This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated.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.
Huntsman's Reagan approach. Levin backs Hatch. Study: High court's gender bias.
Happy Wednesday. Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. plans to make his White House intentions official on Tuesday at Liberty State Park in New Jersey, a spot some 2,000 feet from the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island but close enough for television cameras to capture Huntsman's mug in front of the American icons. [Trib] [AP] [WaPost] [NYTimes] [Politico] [ABCNews] [WSJ]
-> Fun fact I: Huntsman's kickoff will be at the same spot Ronald Reagan launched his general election bid. Take a read of Reagan's speech at the time: [ReaganLibrary].
-> Fun fact II: Huntsman's backdrop is the same one employed in 2010 by an ex-New York gubernatorial candidate who happens to have the same strategist as Huntsman. [Politico]
-> Huntsman plans an announcement and then heads on a five-state tour: Tuesday, June 21: Liberty Park, N.J./New Hampshire; Wednesday, June 22: South Carolina; Thursday, June 23: Florida; and on Friday, June 24: Utah and Nevada.
Topping the news: Republicans are gearing up for their state convention on Saturday. [Herald]
-> What's exciting Hart 104: Conservative radio host Mark Levin endorses Sen. Orrin Hatch: "What's crucial going forward is that we stop the president's agenda, take back the United States Senate and I feel that you would be. . . a terrific elder statesman to a lot of these other young guys who I'm going to be pushing in these other states." [HatchforSenate.com]
-> A new BYU study indicates U.S. Supreme Court justices interact differently based on the gender of attorneys making oral arguments. [Trib]
2012 watch: Huntsman will be in Utah next Friday, as will Mitt Romney. Competition, anyone? [Trib]
-> Huntsman says it's a "statistical anomaly at this point" candidate right now and also offers an interesting take on Afghanistan policy. [TIME]
-> Happening today: Huntsman holds a D.C. fund-raiser at the Rooftop at Liberty Place tonight.
-> Headline left unclicked, "Recommended: Huntsman not first candidate to use Statue of Liberty as backdrop."
-> Interesting: Huntsman Chemical is paying $33 million for price-fixing. [MercuryNews]
Happy birthday: To Holly Martak.
Out of Context catchup: Sen. Mike Lee isn't endorsing his former boss yet but says Huntsman is entering the "hazy ether." [Trib]
Where are they?
Sen. Orrin Hatch meets with Utah Jr. High History Fair winners and speaks on Medicaid reform at the Heritage Foundation.
Sen. Lee did not release any public events.
Rep. Jim Matheson greets Utah History Fair winners and meets with a contingent from Hill Air Force Base.
Rep. Rob Bishop attends a Natural Resources Committee markup, hits a Republican Study Committee meeting, joins a Rules Committee event with Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and sits down with constituents.
Rep. Jason Chaffetz meets with the Utah Farm Bureau, speaks to a nutrition advocacy group, does a news conference with Sen. Ron Wyden to introduce geo-locational legislation, accepts the Club for Growth's "Defender of Economic Liberty" award and then joins the White House evening picnic.
Gov. Gary Herbert remains on personal time until tomorrow.
AG Mark Shurtleff has breakfast with Alema Harrington at Mimi's Cafe.
SL Co. Mayor Peter Corroon speaks at the Naturalization Ceremony at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center and later hits the Economic Development Corp. of Utah executive committee meeting.
SLC Mayor Ralph Becker is in Washington, D.C., for the Partners Livable Communities board meeting.
WVC Mayor Mike Winder hits the ECDU meeting, sits down with South Salt Lake Mayor Cherie Wood and attends a meeting of Cub Scout Pack Troop 3743.
President Barack Obama holds meetings at the White House and then invites members of Congress and their families to the executive mansion for a picnic.
In other news: AP's Josh Loftin and Kevin Freking looks at Hatch's campaign effort with the hindsight knowledge of Bob Bennett's loss. [AP]
-> Pat Bagley suggests Republicans aren't sure how to say goodbye to outgoing Rep. Jackie Biskupski. [Trib]
-> Utah state government ends the year the fiscal year in the black. [Trib]-> Former Congressman Merrill Cook is back with a new initiative petition drive this one aimed at illegal immigration. [Trib]
-> Utah may actually see a budge surplus next year. [UtahPolicy]-> The train-pedestrian accident that killed 15-year-old Shariah Casper has forced a rethinking in the design of intersections along the new Mid-Jordan TRAX line set for opening Aug. 7. But is the removal of some sections of sound wall enough? [Trib]-> Utah and Salt Lake City are the target of a wrongful death suit by relatives of a boy who last year slipped off a pipe and drowned in a canal. [Trib]-> The Utah Supreme Court has ruled that the state cannot tax the "goodwill" listed on corporate balance sheets as an asset. The ruling could have wide-ranging impact on Utah tax policy. [Trib]-> Paul Rolly reports that charter schools get a special exemption from state law. [Trib]
-> Rep. Biskupski's initial Legislature speech recalls the effort to adopt. [ABC4]-> Salt Lake County has set aside $50,000 to determine the feasibility of building a jailhouse courtroom. [Trib]-> A new model of senior villages promoting independent living is launched in Utah. [Trib]-> The LDS Church is piggybacking on the huge buzz created by the Book of Mormon musical with its own public relations campaign. [Trib]
-> Salt Lake Community College among tops in the nation for award of associate's degrees. [Trib]-> The University of Utah begins construction on a $24 million facility aimed at integrating arts into elementary and secondary education. [Trib]-> Salt Lake County employees may have to wait a bit before spending that expected raise. [Trib]-> Davis County wants to get an early start on the 2012 election. [Trib]-> The criminal trial against polygamous sect leader Warren Jeffs is set to begin July 25 in a Texas courtroom. [Trib]-> A Colorado couple is suing Jack Nicklaus and his golf-course design firm, alleging that his connection to a bankrupt Utah resort led them to invest. [Trib]-> The Utah Legislature's Redistricting Committee holds a hearing in Salt Lake City tonight. [Trib]-> The SLC Council passes a mainly pain-free budget. [Trib]-> The Medicaid reform plan being pushed by key lawmakers in Utah could have some devastating effects on families with children having big medical costs. [Trib]
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Thomas BurrTwitter.com/thomaswburrwith editor Dan Harrie