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Mitt Romney's new role: Saving the GOP from itself. Prosecutor fuming after FEC goes after Johnson despite immunity. Herbert reports for jury duty.

Happy Wednesday. Mitt Romney led out on calls to remove the Confederate flag from the South Carolina Capitol grounds and in doing so has positioned himself in an interesting spot this year: Saving the GOP from itself. As Salon writes, "This is how Romney sees his role this year: to prevent the party from nominating another Mitt Romney, i.e. someone who takes such deplorable primary stances that he's damaged goods in the general election." [http://www.salon.com/2015/06/22/republicans_are_just_this_screwed_why_mitt_romney_is_trying_to_save_the_party_from_itself/" target="_blank">Salon]

Topping the news: Davis County Attorney Troy Rawlings is fuming that the Federal Election Commission has sued Jeremy Johnson over "straw donations" to Sens. Mike Lee and Harry Reid given that Johnson was granted immunity from prosecution. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2657531-155/despite-immunity-deal-offered-as-part" target="_blank">Trib]

-> The Utah Attorney General's Office said Sen. Jim Dabakis tried to "incite fear and use hate mongering" in his Facebook post about how Utah will react to the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on same-sex marriage. [http://fox13now.com/2015/06/23/utah-ags-office-criticizes-senator-over-same-sex-marriage-facebook-post/" target="_blank">Fox13]

-> Gov. Gary Herbert showed up for jury duty Tuesday morning with 34 other potential jurors for a case on driving under the influence, but Herbert was dismissed from serving. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2656310-155/utah-gov-gary-herbert-reported-for" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865631243/Gov-Herbert-summoned-to-jury-duty-in-Provo.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://kutv.com/news/local/gov-herbert-dismissed-from-jury-duty" target="_blank">KUTV]

-> Some 67 percent of Utahns who enrolled under Obamacare now get subsidies for health care but could lose that help if the Supreme Court rules against the administration in King v. Burwell. [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/6099-what-s-at-stake-for-utah-in-the-king-v-burwell-ruling" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]

Tweets of the day: From @https://twitter.com/AliMonsen" target="_blank">AliMonsen: "@GovHerbert reporting for jury duty selection just like anyone else would — Well, except for the security guards ... "

-> From @https://twitter.com/RobertMaguire_" target="_blank">RobertMaguire_: "Capt Jack Sparrow is now a 2016 presidential cand. Unsurprisingly, he has no permanent address."

Tune in: On Wednesday at 12:15 p.m., BYU graduate student Mica McGriggs and University of Utah professors Karen Johnson, Wilfred Samuels and Paul White join Jennifer Napier-Pearce to talk about racism and what Utahns can learn from the broader national discussion on race. Watch Trib Talk live at 12:15 p.m. on http://sltrib.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">sltrib.com.

In other news: Check out Pat Bagley's cartoon featuring Dylann Roof, the new "NRA poster boy." [http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/2657540-155/bagley-cartoon-nra-poster-boy" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Paul Rolly discusses how former SLC Police Chief Chris Burbank will not receive pay for his accumulated sick days at the request of SLC Mayor Ralph Becker's office. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2651561-155/rolly-beckers-office-adds-insult-to" target="_blank">Trib]

-> An audit by the Legislative Auditor General found that the Utah Attorney General's Office needs better policies in place to protect whistleblowers. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2653564-155/audit-utah-ags-office-needs-clearer" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865631246/Legislative-audit-Utah-AGs-office-should-be-more-accountable-transparent.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://kuer.org/post/audit-finds-accountability-problems-attorney-generals-office" target="_blank">KUER] [http://kutv.com/news/local/audit-ags-office-not-managing-cases-well" target="_blank">KUTV]

-> Sen. Orrin Hatch is being heralded for sponsoring legislation to give President Barack Obama expanded trade powers. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2657315-155/hatch-heralded-for-advancing-expanded-trade" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.good4utah.com/story/d/story/trade-bill-sponsored-by-hatch-passes-senate/42758/PbYjj__bkU23lKo_0FlFcg" target="_blank">ABC4]

-> Hatch also helped pass the National Defense Authorization Act for 2016 that focuses on proper weapon systems maintenance. [http://www.standard.net/Military/2015/06/23/Senate-passed-defense-bill-includes-several-measures-that-impact-Hill-AFB.html" target="_blank">StandEx]

-> The Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control is hoping for help from the Legislature on determining if a Park City whiskey distillery can serve samples with a educational permit. [http://www.sltrib.com/home/2656618-155/high-west-asks-dabc-to-allow" target="_blank">Trib] The group also cleared up an issue with controversial single-event permits that nearly left Oktoberfest without a license last year. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865631275/Utah-alcohol-commission-makes-new-rules-for-community-events.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://www.good4utah.com/story/d/story/new-utah-liquor-rules-to-avoid-negative-national-p/77322/jc1j43Vxs0GRnrxKgTPgtw" target="_blank">ABC4] [http://fox13now.com/2015/06/23/dabc-approves-new-rules-for-festivals-and-events-after-oktoberfest-fiasco/" target="_blank">Fox13]

-> Uber is partnering with the Utah Arts Festival to provide free rides for patrons, up to $20. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2656460-155/uber-offers-free-rides-to-utah" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Ordain Women leader Kate Kelly was excommunicated from the LDS Church one year ago — now she's working in Kenya, rediscovering her values and life path. [http://www.sltrib.com/home/2653329-155/year-after-her-mormon-excommunication-where" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Are people paying more in taxes for the upkeep of buildings at state universities than is needed? [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2653167-155/audit-how-much-does-upkeep-of" target="_blank">Trib]

-> An outbreak of avian botulism is killing birds at Sugar House Park, but representatives from Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation says it can't be transferred to humans. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2657132-155/sugar-house-pond-ducks-dying-but" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.good4utah.com/story/d/story/sugarhouse-park-dead-duck-dilemma/79052/KzyZGoeL5UKvfb6hMKp9Yw" target="_blank">ABC4]

Nationally: Wal-Mart, ebay and Amazon are just a few of the retailers banning any sales of Confederate flag paraphernalia. [http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/24/business/amazon-big-retailers-remove-confederate-flag-merchandise.html?_r=0" target="_blank">NYTimes]

-> Presidential Jeb Bush said he would fire the director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management — if he could — due to the security breach that left federal employee data accessible to hackers. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2015/06/23/jeb-bush-i-would-fire-opm-director-over-hack-attack/" target="_blank">WaPost]

-> New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will likely announce his bid in the 2016 race next week. [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/06/chris-christie-2016-bid-announcement-119354.html?hp=t3_r" target="_blank">Politico]

Where are they?

  • Rep. Jason https://twitter.com/jasoninthehouse" target="_blank">Chaffetz chairs an Oversight Committee hearing on the OPM hack, takes part in a Judiciary Committee mark-up and congratulates the winner of the Congressional Art Competition.
  • Rep. Chris https://twitter.com/RepChrisStewart" target="_blank">Stewart attends a House Intelligence Committee meeting, conferences with members of the GOP and also meets with the winner of the Congressional Art Competition. He later participates in an Appropriations Committee mark-up, goes to a Republican Study Committee meeting and speaks with representatives from the American Healthcare Quality Association.
  • Rep. Mia https://twitter.com/RepMiaLove" target="_blank">Love attends a Financial Services Committee meeting, talks with constituents, votes and plays softball in a congressional game.
  • Gov. Gary https://twitter.com/GovHerbert" target="_blank">Herbert discusses the sage grouse with Interior Secretary Sally Jewell and works with the Western Governors' Association.
  • Lt. Gov. Spencer https://twitter.com/SpencerJCox" target="_blank">Cox meets with the Constitutional Defense Council, speaks to Capitol docents, attends a WLI challenge luncheon and speaks with the Commission on Civic and Character Education.
  • SLC Mayor Ralph https://twitter.com/beckerformayor" target="_blank">Becker joins a National League of Cities conference call.
  • SL Co. Mayor Ben https://twitter.com/MayorBenMcAdams" target="_blank">McAdams goes to a general convention at the Episcopal Church.
  • President Barack https://twitter.com/BarackObama" target="_blank">Obama delivers remarks on how the U.S. responds to overseas hostage cases, meets with co-chairs from around the nation and China and hosts a reception for LGBT Pride Month.
  • 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 Courtney Tanner

    https://twitter.com/thomaswburr" target="_blank">Twitter.com/thomaswburr and https://twitter.com/CourtneyLTanner" target="_blank">Twitter.com/CourtneyLTanner