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Contradictions in foreign policy: Romney, Huntsman and other secretary of state candidates. Herbert releases 2018 budget. UTA admits it spent more on anti-union lobbying.

Happy Thursday. At first blush, they seem remarkably alike: 10 older white men, all successful in their chosen fields, and all willing to serve the country if called upon by the incoming president, Donald Trump. But take a closer look at Trump's batch of secretary of state candidates and the similarities fade quickly: They all have varied viewpoints on foreign policy that aren't consistent with each other, or the man for whom they may work. [<a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2016/12/secstate-divergence-232310">Politico</a>]

<strong>Topping the news: </strong>Gov. Gary Herbert releases his 2018 budget that keeps taxes where they're at and devotes the thriving economy's new revenue to education and law enforcement. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4679091-155/governors-new-budget-emphasizes-law-enforcement?page=1"; target="_blank">Trib</a>] [<a href="http://www.good4utah.com/news/gov-herberts-2018-budget-calls-for-increased-spending-for-education-and-public-safety/616726475"; target="_blank">ABC4</a>] [<a href="http://kutv.com/news/local/utah-governor-releases-16b-budget-plan-for-upcoming-year"; target="_blank">APviaKUTV</a>] [<a href="http://kuer.org/post/governor-proposes-16b-budget-schools-public-safety-mind#stream/0"; target="_blank">KUER</a>]

-> Utah Transit Authority comes forward to disclose just-discovered documents that show it spent $74,000, not $46,700, on anti-union lobbying efforts before its supervisors voted on it. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4684695-155/uta-spent-59-more-on-union"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]

-> Rare editions of The Book of Mormon and other early LDS gems go on display at the Library of Congress. The public voted the book as the fourth most influential piece of American literature. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4684387-155/the-book-of-mormon-touted-as"; target="_blank">Trib</a>] [<a href="http://kutv.com/news/local/lds-apostle-speaks-about-book-of-mormon-at-library-of-congress"; target="_blank">KUTV</a>] [<a href="http://kuer.org/post/book-mormon-honored-library-congress-event"; target="_blank">KUER</a>] [<a href="http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/faith/lds-church-making-presence-known-in-nation-s-capital/article_3fb3b8fa-9876-590a-be5f-96af2e5b0bc3.html"; target="_blank">Herald</a>]

-> Starting Jan. 1, 2017, Amazon.com's Utah customers won't enjoy sales-tax free shopping anymore. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4685907-155/amazoncom-to-start-collecting-sales-tax"; target="_blank">APviaTrib</a>] [<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865668776/Gov-Gary-Herbert-calls-for-review-of-Utah-taxes-in-new-budget-to-make-system-equitable-and-simple.html"; target="_blank">DNews</a>] [<a href="http://fox13now.com/2016/12/07/amazon-to-start-including-sales-tax-on-utahns-online-purchases/"; target="_blank">Fox13</a>]

<strong>Tweets of the day: </strong>From @<a href="https://twitter.com/jameshamblin"; target="_blank">jameshamblin</a>: "I wonder if they will officially add quotes around Environmental Protection Agency."

From @<a href="https://twitter.com/MikeGrunwald"; target="_blank">MikeGrunwald</a>: "Trump's EPA pick, Scott Pruitt, is smart, energetic, and absolutely committed to eliminating the EP part of that A."

From @<a href="https://twitter.com/AaronFullerton"; target="_blank">AaronFullerton</a>: "Have you guys already pointed out that Stalin and Hitler were also Persons of the Year? You have? Cool, back to being off Twitter then."

From @<a href="https://twitter.com/RexHuppke"; target="_blank">RexHuppke</a>: "BREAKING: Four years ahead of the 2020 election, CNN has called Florida for the Atlantic Ocean."

<strong>Happy Birthday: </strong>to Exoro's Maura Carabello.

<strong>In other news:</strong> Data collected from surveying Salt Lake City's homeless indicate that 21 percent live outside, but Mayor Jackie Biskupski's office won't seek extra overflow shelter for the winter. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4655667-155/despite-more-people-living-on-the?page=1"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]

-> A Human Rights Watch report says that even in 2016, public schools are a harsh environment for LGBT students. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4686089-155/as-2016-wanes-lgbt-students-still"; target="_blank">APviaTrib</a>]

-> What the American health care scene will look like after Obamacare is repealed and replaced or tweaked under President Trump is still foggy, but the main concern for most Utahns is cost. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4686303-155/repeal-or-replace-obamacare-for-utahns"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]

-> More Utahns than usual flock to sign up for solar to avoid a potential fee increase from Rocky Mountain Power. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4684716-155/fears-over-proposed-changes-to-solar?page=1"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]

-> Census Bureau data show the effects of the recession still hanging on in Utah with stunted immigration from Mexico, more poverty and multiple generations living in one house. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4685038-155/census-some-recession-effects-still-linger"; target="_blank">Trib</a>] [<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865668840/Census-Economic-data-paints-two-different-portraits-of-Utah.html"; target="_blank">DNews</a>]

-> Nate Carlisle dives into Utah's narrow laws on disciplining police officers that forced the state to drop a case against an FLDS police force while Arizona and the federal government could take action. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4663514-155/why-utah-didnt-move-against-polygamous?page=1"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]

-> Two of the 11 defendants in a case against FLDS members for turning over food stamp benefits to their church have asked to be released from jail based on a witness testimony that no existing rule technically prohibits what they did. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4684084-155/flds-leaders-say-new-evidence-"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]

-> Pat Bagley suggests the GOP may be planning to save America from a health care system that is already working well. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/4686245-155/bagley-cartoon-disturbance-in-the-force"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]

<strong>Nationally:</strong> President-elect Donald Trump fired his Twitter artillery Wednesday on union leader Chuck Jones who said live on CNN that Trump only "half-way delivered" on his promise to keep 1,400 Mexico-bound Carrier jobs in the U.S. [<a href="http://money.cnn.com/2016/12/07/news/companies/trump-carrier-plant-mexico-union/index.html"; target="_blank">CNN</a>] [<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/12/07/donald-trump-retaliated-against-a-union-leader-on-twitter-then-his-phone-started-to-ring/?utm_term=.e0bad037215e"; target="_blank">WaPost</a>] [<a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2016/12/trump-carrier-union-boss-232354"; target="_blank">Politico</a>]

-> Trump's pick to head the Environmental Protection Agency is Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruit, who isn't sold on climate change and has a history of legal battles with the EPA. [<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/07/politics/trump-picks-scott-pruitt-to-head-epa/index.html"; target="_blank">CNN</a>] [<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2016/12/07/trump-names-scott-pruitt-oklahoma-attorney-general-suing-epa-on-climate-change-to-head-the-epa/?utm_term=.a380f71d466a"; target="_blank">WaPost</a>] [<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/07/us/politics/scott-pruitt-epa-trump.html?_r=0"; target="_blank">NYTimes</a>]

-> At a private breakfast with donors in New York City Wednesday morning, Trump let loose and entertained the crowd with Election Night emotions. He also tacked on that he will announce his secretary of state pick next week. [<a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2016/12/trump-donors-transition-breakfast-232322"; target="_blank">Politico</a>] [<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/07/politics/donald-trump-donor-meeting-new-york-transition/index.html"; target="_blank">CNN</a>] [<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/12/07/trump-raises-millions-for-transition-while-swiping-at-boeing-and-joking-about-apprentice-style-inaugural-stunts/?utm_term=.4315390264c5"; target="_blank">WaPost</a>]

<strong>Where are they?</strong>

<ul>

<li>Rep. Jason <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/jasoninthehouse"; target="_blank">Chaffetz</a></strong> heads to an Oversight subcommittee hearing on DATA Act implementation, votes and flies home to Utah.</li>

<li>Gov. Gary <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/GovHerbert"; target="_blank">Herbert</a></strong> sits in on an Education Excellence Commission, the Utah Trucking Association annual meeting and a Western Governor's Association conference call.</li>

<li>State Auditor John <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/FrugalDougall"; target="_blank">Dougall</a> </strong>meets with the state superintendent of public education and a representative of the Utah Association of Counties.</li>

<li>State Treasurer David <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/DamschenDavid"; target="_blank">Damschen</a></strong> drops in on a Permanent Community Impact Board meeting, hops on a call with the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators, talks transportation infrastructure finance with UDOT and chats with Vanguard Investments.</li>

<li>President Barack <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/BarackObama"; target="_blank">Obama</a> </strong>escorts the first lady to the White House Congressional Ball.</li>

</ul>

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— Thomas Burr and Zoe Woolf McGinn

<a title="Thomas Burr" href="https://twitter.com/thomaswburr"; target="_blank">Twitter.com/thomaswburr</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/zoewmcginn"; target="_blank">Twitter.com/zoewmcginn</a>