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Giuliani: Obama doesn't love America. Herbert seeks ways to pass Healthy Utah Plan. Legislature has $100 million more to spend.
Happy Thursday. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker had some choice words yesterday for President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. The duo spoke at an NYC event where Giuliani said, "I do not believe — and I know this is a horrible thing to say — but I do not believe that this president loves America," while Walker said America never heard why Romney was a better alternative to Obama. [http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/giuliani-slams-obama-wisc-gov-walker-fails-romney-article-1.2121037" target="_blank">NYDailyNews]
Topping the news: Utahns are split — 50 percent to 47 percent — on raising the gasoline tax, a new poll shows. [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/4843-poll-utah-residents-split-on-gas-tax-hike" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]
-> Gov. Gary Herbert and supporters are looking for other ways to make the Healthy Utah Plan work, including a hefty e-cigarrette tax and a two-year sunset. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2195082-155/new-money-short-sunset-latest-attempts" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Despite a drop in gasoline and sales tax revenues, the Legislature's Executive Appropriations Committee announced yesterday that there is expected to be an additional $100 million to spend this session. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2195276-155/revenues-rosy-as-budget-building-begins" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865622243/State-revenue-projections-up-100-million.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/4841-utah-s-budget-picture-gets-rosier" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]
Tweets of the day: From @https://twitter.com/utpolcapitol" target="_blank">utpolcapitol "That moment when you know what someone from the public is going to say the moment they tell the committee who they are..."
From @https://twitter.com/JillWhee" target="_blank">JillWhee "Only in Utah: quoting 12 apostles in committee hearing is pretty chill"
Happy Birthday: To former State Rep. Brent Wallis.
From Capitol Hill: Sen. Mike Lee and Rep. Mia Love shared a similar message to the Utah Legislature yesterday of Utah pride and the need to downsize the federal government. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2194893-155/lee-and-love-visit-legislature-pitch" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865622225/Sen-Mike-Lee-Rep-Mia-Love-want-to-give-more-power-to-states.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://kuer.org/post/senators-love-lee-pledge-uphold-conservative-agenda" target="_blank">KUER] [http://www.heraldextra.com/news/state-and-regional/utah/mia-love-tells-lawmakers-about-health-care-repeal-efforts/article_a5dff881-6d9e-590d-8723-13936259a14a.html" target="_blank">AP]
-> A group of lawmakers introduced a new plan yesterday to reform the state's criminal justice system that would include smaller penalties for drug offenses, rewards while on probation, and putting the mentally ill and drug addicted into treatment programs rather than jail cells. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2193638-155/new-utah-prison-reform-bill-would-reduce" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865622224/Bill-would-make-epic-shift-in-Utahs-criminal-justice-system.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://fox13now.com/2015/02/18/drug-crimes-traffic-offenses-would-drop-under-new-reform-bill-in-the-utah-legislature/" target="_blank">Fox13] [http://www.good4utah.com/story/d/story/criminal-justice-reform-bill-officially-introduced/33461/mdF5lwtMnU6JIBwwKJUY8Q" target="_blank">ABC4] [http://kuer.org/post/lawmaker-introduces-criminal-justice-overhaul" target="_blank">KUER]
-> Two widows of fallen police officers stood with Rep. Paul Ray yesterday as he introduced a new bill that would increase the financial support provided to spouses of fallen officers and firefighters. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2195722-155/spouses-of-fallen-officers-laud-bill" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.standard.net/Government/2015/02/18/Clearfield-lawmaker-unveils-benefits-bill-for-families-of-fallen-officers.html" target="_blank">StandardExaminer]
-> Lawmakers discussed a bill yesterday that would remove the statute of limitations for child sex abuse crimes, which currently sets a time limit that victims have to come forward by if they want to prosecute their perpetrator. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865622204/Child-sexual-abuse-survivors-urge-lawmakers-to-eliminate-statute-of-limitations.html" target="_blank">DNews]
-> A Senate committee passed a bill yesterday that would change Utah's Government Records Access and Management Act, although the sponsor hasn't finished working out what exactly the bill will do. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2195036-155/grama-bill-advances-amid-mystery-about" target="_blank">Trib]
-> House Speaker Greg Hughes talks to Bryan Schott about the Legislature's progress halfway through the session. [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/4842-speaker-greg-hughes-discusses-the-halfway-point-of-the-2015-utah-legislature-video" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]
-> The House killed a bill yesterday that would appropriate about $100,000 to create a task force to figure out why Utahns aren't voting. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2194759-155/house-kills-voter-participation-task-force" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865622229/Voting-task-force-sought-by-lieutenant-governor-voted-down-in-House.html" target="_blank">DNews]
-> The Legislature took a few moments yesterday to recognize the Utah Honor Flight, a program that raises money to send veterans to Washington to see the World War II and Korean War memorials for the first time. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865622213/Legislature-recognizes-Utah-Honor-Flight-program-for-WWII-vets.html" target="_blank">DNews]
-> A House committee is discussing a bill that would raise the salary of tipped workers from $2.13 to $7.25 an hour. [http://www.good4utah.com/story/d/story/utah-lawmakers-discussing-raise-in-minimum-wage-fo/20976/V0IzlTQGaEGAO-7gm0D53w" target="_blank">ABC4]
-> The Senate passed a bill yesterday that would require candidates for the state school board and the four largest school districts to be chosen through partisan elections. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2194724-155/senate-approves-bill-to-make-utahs" target="_blank">Trib]
-> A new House bill would rename portions of Utah's Interstate 84 as the "Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway." [http://www.standard.net/Military/2015/02/18/Bill-aims-to-recognize-Vietnam-vets-by-naming-a-highway-after-them.html" target="_blank">StandardExaminer]
-> Lawmakers are considering a bill that would authorize a land exchange between the state and the federal government to allow the military's Utah Test and Training Range to expand. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865622203/Legislature-to-consider-massive-land-trade-for-training-range.html" target="_blank">DNews]
-> The Senate passed a bill yesterday to raise the state's property tax to equalize funding between rich and poor school districts. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2195218-155/senate-clears-property-tax-increase-sends" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865622240/Property-tax-increase-to-equalize-school-funding-gets-Senate-approval-awaits-vote-in-House.html" target="_blank">DNews]
-> And here's today's Legislature schedule: [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2193844-155/utah-legislature-thursday-feb-19" target="_blank">Trib]
In other news: Immigrants in Utah are writing letters in support of President Barack Obama's executive orders on immigration to Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes, after Reyes voiced his support of a judge's decision halting the orders. [http://kuer.org/post/lieu-filling-out-applications-utah-immigrants-write-letters-attorney-general" target="_blank">KUER]
-> The Crossroads Urban Center pulled out of the Pioneer Park Coalition yesterday, saying the main decision makers behind the coalition had the underlying motive of moving Salt Lake City's homeless population out of the Rio Grande neighborhood. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2195105-155/service-provider-resigns-from-pioneer-park" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Mayor Ralph Becker is announcing a new initiative, "EnterpriseSLC," that will provide a road map for Salt Lake's economic development policies and goals. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2194807-155/becker-to-announce-economic-development-initiative" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Pat Bagley offers his take on the nations "exploding oil sector." [http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/2194789-155/bagley-cartoon-exploding-oil-sector" target="_blank">Trib]
-> The environmental protection organization Living Rivers is challenging Utah's decision to approve expansion of the state's first commercial tar sands mine. [http://www.heraldextra.com/news/state-and-regional/utah/group-challenges-expansion-plan-at-utah-tar-sands-operation/article_8ea25cf4-ef20-53dd-ba49-038781fe7170.html" target="_blank">AP]
Nationally: In a speech on foreign policy yesterday, Jeb Bush attempted to separate himself from his former president brother and father, saying, "I am my own man." He offered praise and critique for the actions his brother took in Iraq. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765668607/Jeb-Bush-Mistakes-made-in-Iraq-on-his-brothers-watch.html" target="_blank">AP] [http://www.cnn.com/2015/02/17/politics/jeb-bush-iraq-speech/" target="_blank">CNN] [http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/jeb-bush-distinguishes-brother-father-man/story?id=29056226" target="_blank">ABC] [http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2015/02/18/jeb-bush-considers-himself-lucky-to-have-family-that-shaped-americas-foreign-policy-from-the-oval-office/" target="_blank">WaPost] [http://time.com/3713964/jeb-bush-foreign-policy-speech/" target="_blank">Time] [http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-02-18/can-jeb-bush-distinguish-himself-from-his-brother-on-foreign-policy-" target="_blank">Bloomberg]
-> President Barack Obama spoke at the White House Summit on Countering Violent Extremism yesterday, asking for American Muslim support and announcing several online initiatives to help push back against the Islamic State's propaganda and recruitment efforts. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-announces-initiatives-to-curb-recruitment-of-terrorist-groups/2015/02/18/bc4800ca-b792-11e4-9423-f3d0a1ec335c_story.html" target="_blank">WaPost] [http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/18/us-usa-security-obama-idUSKBN0LM2B920150218" target="_blank">Reuters] [http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/02/18/obama-white-house-summit-on-countering-violent-extremism-speech/23631625/" target="_blank">USAToday] [http://nation.foxnews.com/2015/02/18/obama-extremists-have-legitimate-grievances-suggests-using-democratic-process" target="_blank">Fox] [http://www.cnn.com/2015/02/18/politics/obama-speech-extremism-terror-summit/" target="_blank">CNN]
-> Obama is designating three new national monuments in Chicago, Hawaii and Colorado. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2194152-155/obama-to-designate-3-national-monuments" target="_blank">AP] [http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-hawaii-japanese-internment-20150218-story.html" target="_blank">LATimes] [http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/233065-obama-to-create-national-monument-at-hawaii-internment-camp" target="_blank">TheHill] But not everyone was happy about the decision — one Colorado representative called on "King Barack" to "cut it out." [http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/feb/18/colo-gop-blasts-obamas-latest-national-monument/" target="_blank">WaTimes]
-> Obama named acting director Joseph Clancy to head of Secret Service despite a panel suggesting an outside administrator would be better — a point raised by Rep. Jason Chaffetz. [http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/02/18/us/politics/ap-us-secret-service.html?_r=0" target="_blank">NYTimes]
Where are they?
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— Thomas Burr and Erica Palmer
https://twitter.com/thomaswburr" target="_blank">Twitter.com/thomaswburr and https://twitter.com/erica_palmer">Twitter.com/erica_palmer