This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated.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.
Hillary and Obama meet privately at the White House. Herbert signs bill to allow the return of the firing squad in Utah. Dabakis considering run for SLC mayor.
Happy Tuesday. Ahead of what we all expect is her approaching announcement of a presidential campaign, Hillary Clinton met privately with President Barack Obama at the White House yesterday. The meeting was closed to the press, and the White House said it was simply catching up between friends but we're still not sure if she brought a ruler to measure the drapes. [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/03/hillary-clinton-barack-obama-white-house-116327.html?hp=b1_r1" target="_blank">Politico]
Topping the news: Gov. Gary Herbert officially signed into law yesterday a controversial bill that legalizes the firing squad as a means to the death penalty in Utah when the lethal injection drug cocktail is unavailable. The law makes Utah one of the only states to allow firing squad execution. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2324630-155/utah-governor-signs-55-bills-into" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865624863/Herberts-signature-finalizes-return-of-Utahs-firing-squad.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://www.standard.net/Government/2015/03/23/Governor-signs-law-making-Utah-only-state-with-firing-squad.html" target="_blank">AP] [http://fox13now.com/2015/03/23/gov-signs-firing-squad-bill-into-law/" target="_blank">Fox13] [http://www.good4utah.com/story/d/story/gov-herbert-signed-55-bills-into-law-monday/54882/2iVXTuENtkGfLGNiBvFo6Q" target="_blank">ABC4]
-> Sen. Jim Dabakis said he is considering running for mayor of Salt Lake City, after being upset by a last-minute amendment that would give Salt Lake City a sales tax hike if the Utah State Prison were relocated there. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2314158-155/rolly-a-ticked-dabakis-may-run" target="_blank">Trib] [http://kuer.org/post/dabakis-likely-challenge-mayor-ralph-becker-november" target="_blank">KUER] [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/5171-dabakis-takes-a-giant-step-toward-running-for-salt-lake-city-mayor" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]
-> State Superintendent Brad Smith apologized to Utah's educators yesterday for comparing their calling for more education funding to a 3-year-old crying for more presents on Christmas. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2324974-155/utah-superintendent-apologizes-for-comparing-education" target="_blank">Trib] [http://utahpubliceducation.org/2015/03/23/an-open-letter-to-all-utah-educators/#.VRD1KlyhnMh" target="_blank">UTPublicEducation] Some say the comment illustrates a trend of lawmakers' distrust of schoolteachers. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2311806-155/why-do-utah-lawmakers-distrust-utah" target="_blank">Trib]
-> The Utah Democratic Party is considering an online presidential primary next year after the Legislature declined to move the state's primary earlier in the year to comply with national party rules. [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/5176-utah-s-democrats-planning-online-presidential-primary-in-2016" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]
Tweets of the day: From @https://twitter.com/theleftshow" target="_blank">theleftshow "Ted Cruz and Rand Paul in a Twitter fight over electability. Thank you, Republicans. Thank you."
From @https://twitter.com/BenWinslow" target="_blank">BenWinslow "And yes, Utahns, it is no longer a crime to take a selfie with your ballot! @GovHerbert signed #HB72 today!"
Happy Birthday: To Rep. Chris Stewart's communications director, Allison Barker.
Tune in: State Superintendent Brad Smith, Rep. Keith Grover and Tribune reporter Benjamin Wood join Jennifer Napier-Pearce to discuss recent rhetoric at the state legislature questioning the competency, work ethic and professionalism of teachers. Watch Trib Talk live at 12:15 p.m. MDT on http://sltrib.com/" target="_blank">sltrib.com.
In other news: A judge will decide the process of Utah's state school board elections, after lawmakers failed to find a compromise in the final hours of the 2015 legislative session. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865624822/Whats-next-for-State-School-Board-elections.html" target="_blank">DNews]
-> Amid talk of relocation of the Utah State Prison and opposition from most of the candidate cities, Gunnison is welcoming an expansion to its Central Utah Correctional Facility and the jobs it will bring. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2323710-155/central-utah-town-welcomes-prison-expansion" target="_blank">Trib] [http://kuer.org/post/state-corrections-breaks-ground-30-million-expansion-cucf" target="_blank">KUER] [http://fox13now.com/2015/03/23/as-cities-protest-prison-sites-gunnison-welcomes-expansion/" target="_blank">Fox13]
-> UTA won't say much about whether low fuel prices save it money on services. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2312111-155/do-recent-low-fuel-prices-hurt" target="_blank">Trib]
-> National parks now have a $11 billion backlog in maintenance projects, including some $278 million in Utah. [http://www.sltrib.com/home/2324422-155/national-park-backlog-totals-1149-billion" target="_blank">Trib]
Nationally: Utah's Sen. Mike Lee said he isn't ready to endorse anyone in the 2016 presidential race, not even his closest political ally and newly announced GOP presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865624858/Sen-Mike-Lee-not-ready-to-endorse-Ted-Cruz-for-president.html" target="_blank">DNews] However, Democrats are applauding Cruz's entry into the race, saying he will make a good "bogeyman" for the other GOP candidates. [http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/236708-democrats-cheer-run-ted-run" target="_blank">TheHill] Experts say although Cruz may be disruptive in the race, he doesn't have a chance of winning. [http://www.good4utah.com/story/d/story/local-expert-says-ted-cruz-wont-win-republican-nom/99992/Rt42ZK82LU-3gWn9oGQR-g" target="_blank">ABC4]
-> Presumed Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush used an appearance in South Carolina to bash President Barack Obama, criticizing his leadership abilities. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/jeb-bush-sharpens-his-attacks-on-president-obama-in-south-carolina/2015/03/17/56b4d628-ccca-11e4-8c54-ffb5ba6f2f69_story.html" target="_blank">WaPost]
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