This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

George W. Bush helps out his brother Jeb with new TV spot. Senate committee advances two medical marijuana bills. Utah Dems formally request GOP give up legal opinion.

Happy Friday. Jeb Bush had to dance a bit when asked early on in the presidential campaign about his brother George W. Bush and whether the former Florida governor agreed with his former presidential sibling. Now it appears, W. is jumping in to help. The ex president has recorded a new ad for a pro-Jeb super PAC. "The first job of the president is to protect America. The next president must be prepared to lead. I know Jeb. I know his good heart and his strong backbone," Bush says in the 30-second Right to Rise spot. [http://www.politico.com/story/2016/02/jeb-bush-george-w-bush-tv-ad-218757" target="_blank">Politico]

Topping the news: A Senate committee approved two bills that seek to legalize medical marijuana. One from Sen. Evan Vickers that takes a limited approach and another from Sen. Mark Madsen that would allow whole plant marijuana use. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3501283-155/amid-emotional-testimony-two-medical-marijuana" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865646993/2-medical-marijuana-bills-advance-in-Utah.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://kutv.com/news/local/lawmakers-ok-limited-medical-marijuana-plan" target="_blank">APviaKUTV] [http://fox13now.com/2016/02/04/medical-marijuana-bills-move-forward-in-the-utah-state-legislature/" target="_blank">Fox13]

-> Utah Democrats have formally requested all the information lawyers prepared to evaluate the state's case take over federal public lands. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3499794-155/utah-dems-formally-demand-all-the" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865646970/Dems-demand-all-information-on-possible-public-lands-lawsuit.html" target="_blank">DNews]

-> Utah officials filed a lawsuit Thursday to challenge federal land-use restrictions that were aimed at conserving the greater sage grouse. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3500515-155/utah-sues-to-halt-plan-on" target="_blank">Trib] [http://fox13now.com/2016/02/04/utah-sues-federal-government-over-management-of-sage-grouse-conservation-efforts/" target="_blank">Fox13] [http://kutv.com/news/local/utah-suing-feds-over-sage-grouse" target="_blank">KUTV]

Tweets of the day: From http://@ChaseThomas89:" target="_blank">@ChaseThomas89: "Man trying to get into over-capacity committee room considering #medicalmarijuana: this issue transcends the fire marshal."

From https://twitter.com/mollyesque" target="_blank">@mollesque: "Hillary on Goldman is like Jeb on Iraq : She keeps having trouble with the same question because there is no good answer."

Tune in: Tribune reporters Lee Davidson and Jessica Miller as well as health, education and environment editor Rachel Piper and editorial writer George Pyle join Jennifer Napier-Pearce to talk about the week's top news stories including a resolution supporting pornography as a public health crisis, a bill to revamp sex education and a pledge from Utah Transit Authority to increase transparency. Tune in to KCPW or Utah Public Radio at 9 a.m. for the broadcast.

From Capitol Hill: A Utah lawmaker floated the idea of banning smoking during a discussion on a bill to raise the legal smoking age to 21. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3500705-155/some-utah-lawmakers-would-like-to" target="_blank">Trib] Utah received a failing grade in Tobacco prevention from the American Lung Association. [http://www.good4utah.com/news/local-news/new-report-claims-utah-is-failing-on-tobacco-prevention" target="_blank">Abc4]

-> As the likelihood of Utah adapting tiered water conservation pricing increases, cities are showing concern for the plan. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3500565-155/utah-seems-destined-for-water-conservation-pricing" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Democrats are fighting back on legislation that would change the makeup of two committees and put them squarely in the minority. [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/8441-democrats-bristling-at-gop-attempt-to-alter-makeup-of-two-legislative-committees" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]

-> Despite a heated debate over a plan to create a "scientific review" panel for the Division of Water Quality's rule making procedures, the bill passed through a Senate committee unanimously. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3501438-155/proposal-allowing-scientific-reviews-of-utah" target="_blank">Trib]

-> New legislation would allow more oversight of funds spent by local school boards. [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/8434-" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]

-> More than 1,000 students gathered in the Capitol rotunda for a rally on curtailing pollution saying "young lungs matter." [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865646938/Young-lungs-matter-Students-march-to-Capitol-to-battle-pollution-monster.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://kuer.org/post/students-gather-state-capitol-demand-clean-air" target="_blank">KUER] [http://www.good4utah.com/news/local-news/students-rally-for-clean-air-at-utah-state-capitol" target="_blank">Abc4]

-> Eagle Mountain Republican Rep. David Lifferth unveiled a bill to allow drivers to "humanely" kill animals they hit with their car. [http://fox13now.com/2016/02/04/new-roadkill-bill-in-the-utah-state-legislature/" target="_blank">Fox13] [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/8435-" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]

-> A House committee approved a plan to revise a transportation sales tax for smaller counties. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3500825-155/house-panel-oks-measure-for-revised" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865646984/Lawmakers-seek-changes-to-find-voter-favor-in-local-transportation-tax-hike.html" target="_blank">DNews]

-> A bill to define a new category of licensed vehicles as "autocycles" passed through a Senate committee. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3500996-155/its-an-auto-no-its-a" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865646971/Bill-would-create-new-designation-for-autocycles.html" target="_blank">DNews]

-> Salt Lake City Democrat Angela Romero's bill to repeal drug testing for welfare recipients passed through a House Committee. [http://www.good4utah.com/news/top-stories/bill-to-repeal-drug-testing-as-a-condition-of-eligibility-for-welfare-moves-forward-at-capitol" target="_blank">Abc4]

-> A Senate committee approved a measure to fund $11 million for public preschool.   [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3500791-155/senate-committee-oks-11m-expansion-of" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865646974/Committee-approves-115M-bill-to-expand-public-preschool.html" target="_blank">DNews]

-> The Senate passed a proposal to increase the funding for charter schools by $40 million on 2nd reading. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3500114-155/senate-gives-early-approval-to-funding" target="_blank">Trib]

-> House Republicans warned that tax revenues may fall short of projections. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865646987/State-revenues-may-fall-short-of-projections-lawmakers-warned.html" target="_blank">DNews]

-> Gov. Gary Herbert is asking residents to donate to the Pamela Atkinson Homeless Trust Fund to help Utah's homeless. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3495458-155/a-painless-way-for-taxpayers-to" target="_blank">Trib] [http://kutv.com/news/local/lawmakers-grapple-with-homeless-options-herbert-asks-for-donations" target="_blank">KUTV]

-> Here is today's legislative committee schedule. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3496935-155/legislative-committees-friday-feb-5" target="_blank">Trib]

In other news: Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski sent an email to supporters telling them not to worry over the recent staff changes at City Hall. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3499558-155/new-mayor-pushes-back-on-scrutiny" target="_blank">Trib]

-> A Utah judge denied a new trial for a teen who was sent to prison for her role in a chase that resulted in the death of Utah County Sheriff's Sgt. Cory Wride. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3499650-155/judge-no-new-trial-for-utah" target="_blank">Trib] [http://kutv.com/news/local/no-new-trial-for-convicted-killer-meagan-grunwald" target="_blank">KUTV] [http://fox13now.com/2016/02/04/judge-denies-motion-for-new-trial-in-case-of-teen-convicted-of-murder-in-utah-officers-death/" target="_blank">Fox13]

-> Shawna Cox, a Utahn who was arrested in the Oregon standoff, filed an emergency motion to attend the funeral of LaVoy Finicum, who was killed during the arrest. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3500009-155/shawna-cox-files-emergency-motion-to" target="_blank">Trib] The funeral is expected to draw a large crowd. [http://www.good4utah.com/news/local-news/lavoy-finicum-funeral-expected-to-draw-large-attendance" target="_blank">ABC4]

-> Thomas Burr talks about this week in politics in his weekly interview with KCPW's Roger McDonough. [http://kcpw.org/blog/local-news/politics-local-news/2016-02-05/political-cornflakes-obama-mormons-religious-tolerance-call/" target="_blank">KCPW]

-> Environmental scientists from the Division of Air Quality will spend 2 years testing West Valley City for "air toxics." [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3491663-155/epa-funding-research-of-air-toxics" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Pat Bagley offers his take on congressional investigations. [http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/3500812-155/bagley-cartoon-public-probes" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Paul Rolly explains the mystery of an article pulled from a TV station's website. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3499328-155/rolly-squeaky-wheel-story-about-utah" target="_blank">Trib]

Nationally: Hillary Clinton accused Sen. Bernie Sanders of using an "artful smear" and treating her differently because she is a woman during the Democratic debate Thursday night. [http://www.politico.com/story/2016/02/democratic-debate-2016-ledeall-218785" target="_blank">Politico] [http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/04/politics/democratic-debate-live-updates-msnbc/index.html" target="_blank">CNN] [http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2016/02/04/live-blog-hillary-clinton-bernie-sanders-new-hampshire-debate/79847958/" target="_blank">USAToday]

-> The Senate Ethics committee has issued no disciplinary sanctions in the last nine years. [http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2016/02/04/senate-ethics-panel-has-issued-no-punishments-9-years/79704196/" target="_blank">USAToday]

-> After leaving Sen. Bernie Sanders alone for most of his presidential campaign, Senate Democrats are starting to attack him. [http://www.politico.com/story/2016/02/hillary-clinton-bernie-sanders-senate-democrats-218751?lo=ap_a1" target="_blank">Politico]

-> Ohio Gov. John Kasich is betting his campaign life on the New Hampshire primary telling voters he will drop out if he does poorly there. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/kasich-sells-gop-something-different-in-new-hampshire/2016/02/04/9e95cfc8-cab3-11e5-88ff-e2d1b4289c2f_story.html?hpid=hp_hp-top-table-main_kasich-650pm%3Ahomepage%2Fstory" target="_blank">WaPost]

Where are they?

  • Gov. Gary https://twitter.com/GovHerbert" target="_blank">Herbert heads to meetings with the Northern Utah Coalition and the Governor's Economic Development Coordinating Council. He also participates in the American Heart Association "Heart on the Hill" Day, meets with Weber County commissioners and attends a Native American Blessing ceremony and a Utah Education Association Board of Directors meeting.
  • Lt. Gov. Spencer https://twitter.com/SpencerJCox" target="_blank">Cox goes to the HAFB Reservists Annual Awards banquet.
  • State Auditor John Dougall joins students from Renaissance Academy on a tour of the Capitol.
  • President Barack https://twitter.com/BarackObama" target="_blank">Obama sits down with Sen. Bob Casey.
  • 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 Michael Anderson

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