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Donald Trump's plan to stay as front-runner. NYTimes profiles Chaffetz. Medicaid expansion plan gets first hearing and doctors don't like it.

Happy Wednesday. Donald Trump was quick to rise in the polls in the presidential race but, as expected, his numbers are beginning to drop. The Donald, though, has a plan. The business mogul says he's planning to unveil national TV spots, ask his daughter and wife to campaign for him as well as start rolling out a new book and policies that will appeal to Americans. It's The Donald's second act. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/donald-trump-plots-his-second-act/2015/10/06/305790c2-6c68-11e5-9bfe-e59f5e244f92_story.html" target="_blank">WaPost]

Topping the news: Rep. Jason Chaffetz wants to be speaker, but in reality, it's probably the worst job in Washington[http://www.sltrib.com/news/3034484-155/as-chaffetz-seeks-speaker-post-question" target="_blank">Trib] The New York Times profiles Chaffetz, noting "opportunity for Mr. Chaffetz is like the scent of an airport Cinnabon." [http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/07/us/politics/for-jason-chaffetz-quixotic-house-speaker-bid-is-in-character.html?_r=0" target="_blank">NYTimes]

-> Jon Huntsman, who gave Chaffetz his political start, called him out on Twitter for being self-promoting and power hungry. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/3034294-155/jon-huntsman-backhands-jason-chaffetz-over" target="_blank">Trib] [http://fox13now.com/2015/10/06/huntsman-tweet-makes-clear-he-felt-betrayed-by-chaffetz/" target="_blank">Fox13] [http://kutv.com/news/local/jon-huntsman-jr-jason-chaffetz-is-power-hungry-and-a-self-promoter" target="_blank">KUTV]

-> A new plan to help more of Utah's poor get health insurance had its first public hearing Tuesday. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3031418-155/new-medicaid-plan-to-get-first" target="_blank">Trib] [http://kutv.com/news/local/new-medicaid-plan-to-get-first-public-hearing-tuesday" target="_blank">KUTV] [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/7228-" target="_blank">UtahPolicy] Low-income Utahns wanted the plan to pass, but doctors and other health providers said taxing them to pay for the health care is unfair and damaging. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3035366-155/lawmakers-get-earful-on-medicaid-expansion" target="_blank">Trib] [http://fox13now.com/2015/10/06/medicaid-expansion-plan-proposes-taxing-medical-providers-to-help-in-coverage-gap/" target="_blank">Fox13] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865638468/Lawmakers-hear-support-for-Medicaid-expansion-but-not-for-taxing-health-care-providers.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://kutv.com/news/local/health-care" target="_blank">KUTV] [http://www.good4utah.com/news/local-news/public-hearing-held-to-discuss-solution-to-medicaid-expansion" target="_blank">ABC4]

-> Most Utahns say the economy will remain the same or improve in the next year, though more than a third differ and say it'll get worse, a new poll shows. Digging in, Republicans are more likely to think the economic future is dim. [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/7226-" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]

Tweets of the day: From http://twitter.com/pourmecoffee" target="_blank">@pourmecoffee: "I am working on a theory that every time Ben Carson operated on a brain, he somehow lost a little of his own."

From http://twitter.com/ConanOBrien" target="_blank">@ConanOBrien: "Wow talk about hard living. Just found out Bernie Sanders is 41."

 From http://twitter.com/PubliusDB" target="_blank">@PubliusDB: "Remember the townhall w the docs where they all rolled up in their Mercedes & BMWs to oppose the onerous 6% tax?"

Tune in: Following last week's mass shooting in Oregon, Spring Taylor of Friends of the NRA-Salt Lake chapter and Steve Gunn of the Gun Violence Prevention Center talk with Jennifer Napier-Pearce about both gun regulation and mental health legislation and if there's any room for compromise. Watch Trib Talk live at 12:15 p.m. MDT on http://sltrib.com" target="_blank">sltrib.com.

In other news: Some Utah Democrats were among a group of state lawmakers to meet with President Barack Obama recently. [http://www.good4utah.com/news/top-stories/president-obama-calls-on-utah-democrats-to-push-for-policies-at-state-level" target="_blank">ABC4]

-> Paul Rolly says it's no surprise that SLC Mayor Ralph Becker took a jab at challenger Jackie Biskupski. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3032784-155/rolly-why-did-mcadams-take-a" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Some SL County leaders came out to support Biskupski and criticize Becker for his TV ad that features SL Co. Mayor Ben McAdams. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865638423/County-leaders-show-support-for-Biskupski-criticize-Becker-for-negative-TV-ad.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://kuer.org/post/salt-lake-county-sheriff-county-council-members-endorse-biskupski-mayor" target="_blank">KUER]

-> A hearing for the Salt Lake Public Service Commission helped shed light on costs and benefits of rooftop solar power. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865638415/Hearing-sheds-light-on-benefits-costs-to-rooftop-solar.html" target="_blank">DNews]

-> A new community health clinic offers services to the homeless in Provo. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865638446/New-community-health-clinic-offers-free-care-for-people-experiencing-homelessness-in-Provo.html" target="_blank">DNews]

-> An anonymous poet shared some unkind words with the Orem City Council. [http://kutv.com/news/local/anonymous-poet-takes-mean-jabs-at-orem-candidates" target="_blank">KUTV]

-> The former West Jordan City attorney plans to sue his ex-employer on claims that he was targeted and removed from office through a "conspiracy" executed by local government officials. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3033550-155/ex-west-jordan-city-attorney-alleges-conspiracy" target="_blank">Trib]

-> A speaker scheduled to stop at BYU cancelled his visit on religious freedom after learning students can be expelled for losing faith. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3032642-155/speaker-cancels-talk-at-byu-says" target="_blank">Trib] [http://kutv.com/news/local/byu-fundamentally-violates-religious-liberty-professor-says-after-cancelling-speech-10-06-2015" target="_blank">KUTV]

-> As part of a proposed three-way settlement with regulators and environmental groups, a Utah utility may end operations at one plant by 2030. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3032050-155/will-deal-mean-early-retirement-for" target="_blank">Trib]

Nationally: Supporters of GOP candidate Donald Trump have the worst grammar when commenting via Facebook, according to a report. [http://www.grammarly.com/blog/2015/presidential-debate-grammar-power-rankings/" target="_blank">Grammarly] [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/10/donald-trump-campaign-grammar-214478" target="_blank">Politico]

-> The Washington Post's Donald Trump Hat Generator has gone viral on Twitter. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/10/06/hey-lets-all-make-our-own-donald-trump-hats/" target="_blank">WaPost]

-> In wake of the Oregon shooting, GOP candidate Ben Carson said he'd feel "much more comfortable" if teachers were armed. [http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/ben-carson-comfortable-kindergarten-teachers-guns/story?id=34285885" target="_blank">ABC]

-> More than 200 Republicans have committed to voting for Kevin McCarthy in the race for House Speaker, according to people close to McCarthy. To win, he'd need 218 votes. [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/10/kevin-mccarthy-house-republicans-speaker-214488#ixzz3nqDh7mH9" target="_blank">Politico]

Where are they?

  • Rep. Chris https://twitter.com/RepChrisStewart" target="_blank">Stewart hits a House Intelligence Committee meeting, a GOP Conference meeting and presides on the House floor. Later he meets with constituents, the Utah Nature Conservancy and Enel Green Power.
  • Rep. Mia https://twitter.com/RepMiaLove" target="_blank">Love hits the GOP conference meeting, and sits down with the Congressional Black Caucus and with constituents.
  • Gov. Gary https://twitter.com/GovHerbert" target="_blank">Herbert eats at the Annual Faith Leaders Luncheon and attends the F-35 Simulator Media Event and the Sandy Chamber Titan Awards.
  • Lt. Gov. Spencer https://twitter.com/SpencerJCox" target="_blank">Cox speaks to the press at the Utah Civil & Compassionate Communities Initiative and dines at the Annual Faith Leaders Luncheon.
  • SLC Mayor Ralph https://twitter.com/beckerformayor" target="_blank">Becker welcomes participants to the NLC Leadership Academy and opening session of the SLC Kids Explore Program. He also gathers for the Civility and Compassionate Communities Initiative press event.
  • President Barack https://twitter.com/BarackObama" target="_blank">Obama greets President Joachim Gauck of Germany to the White House for a bilateral meeting and delivers remarks at the White House Summit on Worker Voice. He later speaks with Secretary of State John Kerry and Vice President Joe Biden in the Oval Office. He also converses with workers, employers, unions, organizers and other advocates and experts before the press at a discussion co-hosted by Coworker.org.
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    — Thomas Burr and Mariah Noble

    https://twitter.com/thomaswburr" target="_blank">Twitter.com/thomaswburr and https://twitter.com/mnoblenews" target="_blank">Twitter.com/mnoblenews