthy Utah. [http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/2311650-155/pyle-hughes-figures-its-cruel-to" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Ben Aldana, who spent several years in federal prison and now lives with his family in Orem, discusses his experience with what he calls the "deeply flawed" prison system, and says Rep. Jason Chaffetz's new federal prison plan isn't good enough. [http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/2307314-155/op-ed-chaffetz-justice-reform-wont-stop" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Maryann Martindale, executive director of Alliance for a Better Utah, says the failure of Healthy Utah and other major bills shows Utah legislators are far from mainstream views. [http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/2307324-155/op-ed-healthy-utahs-failure-shows-legislators" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Orem Mayor Richard Brunst says cities need to invest in infrastructure to continue to enjoy their high quality of life. [http://www.heraldextra.com/news/community/mayors/orem-mayor-infrastructure-is-the-physical-foundation-that-keeps-our/article_f7e53e9f-93da-5c28-8044-6cd987786232.html" target="_blank">Herald]

-> Frank Pignanelli and LaVarr Webb discuss some of the more intriguing aspects of the 2015 legislative session. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865624756/Intrigue-still-percolating-from-Utah-legislative-session.html" target="_blank">DNews]

-> David W. Eckhoff, project manager for the ASCE-Utah Infrastructure Report Card, says the state's planning agencies are aware of what is necessary to keep up Utah's water supply. [http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/2307289-155/op-ed-water-districts-cost-projections-are" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Former BLM director Pat Shea says the Mountain Accord plan is a play to get taxpayers to fund Utah's tourism industry. [http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/2307283-155/op-ed-mountain-accords-agenda-is-to" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Utah State Bar President James D. Gilson says the Magna Carta was the first step in guaranteeing constitutional freedoms. [http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/2307294-155/op-ed-800-years-ago-magna-carta" target="_blank">Trib]

-> South Salt Lake Mayor Cherie Wood praises the city's after-school programs to support children and families. [http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/2307293-155/op-ed-south-salt-lake-is-proving" target="_blank">Trib]

-> David Jenkins, president of Conservatives for Responsible Stewardship, and Andrew Fales, energy investment professional, say that despite criticism from opponents, wind power is efficient and reliable. [http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/2312045-155/op-ed-wind-power-blows-past-distortions" target="_blank">Trib]

In other news: While Salt Lake City's 2009 anti-discrimination ordinance set the stage for many others across the state, the new state law passed this year will supersede and give more protection than any local ordinance. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2307583-155/utahs-anti-bias-law-has-teeth-salt" target="_blank">Trib]

-> A bill raising the state's gasoline tax by five cents also includes a provision that would allow local governments to ask voters to increase the sales tax by a quarter-cent per dollar to fund city transportation and UTA. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2307967-155/as-voters-decide-sales-tax-hike" target="_blank">Trib]

-> As of last weekend, Gov. Gary Herbert has signed a total of 47 bills out of the 528 passed by the Utah Legislature last session. [http://www.good4utah.com/story/d/story/gov-herbert-signed-36-bills-friday/27403/d1JoXT58QkWmCYKjF5VYZA" target="_blank">ABC4]

-> Herbert signed a bill into law Friday that will allow county clerks to opt out of performing same-sex marriages if it conflicts with their religious beliefs, as long as they provide someone else who can do the job. [http://fox13now.com/2015/03/20/governor-signs-bill-letting-clerks-opt-out-of-same-sex-marriages-on-religious-grounds/" target="_blank">Fox13]

-> He also signed a bill barring discrimination against breast-feeding mothers at work. [http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/utah-oks-bill-protecting-breast-feeding-mothers/article_2b753dfd-b693-590e-b889-12a4254382ae.html" target="_blank">AP]

-> Utah has seen a decline in the use of food stamps, but it will still take a while for the numbers to get back down to pre-recession levels. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2312090-155/utah-sees-slow-decline-in-food-stamp" target="_blank">Trib]

-> The Utah Department of Health says Utah sees more deaths caused by prescription medication overdoses than by car crashes. [http://www.good4utah.com/story/d/story/together4utah-tackles-utahs-drug-addiction-problem/10110/x2DgW6O5pkSaC95gPsiSFg" target="_blank">ABC4]

-> After a bill passed by the Legislature that would give terminally ill patients the "right to try" experimental drugs, Utahns are starting a new organization to make the drugs more accessible. [http://www.good4utah.com/story/d/story/foundation-formed-to-help-terminally-ill-purchase/23562/HxnBzMpzcU66XbEoHROczA" target="_blank">ABC4]

-> A group of Utah County residents' petition to protect 100 acres of land on the Alpine mountainside fell short, but it is unclear how development will proceed in the newly zoned area. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2311774-155/utah-county-group-aims-to-keep" target="_blank">Trib]

-> E-cigarette groups are urging Gov. Gary Herbert to veto a bill regulating e-cigarettes, saying it gives Big Tobacco an exemption. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2314546-155/e-cig-groups-claim-utah-bill-a" target="_blank">Trib]

-> A group of Ukrainian refugees in Utah is trying to raise awareness about the political situation in their home country. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2319147-155/ukrainians-in-utah-form-group-to" target="_blank">Trib]

-> A new Gallup poll found that 4.7 percent of Salt Lake City residents self-identify as LGBT, ranking the city the seventh among the nation's top 50 metro areas. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2315479-155/survey-ranks-salt-lake-citys-lgbt" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Young Americans for Liberty held an event on Saturday to inspire political activism among Utah students. [http://fox13now.com/2015/03/21/event-aims-to-inspire-political-activism-among-students-in-utah/" target="_blank">Fox13]

-> Saturday was the final night of Safe Place Week, an effort to provide troubled Utah youths with safe places to stay. [http://fox13now.com/2015/03/21/salt-lake-county-works-with-national-program-to-give-teens-in-trouble-a-safe-place/" target="_blank">Fox13]

-> Former St. George Mayor James Grey Larkin passed away last week and was remembered Saturday for his years of service. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2318415-155/james-grey-larkin-former-st-george" target="_blank">Trib]

Nationally: Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz is expected to launch his official presidential campaign today, making him the first major Republican candidate for the 2016 primary so far. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765670495/Texas-Republican-Sen-Ted-Cruz-to-launch-presidential-bid.html" target="_blank">AP] [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/03/sen-ted-cruz-2016-presidential-bid-116285.html?hp=t2_r" target="_blank">Politico] [http://www.chron.com/news/politics/us/article/Ted-Cruz-to-announce-presidential-bid-Monday-6150890.php" target="_blank">HoustonChronical] [http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/236545-report-cruz-to-announce-white-house-bid-monday" target="_blank">TheHill] [http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/23/us/politics/ted-cruz-to-announce-on-monday-he-plans-to-run-for-president.html?_r=0" target="_blank">NYTimes] He is starting his campaign with weaker poll numbers than anyone since Bill Clinton. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2015/03/22/ted-cruz-is-starting-with-less-support-than-anyone-since-bill-clinton/" target="_blank">WaPost]

-> A new profile on Columba Bush, wife of hopeful 2016 presidential nominee Jeb Bush, shares her life story, from a troubled home life in Mexico to her chance of becoming the first Latina First Lady. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/columba-bushs-painful-unlikely-road-toward-the-white-house/2015/03/21/5918fe20-c7fd-11e4-a199-6cb5e63819d2_story.html" target="_blank">WaPost]

-> President Barack Obama detailed his disappointment with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's post-election statements about a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict. [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/21/obama-iran-deal_n_6905634.html?utm_hp_ref=politics" target="_blank">HuffPost] [http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/19/world/middleeast/netanyahu-obama-israel-election.html" target="_blank">NYTimes] [http://www.wsj.com/articles/obama-chides-netanyahu-over-comments-on-palestinian-state-1427042770" target="_blank">WSJ] But House Republicans are criticizing Obama's reaction, with Sen. John McCain telling him to "get over your temper tantrum." [http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/22/politics/john-mccain-steve-israel-obama-netanyahu/" target="_blank">CNN] [http://thehill.com/policy/international/236547-mccain-to-obama-get-over-your-temper-tantrum-on-netanyahu" target="_blank">TheHill] [http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/mar/22/republicans-john-mccain-netanyahu-campaign-white-house-criticism" target="_blank">TheGuardian] [http://www.cbsnews.com/news/john-mccain-to-obama-get-over-your-temper-tantrum-israel-netanyahu/" target="_blank">CBS]

-> Speaker of the House John Boehner is going bold on his budget proposal, including a hefty boost to defense spending. [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/03/john-boehner-defies-conservatives-goes-bold-on-budget-116249.html?hp=b1_l2" target="_blank">Politico]

Where are they?

  • Gov. Gary https://twitter.com/GovHerbert" target="_blank">Herbert has no public events.
  • President Barack https://twitter.com/BarackObama" target="_blank">Obama hosts the 2015 White House Science Fair and announces new private-sector commitments to inspire and prepare more children to excel in STEM fields.
  • 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