This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated.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.

The offered dowery for Malia Obama. The clash between Chris Christie and Mike Lee. A prison site drops off the list.

Happy Wednesday. Rep. Jason Chaffetz is among the dozens of members of Congress who bunks down in his office each night. A review of this practice shows that all of them are men, most are Republicans and they could be getting a taxpayer-funded perk worth one-tenth of their income. [http://blogs.rollcall.com/hawkings/pay-freeze-era-living-house-rent-free-ads/?dcz=" target="_blank">RollCall]

Topping the news: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Sen. Mike Lee have gone after each other over the Patriot Act. Lee called one of Christie's comments political pornography and now Christie is slamming Lee for "siding with Edward Snowden." [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/05/chris-christie-defends-patriot-act-slams-rand-paul-mike-lee-118314.html?hp=l3_4" target="_blank">Politico]

-> A Kenyan man wants to ask President Barack Obama if he could marry

his daughter Malia and he's offering 50 cows, 70 sheep and 30 goats. [http://www.mediaite.com/online/kenyan-lawyer-wants-to-buy-malia-obama-for-50-cows-70-sheep-and-30-goats/" target="_blank">Mediaite]

Tweets of the day: From @https://twitter.com/BenWinslow" target="_blank">BenWinslow: "Basically, if you have a pulse, you can get a beer license in #Utah."

-> From @https://twitter.com/joshgondelman" target="_blank">joshgondelman: "'Mad Max' really makes you think about what could happen if we aren't careful with earth's precious supply of steering wheels."

-> From @https://twitter.com/oconnorsguitar" target="_blank">oconnorsguitar: "The government is making a robot that feeds on organic materials for fuel. What's the worst that could happen ... ?"

Tune in: Rep Paul Ray and the ACLU's Marine Lowe join Jennifer Napier-Pearce to discuss Ray's proposal to make child-sex trafficking a capital crime and the broader debate about the death penalty. Watch Trib Talk live at 12:15 p.m. MDT on http://sltrib.com/" target="_blank">sltrib.com.

Tomorrow: The Trib is hosting a launch party for the new book "Mormon Rivals" Thursday at the Alta Club. Go to http://www.MormonRivals.com for more details and to buy tickets.

In other news: Doug Owens hasn't taken any steps to challenge Sen. Mike Lee, but that doesn't mean Utah Policy can't poll a hypothetical race. Their results show Lee up on Owens, 55 percent to 36 percent. [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/5781-poll-lee-55-owens-36-in-hypothetical-u-s-senate-matchup" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]

-> Lee gives an expansive interview answering questions about everything from the Patriot Act to his relationship with the Huntsmans. [http://fox13now.com/2015/05/26/interview-with-sen-mike-lee/" target="_blank">Fox13]

-> A state audit found the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control could stand to make some improvements and managers need to follow the industry's best standards. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2553071-155/utah-liquor-agency-needs-to-improve" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865629452/Utah-may-be-losing-out-on-alcohol-tax-revenue-state-audit-shows.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://fox13now.com/2015/05/26/dabc-audit-knocks-management-for-lack-of-retail-experience/" target="_blank">Fox13] [http://kuer.org/post/audit-finds-accounting-weaknessness-dabc-recommends-training" target="_blank">KUER]

-> Paul Rolly discusses the omnipresence of Eric Moutsos—the police officer who refused to work at the pride parade last year—who seems to be everywhere in Utah, including the Kitchen-Sbeity wedding this weekend. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2552820-155/rolly-cop-who-bucked-salt-lake" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Salt Lake City Council Chairman and mayoral candidate Luke Garrott voted against Mayor Ralph Becker's pick for fire chief, claiming the mayor didn't provide enough information on Brian Dale to justify his pick. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865629478/New-Salt-Lake-fire-chief-caught-in-political-crossfire-of-mayoral-race.html" target="_blank">DNews]

-> Salt Lake County employees stick around for the benefits, not the wages, according to a recent study. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2554125-155/salt-lake-county-workers-dont-think" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Rep. Paul Ray, R-Clearfield, hopes to expand the death penalty in Utah to include executions for child-sex traffickers. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2543365-155/utah-lawmaker-seeks-death-penalty-for" target="_blank">Trib] [http://kuer.org/post/should-child-sex-traffickers-be-put-death" target="_blank">KUER]

-> A mine owner is suing Saratoga Springs over an annexation deal (that included Josh Romney among a team of developers) because the new zoning doesn't allow for his operation to grow.  [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2554302-155/mine-owner-sues-over-saratoga-springs" target="_blank">Trib]

-> There is cash in the state coffers but House Speaker Greg Hughes says now is not the time for a tax cut. [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/5780-despite-big-budget-surpluses-hughes-says-lawmakers-should-not-cut-taxes-next-year" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]

-> Salt Lake County could have up to $75 million to spend on parks and recreation with ZAP-tax as collateral. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2550536-155/salt-lake-county-gearing-up-to" target="_blank">Trib]

-> A federal judge ruled that the Bureau of Land Management must prove its 4,377 miles of ATV routes don't damage wildlife or archaeological sites. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2553493-155/judge-gives-blm-3-years-to" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Public Citizen, a D.C. based public interest group, is trying to intervene in a Utah court case involving Amazon and trademarks. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2554030-155/dc-group-wants-utah-court-record" target="_blank">Trib]

Nationally: A federal judicial panel decided to maintain an injunction of President Barack Obama's executive order on immigration and that means he may not be president if they ever go into effect. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/appeals-court-rules-against-obama-on-immigration/2015/05/26/7546832a-03d9-11e5-a428-c984eb077d4e_story.html?hpid=z1" target="_blank">WaPost] [http://www.wsj.com/articles/appeals-court-keeps-block-of-obama-immigration-plan-1432665888" target="_blank">WSJ] Find out how Utah politicians and residents reacted. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865629468/Utahns-cheer-jeer-appeals-courts-refusal-to-lift-injunction-on-Obamas-executive-order-on.html" target="_blank">DNews]

-> Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-Vermont, kicked off his presidential campaign with a speech that went beyond the standard political fare. The big question is how competitive will he be against Hillary Clinton? [http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2015/05/26/bernie-sanders-speaks-to-thousands-at-first-big-campaign-rally-now-is-not-the-time-for-thinking-small/" target="_blank">WaPost] [http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/05/26/bernie-sanders-challenges-hillary-clinton-at-his-first-rally/?ref=politics&_r=0" target="_blank">NYTimes]

-> Defense Secretary Ashton Carter's comment that Iraqis didn't have the "will to fight" in a recent battle is the latest comment from a defense secretary that has made trouble for  Obama. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-on-the-defense-again-as-another-defense-secretary-speaks/2015/05/26/49a5a20a-03d9-11e5-8bda-c7b4e9a8f7ac_story.html" target="_blank">WaPost]

Where are they?

  • Rep. Jason https://twitter.com/jasoninthehouse" target="_blank">Chaffetz works in his Utah office.
  • Rep. Chris https://twitter.com/RepChrisStewart" target="_blank">Stewart meets with the Utah Home Builders Association and speaks to constituents in his St. George office.
  • SLC Mayor Ralph https://twitter.com/beckerformayor" target="_blank">Becker attends a Wells Fargo LIFT event.
  • President Barack https://twitter.com/BarackObama" target="_blank">Obama heads to Miami, Florida, for a party fundraising event.
  • 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]

    — Matt Canham and Courtney Tanner

    http://www.twitter.com/mattcanham" target="_blank">Twitter.com/mattcanham and https://twitter.com/CourtneyLTanner" target="_blank">Twitter.com/CourtneyLTanner