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Huntsman hits Romney on China. Attempt to eliminate guest-worker law fails. Another Olympic bid will cost $10M.
Happy Friday. For years, Helen Radkey has dug into LDS Church records to identify posthumous baptisms that she considers questionable. Now her work is causing Mitt Romney some headaches and has caught the attention of national press. [WaPost]
Topping the news: A bill to repeal Utah's guest-worker law made in last year's session was killed in a Senate committee despite allegations of its unconstitutionality. [Trib] [DNews]
-> Although he's late in joining the 2nd Congressional District race, Robert Fuehr, a retired telecommunications executive and state economic development director, says his experience will give him the upper hand. [Trib]
-> Former ambassador to China Jon Huntsman criticizes Romney's proposed China policy, saying the presidential candidate just doesn't quite get the relationship. [WaPost]
Tweets of the day: From @UtahMomsCare: "About this point in the session I start wishing for a flash mob in the rotunda performed by our esteemed legislators, song selection?"
@gopTODD: "Senator Dayton stated on the Utah Senate floor this morning that she waters her flowers with 7-Up."
@2coolTodd: "Tell me about it. '@BenMcTastic: not easy being fake twitter personality during most boring session in Utah history.'"
Happy Birthday: to state Rep. Jack Draxler and Utah Dem Vice Chairman Jim Judd, who celebrate Saturday, and former state Rep. Brent Wallis, who celebrates Sunday.
Young guns: The National Republican Congressional Committee is keeping an eye on four GOP candidates running in Utah’s 2nd District, giving them “on the radar” status in large part because they have raised at least $100,000. The NRSC gave the distinction to Jason Buck, Dave Clark, Chris Stewart and Howard Wallack. It’s part of the Republicans' “Young Guns” program, which was created to support candidates in races against Democratic incumbents or in open seats, such as Utah’s 2nd Distrct.
In other news: A second Olympic bid could cost Salt Lake more than $10 million, but with key venues already in place -- unlike competing cities -- Utah's capital could pull off the games solely through private funding. [Trib] [DNews]
-> After an expensive court battle forced the removal of white, roadside crosses, fallen UHP troopers could instead be remembered on highways with safety warning signs accompanied with remembrance placards. [Trib] [ABC4]
-> Our Thomas Burr talks about how President Barack Obama's new budget plan might impact Utah on his weekly radio chat with KCPW’s Jeff Robinson. [KCPW]
-> Paul Rolly talks about a FreedomWorks mistake that cost one woman her cell phone. [Trib]
-> Pat Bagley gives his take on how the LDS's proxy baptisms of Jews is impacting the presidential race. [Trib]
-> Sen. Orrin Hatch and the Family Research Council's Tony Perkins write an Op-Ed criticizing the president's proposed contraceptive rule that would require insurance companies to pay for the coverage in a religiously-affiliated charity or hospital won't. [Politico]
2012 watch: Rick Santorum's momentum continues to propel him forward, beating Mitt Romney in Michigan polls for its Feb. 28 primary [DetNews] [WaPost], but the former Massachusetts governor says he's fine being the "underdog." [ABCNews]
-> Michigan could be a test of Romney's ability to connect with those less fortunate than himself if he wants to push against his surging rival, Santorum. [WaPost]
-> CNN pulls out of a March 1 debate after Romney says he has no plans to attend and other candidates follow suit. [WaPost]
-> The GOP is recounting its Maine caucus votes under fire from Ron Paul supporters for allegedly mishandling the recent caucuses. [Politico]
-> Finishing a fundraising effort in California, Newt Gingrich's campaign says its stocked up $2 million from the Golden State in 2012. [WaPost]
-> Despite his oft low caucus results, Ron Paul proves he can still fundraise with the best of them, gathering $1.2 million in a Valentine's Day "money bomb." [TheHill]
-> Santorum goes from written off to a real possibility for the Republican nomination, but some conservatives wonder how he'd compete against President Barack Obama. [ABCNews]
-> Donald Trump spent an hour making calls to his deep-pocked friends to help Romney's campaign. [CNN]
Heard on the Hill: "I know I'm being totally ignored. Maybe it's a gender issue as to why I'm being ignored." - Rep. Jennifer Seelig, D-Salt Lake City, the only female on the Executive Offices and Criminal Justice Appropriations Subcommittee. (She began humming the Smurfs theme song during the minute of silence following a question she asked staff.)
The Session: Tensions ran high for the second day over giving help to military families -- ending with a bill passed to extend unemployment benefits to military spouses forced to relocate. [Trib] [DNews]
-> Gov. Gary Herbert signed into law a $26.4 million tax cut that will give a break to businesses that have seen unemployment taxes go through the roof. [Trib]
-> The House halts a bill that would have required couples to take a state-funded "divorce orientation" class before ending their marriage. [Trib]
-> A bill cleared by both houses will make it possible for some stuck on the sex-offender registry to petition their way off in less time -- 5 years instead of 10 -- for less egregious crimes. [Trib]
-> A bill that would let some DABC stories sell alcohol on holidays gets a second chance in the Legislature after some tweaks in language. [ABC4]
-> A House panel cleared a measure to grant the sign industry unprecedented power to convert highway and surface-street signs to electronic billboards, pulling the rug out from city leaders' control. [Trib] [Fox13]
-> The Legislature's education budget committee recommended Utah schools get an influx of $146 million next year to fund new students, tests and technology. [Trib]
-> A bill to let cities seize federal lands gets the OK despite warnings from legislative attorneys. [Trib] [DNews] [Fox13]
-> Convicts would be prevented from earning a profit for their stories under a new Grandson of Sam bill unanimously passed in the House. [Trib]
-> In an effort to increase caucus attendance, cities and school districts would be banned from holding meetings on caucus nights under a bill narrowly passed by the House. [Trib] [DNews]
-> Unmarried biological fathers could receive notice of pending adoptions under a bill approved by the Senate. [DNews]
-> Backlash over a legislative committee meeting on education funding sparked state school board to unanimously vote to send a letter expressing concern. [Trib]
-> The Senate passes a bill that would create and fund a self-help center in downtown Salt Lake. [DNews]
Where are they?
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-- Matt Canham and Laura Schmitz
Twitter.com/mattcanham
