This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Could Democrats take over the U.S. House? Huntsman: Out of politics for 2012. Bill: House candidates would have to live in district.
Happy Tuesday. Conventional wisdom for some time suggests that Republicans are going to be able to hold on to their majority in the House, though a potential Democratic wave could shake up that thinking, the Washington Post says. There are several factors the newspaper cites in showing that Democrats' chances at taking back the chamber are improving. [WaPost]
Topping the news: NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg's office is calling out the LDS Church for taking "politics over principal" in allowing online gun ads on KSL.com. [BuzzFeed]
-> In his first interview since withdrawing from the presidential race, Jon Huntsman tells The Tribune that he's stepping back from politics this cycle, though he doesn't rule out a future bid. [Trib]
-> Rep. Paul Ray is looking at legislation to require congressional candidates to live in the districts they want to represent but he's running into problems with the U.S. Constitution. [Trib]
Tweet of the day: From @MarkShurtleff: "I've witnessed a lot of evil in my 12 years as AG, but Josh Powell murdering his 2 little boys is the most fiendish."
Happy birthday: To state Rep. Brad Daw and SL County Councilwoman Jani Iwamoto.
Happening today: Presidential contests in Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri. Also, Huntsman appears on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Also II: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit is expected to rule on the constitutionality of California's Proposition 8 by 11 a.m. Mountain Time.
In other news: Utah County prosecutors are looking at a complaint by Cedar Hills residents that their mayor and city manager misused city funds. [Trib]
-> Tea party activist Jacqueline Smith is taking on Rep. Rob Bishop. [Trib]
-> Pat Bagley offers his tribute to Susan Powell and sons. [Trib]
-> Provo residents will get a chance to suggest redistricting ideas for their City Council and school board. [Trib]
2012 watch: A pundit suggests that President Barack Obama should want Huntsman in his Cabinet. [TheHill]
-> Mitt Romney is trying to tamp down Rick Santorum's rise in the three states holding contests today, fearing a Santorum win could shake up the race. [AP]
-> Romney's distant cousin, Park Romney, has criticized him and the Mormon faith — adding to a long line of relatives who have caused distractions in presidential bids and administrations. [OrlandoSentinel]
-> Huntsman takes a second gig with a family-run venture, joining the board of directors of Huntsman Corp. in addition to the Huntsman Cancer Institute Foundation. [PRNewswire]
-> The story of Romney's dog, Seamus, continues with rumors that the pet ran away once the family arrived in Canada during the now-infamous trip on top of the family station wagon. [Politicker]
-> Mormons are excited about Romney's White House chances, though concerned about the negative attacks that may come with it. [WNYC]
-> Ron Paul's presidential bid — and the delegates he's picking up — may not get him the nomination but they could guarantee a strong bargaining position for him at the GOP convention. [Bloomberg]
-> Newt Gingrich has dropped his effort to try and get on the Virginia primary ballot. [Bloomberg]
-> CNN takes a deep look at how Romney set aside a $100 million trust fund for his kids. [CNN]
Heard on the Hill: "I understand dad wants to engage, but as my wife frequently reminds me, I was only responsible for 30 to 35 seconds of the process."- Rep. Dan McCay, R-Riverton, expressing concerns about a bill that would aid biological fathers in exerting parental rights in adoptions.
The Session: The House rejects a plan to take royalties from oil and gas production and lock it away for future use. [Trib]
-> The Senate advances a measure to bar 16 and 17 year old drivers from talking on cell phones while operating a vehicle. [Trib] [Herald] [DNews]
-> Rep. John Dougall has 27 bills (or boxcars) filed under his name, a point Utah Policy's Bob Bernick says is unprecedented. [UtahPolicy]
-> A House committee passes on a bill to clean up a loophole in the state's open meetings statute that allows subcommittees to hash out — in private — touchy subjects. [Trib]
-> A proposal to prohibit state agencies from using nine-digit numbers to track users could cost some $10 million and create a "buzz saw" of controversy. [Trib]
-> The Senate approves a bill that would reshape the state's environmental boards. [Trib]
-> An anti-anti-idling proposal heads for more study, though the bill's sponsor says it'll be back this session. [Trib]
-> Cable TV subscribers could get a $3 to $4 break on their bills under a measure meant to bring parity to satellite and cable services. [Trib] [Herald]
-> Republicans restore a seat to Democrats on an interstate energy group that they had previously cut. [Trib]
Where are they?
Sen. Orrin Hatch meets with the Utah School Boards Association and the National Federation of the Blind of Utah, heads to the Republican policy lunch and then to a Finance Committee hearing on the highway bill.
Rep. Rob Bishop attends a Republican Study Committee meeting, hits the GOP weekly conference meeting and holds meetings with constituents.
Rep. Jason Chaffetz attends a Young Guns breakfast, meets with fellow Judiciary Committee members and chats with the Utah School Boards Association.
Gov. Gary Herbert meets with the Legislature's Democratic leaders, does interviews for the Board of Pardons and Parole, sits down with Lt. Gov. Greg Bell and meets with aide Ron Bigelow on budget discussions.
Bell joins Herbert to meet with Democratic leaders in the Rampton Room, sits down with owners and operators of McDonalds and then rejoins Herbert to meet with Republican leaders.
SL Co. Mayor Peter Corroon hits the County Council meetings.
WVC Mayor Mike Winder heads to the City Council meeting. President Barack Obama hosts the second White House Science Fair, meets with Vice President Joe Biden and later with Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.
Got a tip? A birthday, wedding or anniversary to announce? Email us at cornflakes@sltrib.com.
— Thomas BurrTwitter.com/thomaswburr