This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated.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.
Chaffetz joins budget showdown. This year's loser: Congress. The Huntsman daughters.
Happy Monday. The House today is expected to take up a short-term budget deal that passed the Senate on Friday, but rank-and-file Republicans including Utah's Jason Chaffetz are not happy with continuing to punt. [WaPost]
-> From Chaffetz: "If we want jobs, and if we want the economy to grow, we need some stability and predictability. This will make the situation worse, not better."
-> From Sen. Harry Reid: "If Speaker Boehner refuses to vote on the bipartisan compromise that passed the Senate with 89 votes, Republicans will be forcing a thousand-dollar tax increase on middle class families on January 1st."
Topping the news: The Washington Post looks at the winners and losers this year in politics and rounding out the top of the worst: Congress. A good read on what went wrong and why. [WaPost]
-> Utahns may not have seen much of Huntsman's three eldest daughters but they're everywhere on the presidential trail these days. [Trib]
-> Rep. Dave Clark is resigning his House seat as he considers a bid for Congress. [AP]
-> Mitt Romney is opening up more about his life including his LDS faith on the campaign trail. [LATimes]
-> Jon Huntsman's long hours in New Hampshire are starting to pay off. [Globe]
Today's news: The Logan City Council and Logan City School District are urging Cache County leaders to finally do something about pollution in the valley. [Trib]
-> A state senator wants school districts to solicit bids for health insurance every three years as a way to save money. [Trib]
-> Paul Rolly offers some uplifting stories for the holiday season. [Trib]
-> The idea of closing or privatizing Utah state parks has some worried about what will happen in their communities. [DNews]
-> Utah Policy readers suggest their Top 10 stories of the year. [UtahPolicy] And Bryan Schott and Bob Bernick discuss them in a webcast, starting with the Richard Burwash episode. [UtahPolicy]
Tweet of the day: From @ZWHowell: "The only thing I dislike about Kim Jong Il's death is that it overshadows the memory of Vaclav Havel who freed rather than enslaved millions."
Happy birthday: To my big sis, Jann Burr Perkins.
Opinion section: George Pyle offers his view on Jon Huntsman's bid and his chances. [Trib]
-> SL Co. Mayor Peter Corroon pushes for a middle-ground approach for decisions on development in the valley's foothills. [Trib]
-> The managing director of The Canyons Resort says the SkiLink gondola would be good for the environment and Utahns. [Trib]
-> The head of Utah's Radiation Control Board says blended radioactive waste is fine and criticism is misguided. [Trib]
-> Rolly reports that Utah Republicans are divided on whether to back the National Popular Vote movement that would negate the Electoral College. [Trib]
-> Former House Rep. David Irvine says the arguments for Utah's "archaic" nominating system ignore that 99 percent of Republicans and Democrats don't get a voice in the process. [Trib]
-> Pat Bagley's take on the SEC's fishing expedition. [Trib]
-> Frank Pignanelli and LaVarr Webb look back at this year in politics. [DNews]
-> Former Sen. Bob Bennett discusses who is a better GOP nominee: Romney or Newt Gingrich. [DNews]
2012 watch: The Des Moines Register endorses Mitt Romney. [Register] Now the question is: Will it help? [USAToday]
-> The Oklahoman adds its Romney endorsement. [Oklahoman] And the Portsmouth Herald. [Seacoast]
-> The (New Hampshire) Valley News, on the other hand, goes for Huntsman. [ValleyNews] As does the Keene Sentinel. [Sentinel]
-> A look at the rise of Newt Gingrich from his first congressional bid to his time as speaker and now presidential front-runner. [Globe]
-> Attacks on Gingrich, however, seem to be taking a toll on his popularity. [AP]
-> The Concord Monitor's Ben Leubsdorf looks back at Huntsman's time as ambassador. [Monitor]
-> Huntsman's chances of a victory in New Hampshire may hinge on independents. [AP]
-> Romney's take on all the negative attacks on him: "I'm a big boy." [ABCNews]
-> Fox News' Greta Van Susteren talks to Romney about what his presidency would look like. [FoxNews]
-> Outside groups, like the pro-Romney and pro-Huntsman SuperPACs, are helping to boost candidates. [USAToday]
Weekend in review: Our D.C. Notebook notes that one new .xxx website domain with a Utah senator's name is still available. [Trib]
-> A group of mayors say illegal gun sales are common in Utah and several other states. [Trib]
-> Could a liquor privatization initiative end up on the Utah ballot? [ABC4]
-> Utah officials warn against drunken driving, especially during the holiday season. [Fox13]
-> Gov. Gary Herbert has appointed former BLM Director Kathleen Clarke as head of his Public Lands Policy Coordination Office. [DNews]
-> Former Sen. Alan Simpson is still pushing his co-written fiscal plan despite resistance by Washington to do anything with it. [DNews]
-> Sandy wants to launch a renaissance with walkable villages. [Trib]
-> Treehugger has named Tim DeChristopher its person of the year. [Trib]
-> Salt Lake City and BP oil sue two companies over what they say was an inadequate clean up from the oil spill. [Trib]
-> The widow of a man who killed himself after the 2009 artifact raid is suing the federal government. [Trib]
Where are they?
Gov. Gary Herbert cuts the ribbon to open SirsiDynix Technology Centre in Lehi.
SL Co. Mayor Peter Corroon holds a Cabinet meeting and later speaks at the opening of the Magna fire station.
SLC Mayor Ralph Becker holds consecutive meetings with Utah DEQ Executive Director Amanda Smith, state Sen. Steve Urquhart and Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan.
WVC Mayor Mike Winder attends the Western Growth Coalition.
President Barack Obama meets with senior advisers.
Got a tip? A birthday, wedding or anniversary to announce? Email us at cornflakes@sltrib.com.
Thomas BurrTwitter.com/thomaswburr