This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Obama says Senate health care bill has 'meanness at the core.' Utah's Mike Lee is one of four GOP senators opposing the Obamacare repeal legislation. Trump applauds the health care measure as a success for his presidency.

Happy Friday. As the Senate released its draft to topple Obamacare yesterday, former President Barack Obama defended his landmark act. In a 1,000-word post on Facebook, he criticized the GOP health care plan as legislation with "meanness at the core." Obama wrote: "Simply put, if there's a chance you might get sick, get old or start a family — this bill will do you harm." [<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/06/22/obama-on-the-gop-health-care-plan-this-bill-will-do-you-harm/?utm_term=.c924a93ac92c&wpisrc=nl_politics&wpmm=1">WaPost</a>]

<strong>Topping the news: </strong>The Senate's health care bill includes cuts to Medicaid and slashes federal funding for Planned Parenthood. [<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/22/us/politics/senate-health-care-bill.html?mtrref=http://www.nytimes.com&gwh=7E110165D4AC9786142DC1B28A171B02&gwt=pay">NYTimes</a>] [<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/senate-gop-leaders-set-to-unveil-health-care-bill/2017/06/22/56dbe35c-5734-11e7-a204-ad706461fa4f_story.html?utm_term=.f07a5b4ddf48">WaPost</a>] [<a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2017/06/22/senate-obamacare-repeal-republicans-secrets-239837?lo=ap_b1">Politico</a>]

-> Donald Trump applauded the Senate's plan as a win for his presidency. "Well, I've done in five months what other people haven't done in years," he said. [<a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2017/06/23/trump-republican-health-care-bill-senators-opposing-239888?lo=ap_c1">Politico</a>]

<strong>Tweets of the day:</strong> From @<a href="https://twitter.com/RobertGehrke">RobertGehrke</a>: "I also will not be voting for new Senate health care bill barring substantial changes. Such as me being elected to the Senate."

-> From @<a href="https://twitter.com/JWGOP">JWGOP</a>: "If anyone actually believes Ted Cruz isn't going to vote for final passage of this bill, well, I have some rainforest in Arizona to sell you"

<strong>Happy Birthday: </strong>On Friday to our friend Taylor Oldroyd. And on Sunday to our friend Mike Gehrke and Utah State University journalism professor Ted Pease.

<strong>Behind the Headlines: </strong>Tribune reporters Kathy Stephenson and Emma Penrod, government and politics editor Dan Harrie and columnist George Pyle join KCPW's Roger McDonough to talk about the week's top stories, including the special election and DUI laws. Listen at KCPW.org or tune in to KCPW 88.3 FM or Utah Public Radio for the broadcast at<span class="m_-5228215345933920347Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="m_-5228215345933920347m_-3089006668208951288aBn"><span class="m_-5228215345933920347aBn"><span class="m_-5228215345933920347aQJ"><span class="aBn"><span class="aQJ">9 a.m.</span></span></span></span></span>

<strong>In other news:</strong> Addressing tension with the Legislature over his decision to unilaterally make rules for a special election to replace Rep. Jason Chaffetz, Gov. Gary Herbert said lawmakers need to cool down and "think methodically about what is good policy." [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/5429360-155/herbert-defends-special-elections-urges-lawmakers">Trib</a>] [<a href="http://kutv.com/news/local/gov-defends-handling-of-contentious-chaffetz-seat-election">APviaKUTV</a>] [<a href="http://kuer.org/post/governor-fires-back-critics-special-election-process">KUER</a>]

-> After negotiations, the nonprofit Shelter the Homeless agreed to hire Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski's preferred architect to build two homeless shelters. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/5431365-155/fences-mended-nonprofit-signs-off-on">Trib</a>]

-> The Utah Supreme Court ruled against Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment and Friends of the Great Salt Lake after the environmental groups brought a lawsuit challenging a permit that allowed a Woods Cross oil refinery to expand. [<a href="http://fox13now.com/2017/06/22/utah-supreme-court-rules-against-environmentalists-over-refinery-expansion/">FOX13</a>]

-> Zion Canyon Field Institute and Zion National Park Foundation are combining forces to form the Zion National Park Forever Project, which they hope will raise $3 million in private funding this year for work in the park. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/5422854-155/zion-national-park-is-short-on">Trib</a>]

-> State Sen. Jerry Stevenson was awarded the 2017 State Leadership Award by the Association of Defense Communities for his advocacy of Hill Air Force Base over the last two decades. [<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865683498/Defense-association-gives-leadership-award-to-Utah-lawmaker.html">DNews</a>]

-> A federal court ruled in an antitrust lawsuit that Salt Lake City-based EnergySolutions can't purchase a nuclear waste disposal company in Texas. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/5432143-155/judge-stops-utahs-energysolutions-from-buying">APviaTrib</a>]

-> A new survey found that the majority of members in every U.S. religious group — including the LDS Church — don't support businesses that refuse to serve gays. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/home/5431587-155/most-mormons-and-evangelicals-no-longer">RNSviaTrib</a>]

<strong>Nationally:</strong> President Donald Trump said he doesn't have tapes of his conversations with former FBI Director James Comey. [<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/22/us/politics/trump-comey-tapes.html?mtrref=http://www.nytimes.com&gwh=2CC0CE26D6716E71D56901F8DB1FA275&gwt=pay">NYTimes</a>] [<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2017/06/22/trump-says-he-has-no-tapes-of-comey-conversations/?utm_term=.f36bb1be27df">WaPost</a>] [<a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2017/06/22/donald-trump-james-comey-tapes-239878">Politico</a>]

<strong>Where are they?</strong>

<ul>

<li>Rep. Chris <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/RepChrisStewart"; target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Stewart</a></strong> speaks to a group of students interning within the intelligence community and votes at the Capitol.</li>

<li>Rep. Mia <a href="https://twitter.com/RepMiaLove"; target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Love</strong></a> attends a Financial Services Committee planning meeting, questions witnesses at the Terrorist and Illicit Finance Subcommittee meeting, votes at the Capitol and returns to Utah.</li>

</ul>

Got a tip? A birthday, wedding or anniversary to announce? Email us at <a href="mailto:cornflakes@sltrib.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">cornflakes@sltrib.com</a>. If you haven't already, sign up for our weekday email and get this sent directly to your inbox. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/pages/email"; target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Trib</a>]

— Courtney Tanner and Emily Anderson