This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated.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

New poll finds most Americans want a fresh face for Democratic presidential nominee. Herbert says he'll sign bills on firing squad, raising gas tax. Speaker Hughes optimistic on Medicaid alternative compromise.

Happy Friday. A new national poll finds that 54 percent of likely voters believe Democrats should be looking for a fresh face to run for president in 2016, and most Democratic voters don't disagree. The Rasmussen Reports telephone survey finds only 22 percent of likely U.S. voters think Democrats should go with a candidate from the past (Hillary Clinton's name wasn't asked). In comparison, when Mitt Romney was flirting with another White House run, 64 percent of voters said Republicans should look for a fresh face. [http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2016/54_think_democrats_should_run_a_fresh_face_in_2016" target="_blank">Rasmussen]

Topping the news: In the midst of activists from many areas petitioning Gov. Gary Herbert to veto bills passed in the 2015 Legislative session, Herbert said he will probably sign bills reinstating the firing squad and raising taxes but is looking into vetoing one that would prevent health officials from instituting seasonal wood-burning bans in the state. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2311088-155/gov-herbert-eying-veto-of-bill" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865624599/Gov-Herbert-leaning-toward-signing-controversial-firing-squad-bill.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://www.good4utah.com/story/d/story/firing-squad-likely-to-return-as-a-back-up-option/29049/MowccDnLrEuemhau0ejz2A" target="_blank">ABC4] [http://fox13now.com/2015/03/19/governor-hints-he-may-veto-bill-over-wood-burning-bans/" target="_blank">Fox13] [http://www.standard.net/Environment/2015/03/19/Utah-governor-concerned-about-wood-burning-restriction-bill-1.html" target="_blank">AP] [http://www.standard.net/Government/2015/03/19/Utah-governor-says-he-ll-likely-approve-firing-squad-bill-1.html" target="_blank">AP]

-> House Speaker Greg Hughes says he's optimistic about reaching a deal on Medicaid Expansion, but it will rely on the willingness of the Obama administration to compromise. [http://kuer.org/post/speaker-hughes-says-utah-s-medicaid-deal-will-require-compromise-feds" target="_blank">KUER]

Tweets of the day: From @https://twitter.com/jdelreal" target="_blank">jdealreal "Katie Couric asked Romney if he'll be shirtless for the boxing match. 'Well I presume so. You don't go in there wearing a T-shirt,' he said."

From @https://twitter.com/moody" target="_blank">moody "I'm just gonna watch this Jason Chaffetz GIF for the rest of the day brb" [Twitter]

Happy Birthday: On Saturday to former Rep. Jim Matheson, and on Sunday to Sen. Orrin Hatch and state Rep. Jacob Anderegg.

Tune in: Tribune reporters Lee Davidson, Annie Knox, Aaron Falk and Christopher Smart along with editorial writer George Pyle join Jennifer Napier-Pearce to talk about infant deaths in the Uinta Basin, the future of the Utah Jazz and the prison, taxes and the Salt Lake City mayor's race. Listen to Behind the Headlines at 9 a.m. on KCPW 88.3/105.3 FM. 

In other news: Property owners and drivers are two groups of people that can expect to pay more taxes next year to fund Utah's transportation and education. [http://www.good4utah.com/story/d/story/utah-drivers-and-property-owners-can-expect-to-pay/41402/Tp1rwqyZhU6V360Rd8k-pg" target="_blank">ABC4]

-> Paul Rolly discusses a few bad moves SLC Mayor Ralph Becker made in pushing for his re-election by wearing green and orange in last week's St. Patrick's Day parade. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2307499-155/rolly-memo-to-becker-orange-doesnt" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Gov. Herbert said he is pleased with the bill passed by the Legislature that would give lawmakers input on where a state prison would be rebuilt. [http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/legislature/utah-governor-pleased-with-prison-relocation-bill/article_fd6e49de-33cd-5f5b-89e5-fef6bf568b36.html" target="_blank">AP]

-> Lawmakers have funded a new program that would use gun locks and safety information to combat high child suicide rates in the state. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2306448-155/to-curb-child-suicides-utah-offers" target="_blank">Trib] [http://fox13now.com/2015/03/19/suicide-prevention-program-focused-on-firearms-gets-permanent-funding/" target="_blank">Fox13]

-> The state school board is backing down from previous moves to ask Gov. Herbert to veto HB360, a bill that revises the state's education laws. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2311343-155/state-school-board-backs-away-from" target="_blank">Trib]

-> A Utah midwife had previously predicted what statistics are now showing to be true - that the amount of stillbirths in the Uinta Basin is up from years before. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2305943-155/midwife-was-right-uinta-basin-sees" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Utah is one on a list of states that introduced a bill during the Legislative session to restrict access to police officers'  body camera recordings. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765670399/Bills-that-would-restrict-access-to-body-camera-footage.html" target="_blank">AP]

-> The Utah State Treasurer's Office is launching a new program, MyCash, that will seek to return more of the $25 million dollars on unclaimed money that doesn't get returned to Utah residents each year. [http://fox13now.com/2015/03/19/utahns-have-millions-in-unclaimed-funds-utah-treasury-helping-you-get-your-money-back/" target="_blank">Fox13]

-> Although clean activists wanted more from the 2015 Legislative session, one bill did pass that will create incentives for refineries to make cleaner gasoline in Utah. [http://kuer.org/post/clean-fuel-clean-air-bill-emerges-legislature-2015" target="_blank">KUER]

-> The Utah Attorney General's Office is backing a challenge to a California law that would require larger cages for chickens, saying it will have a negative effect on low-income Utah families. [http://fox13now.com/2015/03/19/utah-backs-challenge-to-california-egg-law-over-money-obesity/" target="_blank">Fox13]

-> A new Public Lands Initiative has Moab off-roading companies worried about losing their business. [http://fox13now.com/2015/03/18/business-owner-losing-sleep-over-proposal-to-restrict-motorized-vehicle-use-on-grand-county-trails/" target="_blank">Fox13]

-> The U.S. Forest Service hosted a job fair yesterday to try to get more women interested in fighting wildfires. [http://fox13now.com/2015/03/19/job-fair-aims-to-bolster-ranks-of-women-fighting-wildland-fires/" target="_blank">Fox13]

-> The Utah Transit Authority announced it will be cutting the salaries of newly hired executives in the future by as much as 20 percent. [http://fox13now.com/2015/03/18/utah-transit-authority-reduces-pay-for-future-executives-limits-bonuses/" target="_blank">Fox13]

-> A panel of public officials and activists met in Orem yesterday to discuss solutions to air quality problems. [http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/community-leaders-address-air-quality-improvements/article_384bf1e7-6908-5be1-9f7a-78e96dadaee8.html" target="_blank">Herald]

Nationally: In an effort to encourage other nations to get serious about climate change, President Barack Obama signed executive orders yesterday that ask the federal government to cut its emissions of greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2310294-155/obama-orders-40-percent-cut-in" target="_blank">AP] [http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/20/us/politics/obama-order-to-cut-federal-greenhouse-gas-emissions.html?_r=0" target="_blank">NYTimes] [http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/03/19/obama-to-cut-federal-governments-carbon-emissions/" target="_blank">WaPost] [http://www.ibtimes.com/obama-climate-change-order-will-require-federal-government-slash-its-greenhouse-gas-1852380" target="_blank">IBTimes] [https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2015/03/19/leading-example-climate-change-our-new-federal-sustainability-plan" target="_blank">WhiteHouse]

-> A new Kaiser Family Foundation poll says the gap between supporters and opponents to President Obama's health care law is smaller than ever before, with more respondents having a favorable view. The poll also said the majority of Americans are unaware that the law is endangered of being dismantled by the Supreme Court. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765670387/Poll-Public-unaware-Obamas-health-law-is-again-in-jeopardy.html" target="_blank">AP] [http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/20/us/poll-on-health-care-law-shows-increased-support.html" target="_blank">NYTimes] [http://time.com/3750639/obamacare-poll-anniversary/" target="_blank">Time] [http://kff.org/health-costs/poll-finding/kaiser-health-tracking-poll-march-2015/" target="_blank">Kaiser]

-> Democrats have voted for the third day straight to reject a human-trafficking bill that Republicans are trying to push through with added language about abortion. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765670375/Dems-reject-GOP-offer-to-resolve-abortion-dispute.html" target="_blank">AP] [http://time.com/3749654/human-trafficking-bill/" target="_blank">Time]

Where are they?

  • Rep. Chris https://twitter.com/RepChrisStewart" target="_blank">Stewart speaks to the Utah State Air Force Cadets.
  • Gov. Gary https://twitter.com/GovHerbert" target="_blank">Herbert attends Agricultural Day at the State Fair Park Kitchen and the Carbon County Lincoln Day Dinner.
  • Lt. Gov. Spencer https://twitter.com/SpencerJCox" target="_blank">Cox reviews bills and has a boards and commissions meeting.
  • SL Co. Mayor Ben https://twitter.com/MayorBenMcAdams" target="_blank">McAdams meets with South Jordan City Manager Gary Whatnot.
  • President Barack https://twitter.com/BarackObama" target="_blank">Obama hosts the second-annual White House Student Film Festival and delivers remarks on the goal of his My Brother's Keeper initiative.
  • 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