This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated.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

Column: Presidential succession line shouldn't include Hatch. Camille Cook passes away. Poll: 68% of Utahns favor campaign donor limits.

Happy Friday. The New Republic takes a swing at Utah's Sen. Orrin Hatch becoming the Senate president pro tempore and third in line for the presidency, arguing that a system that puts the oldest member of the Senate's majority heartbeats away from the White House isn't the smartest move. The magazine's writer suggests the line of succession should be filled by smart folks outside the Washington beltway instead. [http://www.newrepublic.com/article/120779/president-pro-tempore-orrin-hatch-and-need-succession-reform" target="_blank">TNR]

Topping the news: A new poll shows 68 percent of Utahns favor limits on campaign contributions to statewide and legislative candidates. Right now, there are no limits. [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/4521-poll-utahns-support-campaign-contribution-limits" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]

-> The number of guns seized at the Salt Lake City Airport dropped over the past year, but is 40 percent higher than the national average, according to TSA officials. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2063796-155/slc-airport-gun-seizure-rate-higher-than" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865619714/TSA-confiscating-fewer-firearms-at-Salt-Lake-City-International-Airport.html?pg=all" target="_blank">DNews]

-> Camille Cook, opera singer and wife of Utah politician Merrill Cook, passed away yesterday from complications due to Alzheimer's disease. She died peacefully in her home, surrounded by her husband, five children and twelve grandchildren. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2063684-155/camille-cook-opera-singer-wife-of" target="_blank">Trib]

Tweet of the day: From @https://twitter.com/RexHuppke" target="_blank">RexHuppke "The Oscar nominees are whiter than a Fox News panel on race relations."

From @https://twitter.com/ryanbeckwith" target="_blank">ryanbeckwith "I'm doing my best to have a positive influence on the country by not running for major office either."

Happy Birthday: Today to state Rep. Jim Bird and ex-GOP State Vice Chair Christy Achziger, and on Saturday to First Lady Michelle Obama.

Programming note: Political Cornflakes will be off Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day but we'll return to your inboxes and http://www.PoliticalCornflakes.com" target="_blank">PoliticalCornflakes.com on Tuesday.

Tune in: Behind the Headlines - the Tribune's weekly radio roundtable - will discuss police shootings, wood burning, the Salt Lake City mayor's race and Mitt Romney with the Trib's Paul Rolly, Rebecca Walsh, Christopher Smart and Erin Alberty. Hear it live on KCPW 88.33/105.3 FM or http://kcpw.org/" target="_blank">kcpw.org.

In other news: For the second time this week, Utah residents slammed the state's proposed wood-burning ban at a public hearing, this time in Salt Lake City. Three hundred citizens showed up, most of them saying of the ban would take away personal freedom while offering few health benefits. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2058290-155/wood-burning-ban-gets-blasted-at-deq" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865619724/Residents-decry-praise-proposed-wood-burning-ban-at-SLC-hearing.html" target="_blank">DNews]

-> At the same time that 25 states are suing President Barack Obama for his executive orders on immigration, Salt Lake City Police Chief Chris Burbank is voicing his support. [http://www.sltrib.com/home/2062887-155/salt-lake-city-top-cop-defends" target="_blank">Trib]

-> A pair of experts from Texas spoke at the U. yesterday, saying the best way to control costs associated with the state prison is though prison reform. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865619703/Texas-experts-say-prison-reform-best-way-to-control-costs.html" target="_blank">DNews]

-> Mayor Ralph Becker's son recently took a job with GREENbike, a privately held rideshare program that is heavily subsidized by Salt Lake City. However, the mayor said he has taken action to separate himself from the program so as to avoid any conflict of interest. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2063092-155/conflict-of-interest-beckers-son-director" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.cityweekly.net/utah/city-hall-alliance/Content?oid=2664013" target="_blank">SLCWeekly]

-> Paul Rolly reports that educators have become suspicious of a 2013 bill that led to a statewide school grading system after realizing the bill might be a way for supporters to turn public schools into charter schools. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2062419-155/rolly-is-an-ulterior-motive-emerging" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Bob Bernick takes a look at whether the Legislature is looking at boosting the gas tax or, as lawmakers argue, just changing the formula. [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/4526-bob-bernick-s-notebook-is-it-a-tax-hike-or-tax-cut" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]

-> Bernick and Bryan Schott discuss this week in politics, including Gov. Gary Herbert's efforts to pass his Healthy Utah plan and the issues facing SB54. [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/4522-bernick-and-schott-on-politics-episode-220" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]

-> A group of BYU and UVU students started a "We Decide" movement to petition to have an influence in the fate of the Wasach Front foothills, some of which were recently zoned from critical environment zoning to residential. [http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/north/alpine/we-decide-grassroots-movement-is-picking-up-momentum/article_59971154-e6bc-50cb-b70f-ef7ef18ea21f.html" target="_blank">Herald]

-> Pat Bagley offers his take on John Dehlin's upcoming disciplinary council with the LDS Church. [http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/2064315-155/bagley-cartoon-john-dehlins-judgment-day" target="_blank">Trib]

-> The Mexican government began issuing birth certificates to its citizens at its consulates in the United States on Thursday, eliminating the need for immigrants to travel back to Mexico to obtain work permits. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765666390/Immigrants-can-now-get-Mexican-birth-certificates-in-US.html" target="_blank">AP] [http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/01/15/mexico-to-issue-birth-certificates-for-citizens-at-us-consulates/" target="_blank">FOXNews]

-> In more immigration news, a federal judge in Texas heard arguments yesterday for the case against the constitutionality of Obama's immigration executive orders, but gave no indication on how he would rule. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765666424/No-immediate-ruling-on-blocking-Obama-immigration-orders.html" target="_blank">AP] [http://news.yahoo.com/states-ask-judge-block-obama-immigration-orders-135551767.html" target="_blank">Yahoo] [http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-01-15/texas-urges-u-s-judge-to-delay-obama-immigration-shift.html" target="_blank">Bloomberg] [http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/15/us-usa-immigration-lawsuit-idUSKBN0KO17220150115" target="_blank">Reuters] Meanwhile, a small group of Midwestern Republicans backs Obama's plan. [http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/01/gop-immigration-split-113396.html?hp=t1_r#.VLhgBsahl4U" target="_blank">Politico]

Where are they?

  • Rep. Jason https://twitter.com/jasoninthehouse" target="_blank">Chaffetz attends House Republican strategy meetings in Hershey, Pa., and then returns to Utah.
  • Gov. Gary https://twitter.com/GovHerbert" target="_blank">Herbert attends a Legislative Policy Summit.
  • SLC Mayor Ralph https://twitter.com/SLCMayorsOffice" target="_blank">Becker attends a budget meeting on Federal Grant Application Review and a City Parking Kiosk press conference.
  • President Barack https://twitter.com/BarackObama" target="_blank">Obama welcomes Prime Minister David Cameron of the United Kingdom to the White House, holds a joint news conference and later holds a screening of Selma with the movie's cast and crew.
  • 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