This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated.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.
Mitt Romney to Obama: Walk away from a 'flimsy nuclear agreement' with Iran. Legislature's session ends with many issues tackled, minus the biggest. Lawmakers hike Utah's gas tax.
Happy Friday. Former presidential candidate (and now, regular old Utahn) Mitt Romney is using the bully pulpit to go after President Barack Obama's negotiations with Iran, arguing that the only fans of the president's foreign policy record might be the "nation's adversaries. ... The president could silence critics like me and even qualify for a Profile in Courage Award by doing the right thing on Iran: Walk away from a flimsy nuclear agreement." [http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2015/03/13/obama-courage-peace-deal-iran-column/70237984/" target="_blank">USAToday]
Topping the news: Lawmakers passed over 500 bills this session, tackling some big issues but sidestepping any alternative plans for Medicaid expansion. Here is a look at where some of the key issues ended up: [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2286136-155/legislature-tackles-major-issues-with?fullpage=1" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.standard.net/Government/2015/03/12/Bills-that-sank-sailed-as-Utah-lawmakers-wrap-up-session-1.html" target="_blank">AP] [http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/legislature/utah-lawmakers-have-big-issues-unresolved-at-end-of-session/article_e5be7f4e-3298-5a81-9c7f-6a13f714d902.html" target="_blank">AP] [http://fox13now.com/2015/03/11/heres-some-of-the-big-bills-that-have-passed-in-the-utah-state-legislature/" target="_blank">Fox13]
-> Gov. Gary Herbert, though, promises that a Healthy Utah compromise will be reached by July 31. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865624043/No-deal-this-session-on-Healthy-Utah.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://fox13now.com/2015/03/12/gov-herbert-no-deal-on-medicaid-expansion-this-session-but-compromise-still-possible/" target="_blank">Fox13] [http://www.good4utah.com/story/d/story/governor-says-medicaid-expansion-negotiations-will/18212/Yj0lt6srnkKI__Cpb0WNDA" target="_blank">ABC4] [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/5078-governor-sets-july-31-deadline-for-deal-on-medicaid-expansion" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]
-> The Legislature did finally agreed on a compromise plan to reform the gas tax for the first time in 18 years. The deal will raise the gas tax by 5 cents a gallon starting next year and will allow it to continue to raise with gas prices. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2285053-155/compromise-bill-to-raise-gas-tax?fullpage=1" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.good4utah.com/story/d/story/house-and-senate-dont-agree-on-best-solution-for-s/10782/uKo923lezU6VH8WMv1qUZQ" target="_blank">ABC4]
-> Despite numerous attempts to overturn last year's Count My Vote compromise, lawmakers officially decided to let it stand. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2280648-155/elections-last-years-count-my-vote" target="_blank">Trib]
Tweets of the day: From @https://twitter.com/bbart76" target="_blank">bbart76: "There should be a law that #utleg floor speech needs to have either a founding father quote or an LDS apostle quote"
From @https://twitter.com/JillWhee" target="_blank">JillWhee: "'It's an 8 cow bill now.' And so begins the stand up portion of the #utleg session. "
From @https://twitter.com/joelcampbell" target="_blank">joelcampbell: "The Olympics resolution passes 50-1. Rep. McCay apparently doesn't want to 'Light the Fire Within,' again."
Happy Birthday: Today to Jeff Robinson, and on Saturday to Julie Chaffetz, wife of Rep. Jason Chaffetz, Jeanette Herbert, wife of Gov. Gary Herbert, and Julian Babbitt, executive director of (and pretty much married to) the Utah Republican Party.
Tune in: Tribune senior political reporter Robert Gehrke, justice reporter Jennifer Dobner, investigative reporter Matt Canham and health, education and environment editor Rebecca Walsh join Jennifer Napier-Pearce to recap the 2015 Utah Legislative Session. Listen to Behind the Headlines, the Trib's weekly new roundtable, on KCPW 88.3/105.3 FM at 9 a.m. or stream at http://kcpw.org" target="_blank">kcpw.org.
Tune in, too: Equality Utah's Troy Williams, Utah Health Policy Project's RyLee Curtis, Breathe Utah's Erin Mendenhall and Utah Taxpayers Association's Billy Hesterman join Jennifer Napier-Pearce to talk about this year's legislative winners and losers. Watch Trib Talk live at 12:15 p.m. MDT on http://sltrib.com/" target="_blank">sltrib.com.
From Capitol Hill: Hundreds gathered in the Capitol Rotunda yesterday evening as Gov. Herbert signed the historic SB296, which gives non-discrimination protection to the LGBT community and provides safeguards for religious liberties. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2283645-155/milestone-herbert-signs-lgbt-nondiscrimination-religious" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865624110/Gov-Gary-Herbert-signs-remarkable-anti-bias-religious-rights-bill.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://fox13now.com/2015/03/12/monumental-gay-rights-religious-liberties-bills-pass-the-utah-state-legislature/" target="_blank">Fox13] [http://www.good4utah.com/story/d/story/utah-legislature-passes-highly-anticipated-gay-rig/83075/ThTlOmHGhUiGLs0W14YZ5A" target="_blank">ABC4] [http://www.standard.net/Government/2015/03/12/Utah-governor-signs-church-backed-anti-discrimination-bill.html" target="_blank">AP]
-> Lawmakers also passed a bill, SB297, that would allow some government officials to opt out of performing gay marriages as long as there is another official available to do the job. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2283369-155/bill-passes-to-allow-some-officials" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865623954/Utah-House-panel-to-hold-hearing-today-on-religious-rights-bill.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/legislature/officials-could-refuse-to-officiate-marriage-under-new-bill/article_3f7e8f13-7629-5532-ad1b-6e66da6db2a5.html" target="_blank">AP]
-> A bill that would reform parts of the state's criminal justice system, lowering drug possession sentences and enhancing treatment options, passed the Legislature yesterday and has Gov. Herbert's approval. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2278876-155/criminal-justice-reforms-approved-drug-possession" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Gov. Herbert joined Bryan Schott and Bob Bernick to discuss the Legislature's session. [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/5082-bernick-and-schott-and-herbert-on-politics-episode-229" target="_blank">UtahPolicy] House Minority Leader Brian King also joined Schott for a download of the session. [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/5077-utah-house-minority-leader-brian-king-s-2015-exit-interview-video" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]
-> Lawmakers voted to remove restrictions placed last year on police officers' ability to use aerial drones. The bill would allow police to use drones in search-and-rescue operations in public areas without obtaining a search warrant. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2284615-155/legislators-ease-restrictions-on-drone-use" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Families of police officers and firefighters will receive more death benefits under a bill passed in the Legislature Thursday. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2286168-155/legislature-passes-bill-to-increase-death" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865624126/Legislature-approves-expansion-of-death-benefits-to-families-of-fallen-officers.html" target="_blank">DNews]
-> Government transparency would be increased under a bill the Legislature passed to allow records-seekers to appeal local government decisions straight to the State Records Committee and open up complaints against telemarketers. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865624113/Bill-slackens-state-public-records-restrictions.html" target="_blank">DNews]
-> The late House Speaker Becky Lockhart will have a stretch of I-15 named after her under legislation passed yesterday. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2286894-155/legislature-oks-renaming-i-15-stretch-for" target="_blank">Trib]
-> An effort by a class of Utah fourth graders to make the golden retriever the state domestic animal failed in the House yesterday, just one step before it would have been made into law. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2285266-155/dog-gone-official-state-golden-retriever" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865624130/Legislature-shuts-down-bill-to-name-golden-retriever-state-animal.html" target="_blank">DNews]
-> Lawmakers sought for a compromise on the issue of cell phone use while driving, but decided to scrap the idea and try again next year. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2283537-155/bill-dies-that-would-have-allowed" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Powdered alcohol would be banned in the state under a bill passed by lawmakers on Thursday. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2286822-155/utah-lawmakers-vote-to-ban-powdered" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Minors may have a harder time buying e-cigarettes with a new bill passed by the Legislature that would require businesses to obtain licenses to sell the nicotine vaporizing devices. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2286219-155/lawmakers-pass-new-regulations-for-sales" target="_blank">Trib]
-> A bill to require the full Legislature to vote on the site of the new state prison was officially passed by lawmakers yesterday. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865624125/Full-Legislature-must-vote-on-new-prison-site.html" target="_blank">DNews]
-> After a whole session of talk on education, the state's public education fund ended up with about $150 million in new money after the session. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865624129/Legislative-session-wraps-up-with-510M-in-new-money-for-schools.html" target="_blank">DNews]
-> Lawmakers passed a bill allocating $1.5 million of taxpayer money to boost Utah State University's ability to recruit athletes. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2279640-155/legislature-puts-15-million-in-public" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Utah students will be required to take the U.S. citizenship civics test before graduating from high school, according to a new bill passed by the Legislature. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2284562-155/students-soon-may-need-to-pass" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Lawmakers approved a bill yesterday that would help low-performing schools in Utah and penalize those that continue to fail. [http://www.standard.net/Government/2015/03/12/Bill-to-enact-turnaround-programs-for-low-performing-schools.html" target="_blank">StandardExaminer]
-> Utah's governor will be getting a 38 percent pay hike, according to a bill passed by the Legislature. Other top elected officials will receive salary raises as well, though not as large. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2283638-155/movinon-up-senate-passes-bill-to" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Lawmakers passed a bill yesterday that would attempt to solve years of boundary disputes among cities and unincorporated land in Salt Lake County by giving the county's townships a choice to become cities or metro townships. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2286094-155/salt-lake-county-township-bill-passes" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Lawmakers passed a bill yesterday to ensure that most county governments will remain partisan. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2286597-155/bill-passes-to-ensure-county-elections" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Lawmakers approved a bill that would restrict the state from setting seasonal wood-burning bans, listening to the overwhelming public opposition to the idea. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865624092/Lawmakers-say-no-to-seasonal-wood-burning-ban.html" target="_blank">DNews]
-> Members of the Utah Radiation Control Board sent a document to the Legislature yesterday voicing its opposition to a move to dismantle the organization. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865624038/Merger-of-environmental-boards-stokes-concerns.html" target="_blank">DNews]
-> Utah is ready to host the Olympics, again, according to a resolution passed by lawmakers yesterday. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2285577-155/citing-better-snow-lawmakers-go-on" target="_blank">Trib]
-> The Legislature passed a framework of regulations for ride-hailing companies Lyft and Uber. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2286704-155/legislature-passes-statewide-regulation-for-uber" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Pat Bagley offers his take on lawmakers' decision making. [http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/2285174-155/bagley-cartoon-calling-the-legislatures-shots" target="_blank">Trib]
-> The House donated $35,000 to the Honor Flight to fund trips for WWII veterans to see the war memorials in Washington, D.C. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865624124/House-donates-35000-to-Utah-Honor-Flight.html" target="_blank">DNews]
In other news: The Governor's Office of Economic Development announced yesterday that loan and investing company Prosper Marketplace is planning on coming to Utah, bringing 500 new jobs with it. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865624097/GOED-incentive-to-bring-500-new-jobs.html" target="_blank">DNews]
-> Jon Huntsman Sr. will be honored with the Franklin Institute's Bower Award for business leadership. [http://www.philly.com/philly/business/20150313_Jon_Huntsman_Sr__wins_Franklin_Institute_s_Bower_Award.html" target="_blank">Philly.com]
-> National Journal profiles Chris Campbell, Sen. Orrin Hatch's right-hand man and staff director of the Senate Finance Committee. [http://www.nationaljournal.com/magazine/chris-campbell-meet-orrin-hatch-s-right-hand-man-20150313" target="_blank">NJ]
-> Parents are concerned that two new schools being built a mile apart from each other in Lehi will lead to busy roads and compromise children's safety. [http://www.good4utah.com/story/d/story/parents-concerned-over-new-schools-but-no-infrastr/39276/NjrPttQO20ehPFJm9J2dhA" target="_blank">ABC4]
-> A dozen Utahns were honored at the American Red Cross's Heroes Awards Recognition luncheon in Salt Lake City yesterday. [http://www.good4utah.com/story/d/story/utahns-honored-at-annual-heroes-luncheon/42289/jk5LtlpioESbHChPHitYLA" target="_blank">ABC4]
-> A replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall is now on display in Washington City in southern Utah. The monument travels around the country to pay tribute to fallen U.S. soldiers. [http://www.good4utah.com/story/d/story/the-wall-that-heals-visits-southern-utah/18686/CJ5AVSENj0GSfDdDELlgBA" target="_blank">ABC4]
Nationally: President Barack Obama said he is disappointed by allegations that two drunken Secret Service agents drove a government car into a security barrier outside White House, while the White House maintained that it has confidence in the new Secret Service director. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765670011/White-House-defends-Secret-Service-director-amid-new-agency-scandal.html" target="_blank">TNS] [http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/secret-service-dui-probe-obama-disappointed-backs-chief/story?id=29595946" target="_blank">ABC] [http://www.cbsnews.com/news/obama-disappointed-in-secret-service-agents-involved-in-dui-crash/" target="_blank">CBS] [http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/13/us/video-said-to-show-agents-driving-under-police-tape-before-crash.html" target="_blank">NYTimes] [http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/12/us-usa-secretservice-idUSKBN0M81T620150312" target="_blank">Reuters] Utah's Rep. Jason Chaffetz, chairman of the House Oversight Committee, is asking for a full briefing from the director, calling the incident "simply unacceptable." [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/03/oversight-panel-requests-full-briefing-from-secret-service-director-116041.html?hp=r3_3" target="_blank">Politico] [http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/03/12/secret-service-review/70236474/" target="_blank">USAToday]
-> A bill to crack down on human trafficking in the country has turned into a controversy after Republicans added anti-abortion language into the bill. [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/03/how-abortion-politics-scuttled-a-human-trafficking-bill-116042.html?hp=t4_r" target="_blank">Politico] [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/03/12/dem-outcry-on-abortion-measure-failed-to-notice-threatens-to-stall-anti-sex/" target="_blank">Fox] [http://time.com/3741461/human-trafficking-abortion/" target="_blank">Time] [http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/12/us/politics/anti-abortion-provision-may-stop-human-trafficking-bill-in-senate.html?_r=0" target="_blank">NYTimes] [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/11/justice-for-victims-of-trafficking-act_n_6846828.html" target="_blank">HuffPost] [http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2015/03/10/anti-human-trafficking-bill-gets-caught-up-in-abortion-politics-in-senate/" target="_blank">WaPost]
-> While some states such as Utah are working to ban it, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau has approved the sale of Palcohol, powdered, freeze-dried alcohol, on the federal level. [http://money.cnn.com/2015/03/12/smallbusiness/palcohol-powdered-alcohol/" target="_blank">CNN] [http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2015/03/12/palcohol-powdered-alcohol/70198862/" target="_blank">USAToday] [http://abcnews.go.com/Health/palcohol-powdered-alcohol-approved-feds/story?id=29580363" target="_blank">ABC] [http://www.latimes.com/food/dailydish/la-dd-palcohol-powdered-alcohol-legal-20150312-story.html" target="_blank">LATimes] But some U.S. lawmakers are seeking to overturn the decision. [http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2015/03/12/392594219/powdered-alcohol-faces-hurdles-after-regulatory-approval" target="_blank">NPR]
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— Thomas Burr and Erica Palmer
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