This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Romney wins first NH debate. Biskupski resigns. Mormon leader deported.
Happy Tuesday. Happy Flag Day. Gov. Gary Herbert suggests that every Utahn post the Stars and Stripes: "Both on the battlefront and the homefront, the people of this nation have sacrificed so very much in honor of the freedom and unity symbolized by the country's flag. We proudly display the stars and stripes, both to recognize that sacrifice and to celebrate that freedom and unity."
Topping the news: The first openly gay member of Utah's Legislature and a revered Democrat in the state, Jackie Biskupski, is resigning her spot and moving out of her district to a bigger house for her family. [Trib] [DNews] [Herald] [Fox13] [ABC4] [KCPW]
-> Peg McEntee says Biskupski is trading the Legislature for her family. [Trib]
-> Sen. Mike Lee has opened two leadership PACs, a rare move for a senator. [RollCall]
-> A Mormon branch president has left the United States as ordered by a deportation order. [Trib]
2012 watch: More than half of political insiders polled by National Journal say Mitt Romney won the first New Hampshire GOP debate. [NJ]
-> Part of that could be that most of his competitors didn't take shots at him. [LATimes] [AP]
-> No, those are not actors in Romney's new advertisement but real people playing a "bump in the road." [TPM]
-> Nate Silver suggests Romney may be eyeing a silver medal in Iowa and keeping expectations low there. [NYTimes]
-> Happening today: Huntsman talks about China and U.S.-Sino relations in a discussion with former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. Fun fact: Huntsman carries Kissinger's bag to the plane for the secretary's first trip to China.
-> Long-shot presidential candidate Fred Karger argues that Romney may have violated state law by registering to vote in Massachusetts still. [HuffPost]
-> Utah Policy's Jordan Garn says Huntsman is right to skip Iowa. [UtahPolicy]
-> A U.S./China expert says Huntsman is "one tough nerd for president." [DetNews]
Tweet of the day: From @RonBonjean: "Debate sends message that there is a big opening for Rick Perry, Chris Christie or Jon Huntsman to jump in."
Happy birthday: To Fox13's Ben Winslow and belated birthday wishes to Hatch's former chief of staff Patricia Knight who turned a year younger on Monday.
Out of Context catchup: One of the nation's big tea party groups has taken shots at Romney but doesn't consider Huntsman enough of a threat to look at. [Trib]
Where are they?
Sen. Orrin Hatch does a meet and greet with Ben Hunter and students from Holden, Utah, speaks on the Democrats' health care law's individual mandate at the Capitol Hill Club and sits down with Metropolitican Water District officials.
Sen. Mike Lee also meets with the water officials and with the Utah Technology Council.
Rep. Jim Matheson meets with water officials.
Rep. Rob Bishop joins the GOP Conference weekly meeting and chairs a subcommittee hearing on national parks, forests and public lands. Bishop later meets with constituents, hits a Rules Committee hearing and in the afternoon takes the chair as speaker pro-tem.
Rep. Jason Chaffetz attends a Judiciary Committee on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and meets on the House Energy Action team.
Gov. Gary Herbert is taking personal time until Thursday.
AG Mark Shurtleff holds an executive meeting, meets with division chiefs, attends the Utah Diversity Connection Annual awards luncheon and then meets with staff attorneys.
SL Co. Mayor Peter Corroon attends the County Council meeting and hits a discussion on police funding at the Emigration Fire Station.
SLC Mayor Ralph Becker meets with National Green Schools Network President Jim McGrath, sits down with City Council Chairwoman Jill Remington Love and Vice Chairman Stan Penfold and hits the City Council meeting.
WVC Mayor Mike Winder meets with UDOT executives and hits his own City Council meeting.
President Barack Obama heads to San Juan, Puerto Rico for the first presidential visit since President Kennedy, visits La Fortaleza, the historic governor's mansion, hits a DNC fund-raiser and later returns to Washington.
In other news: Hatch lashes out at Democrats for accusing Republicans of trying to hurt Medicaid. [Examiner]
-> Two Utah kids will be amongst a bunch of youngsters to lobby Congress on behalf of diabetes prevention research. [Trib]
-> EnergySolutions pays a $2,500 fine for a fire at the radioactive waste disposal site. [Trib]
-> Pat Bagley offers his take on Senate President Michael Waddoups liquor/redistricting positions. [Trib]
-> Former gubernatorial candidate/computer store owner Dell Schanze is charged in Oregon for allegedly paragliding off an historic column. [Trib] [Fox13]
-> About a quarter of the uranium pilings abutting the Colorado River near Moab have been moved thanks to a boost in stimulus funding. [Trib]
-> Both sides of the immigration debate are claiming victory in a statement from the LDS Church. [Herald]
-> The BLM wants public input on a plan to let Las Vegas pump water from northern Nevada/western Utah. [Trib]
-> Bob Bernick draws his own congressional redistricting map. [UtahPolicy]
-> A court-appointed accountant for the FLDS land trust wants the state to pay millions for management costs. [AP]
-> SL County officials make their third pitch to residents about paying for police services. [DNews]
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— Thomas BurrTwitter.com/thomaswburr