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Liberals want Mitt 3.0, conservatives not so much. LDS Church backs anti-discrimination laws, with caveats. 88% of Utahns say education is key to future.
Happy Wednesday. There's been a bit of mixed response to a third Mitt Romney run for the White House since he hinted to donors he may be back in. Interestingly, some of the feedback probably isn't what Romney wanted. Liberals seem keen on the idea while some conservatives scoffed, i.e. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi encouraged it: "Let me put it this way — I hope he's their nominee." [http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/230815-pelosi-i-hope-romney-is-the-2016-gop-nominee" target="_blank">TheHill] Meanwhile, the owner of Fox News and The Wall Street Journal, Rupert Murdoch, called Romney a "terrible candidate." [http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/28/us/politics/as-in-2012-romney-can-do-no-right-in-murdochs-eyes.html" target="_blank">WaPost]
Topping the news: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held a rare news conference yesterday and voiced their support for nondiscrimination bills protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, as long as if the rights of religious people are also protected. [http://www.sltrib.com/lifestyle/faith/2106982-155/in-major-move-mormon-leaders-call" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865620483/LDS-leaders-reemphasize-protection-of-religious-freedoms-support-for-LGBT-nondiscrimination-laws.html" target="_blank">DNews][http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/mormon-leaders-gay-rights-religious-rights-must-be-joined/2015/01/27/8fd8de74-a649-11e4-a162-121d06ca77f1_story.html" target="_blank">AP][http://fox13now.com/2015/01/27/lds-church-to-address-religious-freedom-and-nondiscrimination-at-news-conference/" target="_blank">Fox13][http://www.good4utah.com/story/d/story/state-lawmakers-optimistic-by-lds-leaders-support/90176/l471qEpIhkiyzNX08Gldvg" target="_blank">ABC4][http://www.kutv.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/Legislators-start-efforts-to-pair-gay-rights-safeguards-for-faith-71754.shtml" target="_blank">KUTV][http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/4629-lds-church-voices-support-for-non-discrimination-religious-liberty-bills" target="_blank">UtahPolicy][http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/27/us/mormon-church-lgbt-laws/index.html" target="_blank">CNN][http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/local/wp/2015/01/27/mormon-church-to-announce-support-for-legal-protections-for-gay-people/" target="_blank">WaPost][http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-mormon-views-lgbt-20150127-story.html#page=1" target="_blank">LATimes][http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/01/27/mormon-church-gay-rights/22420131/" target="_blank">USAToday]
-> Although church leaders emphasized that Mormon doctrine hasn't changed, their rhetoric on the issue has softened. [http://www.sltrib.com/lifestyle/faith/2108746-155/we-all-can-be-more-civil" target="_blank">Trib] Many Utah lawmakers received the statement with appreciation. [http://www.sltrib.com/lifestyle/faith/2107737-155/reaction-to-lds-church-announcement-on" target="_blank">Trib]
-> The faith's backing of anti-discrimination laws for the LGBT community could speed up and finally solidify support for bills the Legislature has in the works — one focused on anti-discrimination and the other on religious rights. [http://www.sltrib.com/lifestyle/faith/2109013-155/with-lds-announcement-is-anti-discrimination-bill" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865620483/LDS-leaders-reemphasize-protection-of-religious-freedoms-support-for-LGBT-nondiscrimination-laws.html" target="_blank">DNews]
-> What do Utahns think is most important to their future? A new poll shows 88% say education, 77% said job development and 55% said transportation. [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/4635-poll-utahns-say-education-job-development-most-important-to-state-s-future" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]
Tweet of the day: From @https://twitter.com/jpetersoninutah" target="_blank">jpetersoninutah "Sitting in budgeting committee. Asking agencies to cut budgets 2%. Dept. Heads are putting on dance shoes now."
From @https://twitter.com/mviser" target="_blank">mviser "Romney's rebranded himself many times: 'An independent' (1994) 'Someone who's moderate' (2002) 'Severaly conservative' (2012) Now, authentic"
Happy Birthday: To Clarity Sanderson and PWC's Matt Dobias.
Tune in: House Speaker Greg Hughes and House Minority Leader Brian King join Jennifer Napier-Pearce to talk about dirty air, LGBT rights, Healthy Utah and other legislative battleground issues. Watch Trib Talk live at 12:15 p.m. on http://sltrib.com/" target="_blank">sltrib.com.
Happening tonight: Gov. Gary Herbert offers his sixth State of the State address to the Legislature. 6:30 p.m. in the House chambers. [http://www.dailyjournal.net/view/story/ed28b069f2974e5a9a44c31da97a9a99/UT—State-of-Utah/" target="_blank">AP]
From Capitol Hill: Lawmakers voted yesterday to hold a bill that would limit campaign donations in Utah, arguing that it would hurt honest politicians and their fundraising efforts against dishonest ones, pointing to the alleged charges against former Attorney General John Swallow. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2108797-155/lawmakers-use-swallow-scandal-to-stall" target="_blank">Trib][http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865620533/House-committee-holds-bill-setting-limits-on-campaign-contributions.html" target="_blank">DNews][http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/4634-lawmakers-put-the-kibosh-on-campaign-limits-bill" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]
-> The Salt Lake City Council is petitioning hesitant Utah lawmakers that Gov. Gary Herbert's Healthy Utah plan is a good idea. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2108990-155/county-reaffirms-support-for-healthy-utah" target="_blank">Trib]
-> The brother of the last Utah man to be executed by firing squad joined Utahns for Alternatives to the Death Penalty on the Capitol steps yesterday to protest reinstating the firing squad in Utah. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865620518/Anti-capital-punishment-group-protests-firing-squad-bill.html" target="_blank">DNews]
-> Lawmakers are drafting bills to put a new election system into place for state school members months after a U.S. District judge ruled Utah's current method of electing school board members unconstitutional. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2108947-155/utah-lawmaker-all-school-board-elections" target="_blank">Trib]
-> A Senate committee approved a bill that would divert alcohol violation fines from the state's general fund to the Utah Attorney General's Office. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865620523/Senate-committee-passes-bill-to-beef-up-liquor-law-enforcement.html" target="_blank">DNews]
-> Lawmakers are looking to raise incentives and resources for students to graduate early from high school through the Centennial Scholarship program. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865620534/Bill-would-increase-incentives-for-early-high-school-graduation.html" target="_blank">DNews]
-> The Senate Education Committee unanimously recommended a bill to institute a civics test that students must pass before they can graduate high school. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865620532/Bill-seeks-to-improve-civic-engagement-among-students.html" target="_blank">DNews]
-> Paul Rolly discusses the high school civics test and bugs at the Capitol. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2102568-155/rolly-civics-test-might-challenge-utah" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Rep. Patrice Arent talks about air quality legislation, improving the legislative process and why she answers emails at 3 a.m. [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/4637-rep-patrice-arent-discusses-the-2015-session-video" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]
-> And here's the Legislature's schedule for the day: [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2108471-155/utah-legislature-schedule-for-wednesday-jan" target="_blank">Trib]
In other news: Pat Bagley offers his take on the LDS Church's announcement. [http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/2108751-155/bagley-cartoon-lds-and-lgbt-wwjd" target="_blank">Trib]
-> A group of Utah business leaders voiced their approval yesterday for raising taxes to fund education and transportation. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865620531/Business-community-supports-tax-increases-for-schools-roads.html" target="_blank">DNews]
-> Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker's internal polling shows 73 percent of residents want him re-elected. [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/4633-poll-shows-becker-in-good-shape-in-bid-for-a-third-term" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]
-> Seventy years after the liberation of Auschwitz, one Utah survivor is urging people to remember what happened. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2107801-155/utah-auschwitz-survivor-this-story-should" target="_blank">Trib]
Nationally: Speaker John Boehner and House Republicans are looking to sue President Barack Obama in a formal lawsuit over his executive action on immigration. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765667231/Boehner-plans-to-authorize-House-lawsuit-against-Obama-over-immigration.html" target="_blank">TheHill] [http://www.nationaljournal.com/congress/boehner-to-sue-obama-again-20150127" target="_blank">NatJournal] [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/27/john-boehner-house-sue-obama_n_6555694.html" target="_blank">HuffPost] [http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/27/politics/boehner-to-sue-obama-on-immigration/" target="_blank">CNN] [http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/house-speaker-john-boehner-threatens-lawsuit-obama-immigration/story?id=28518552" target="_blank">ABC] [http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/jan/27/john-boehner-suggests-only-courts-can-stop-obama-a/" target="_blank">WaTimes]
-> Mitt Romney may be selling his La Jolla, Calif., home after it's remodeled but he's likely keeping his Utah homes and vacation estate in New Hampshire. [http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2015/01/27/mitt-romney-began-building-expensive-homes-after-his-loss-part-real-estate-makeover/CeKp2sd0JcWA6URLhmJzxM/story.html" target="_blank">Globe]
-> A new Pew Research poll shows that marriage isn't the most important issue for some of the LGBT community. [http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/01/27/what-lgbt-americans-think-of-same-sex-marriage/" target="_blank">Pew] [http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2015/01/27/meet-the-lgbt-americans-who-oppose-gay-marriage/" target="_blank">WaPost]
-> After over a 100 days of gar prices dropping and just before they reached $2 a gallon, the per gallon price climbed half a cent. [http://www.sltrib.com/home/2108945-155/gas-prices-break-123-day-fall-with" target="_blank">Bloomberg] [http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2015/01/27/u-s-gas-prices-end-their-record-breaking-streak-of-daily-declines/" target="_blank">WSJ] [http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/28/business/energy-environment/after-steadily-falling-price-for-gas-notches-an-increase.html" target="_blank">NYTimes]
-> A drone that crashed on the White House lawn, drawing attention to a security gap on the grounds, belonged to a federal employee who says he was drunk and playing around. [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/01/white-house-drone-crash-government-employee-114642.html?hp=b1_r2" target="_blank">Politico] [http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/28/us/white-house-drone.html" target="_blank">NYTimes] [http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/officials-say-drinking-played-role-white-house-drone-crash-n294741" target="_blank">NBC] [http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2015/01/27/u-s-intelligence-employee-crashed-drone-on-white-house-grounds/" target="_blank">WSJ] [http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/drone-incident-at-white-house-highlights-long-studied-still-unsolved-security-gap/2015/01/26/ed2e7f9e-a594-11e4-a7c2-03d37af98440_story.html" target="_blank">WaPost]
Where are they?
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— Thomas Burr and Erica Palmer
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