This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Obama argues that Mike Lee is the bad guy. Weiner's return. Sequester grounds pilots at Hill Air Force Base.
Happy Wednesday. Will Anthony Weiner rise again? The ex-congressman resigned in 2011 after a terribly embarrassing scandal where he sent lewd pictures of himself to strangers online and then lied about it. He says he's changed and he has an eye on becoming New York City's next mayor. [NYTimes]
Topping the news: The president unveiled his $3.77 trillion budget proposal today that lowers the tax hikes he has previously requested and reduces costs in Medicare and Social Security in a bid to get Republicans thinking of a grand bargain again. [WaPost] [NYTimes] [FoxNews]
-> Obama is painting Sen. Mike Lee and his Senate allies as obstructionists getting in the way of passing gun control legislation. Lee is filibustering a Senate gun deal with fellow conservatives Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Tx., and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., says they are protecting Second Amendment right. [Trib]
-> Not all filibusters are the talk-to-you-drop kind. Lee is requiring Democrats to get 60 votes to begin debating the bill and that test vote is slated for Thursday. [DNews]
-> Salt Lake Chamber leader Lane Beattie ripped Utah's senators for attempting to stall immigration reform, and suggested it might be time to replace them, in an event joining seven other chambers. [Trib] [Herald] [Fox13] [UtahPolicy]
Tweet of the day: From @gopTODD: "Today I saw a "Wallack for Congress" billboard on I-15 and a Frougal Dougall for auditor yard sign to boot. #timewarp"
In other news: Sen. Orrin Hatch will join fellow GOP lawmakers at a dinner at the White House with Obama on Wednesday night to talk about policy issues and the budget. [Trib]
-> A squadron of F-16 fighter jets stationed at Hill Air Force Base expect to be grounded when they return from a mission in the Pacific due to the sequester. [Trib]
-> Utah AG John Swallow joined with 35 other attorneys general in calling on Congress to act on implement a comprehensive immigration reform bill. [Trib]
-> Swallow responds to allegations that he violated election laws last year, but it will be up to the state elections office to see if that document will get released to the public. [DNews]
-> The investigation into Lt. Gov. Greg Bell and his interaction with the Division of Child and Family Services stems from a man from Bell's LDS ward who asked him for help. [Trib]
-> U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin joined with Gov. Gary Herbert and Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams to do a "wellness walk" around Utah's state capitol, urging Utahns to take "small measures" to improve their health. [Trib]
-> Federal investigators are tossing out another eight cases related to West Valley City's drug cops. [Trib] [DNews]
-> The Salt Lake County Council backed up County Sheriff Jim Winder's refusal to release in bulk thousands of mugshots to a website owner, saying while the images are public record, there are still limits. [Trib]
-> Have a great idea for Salt Lake City's bicycle and pedestrian plans? Take it to City Hall at a public forum later this week. [DNews]
-> A candidate to be a state judge in Utah withdraws his name, possibly because of family financial trouble. [Trib]
-> Pat Bagley on Annette Funicello and Margaret Thatcher's passing. [Trib]
Nationally: President Barack Obama's budget – rolled out Tuesday – includes $235 million more for mental health spending in the wake of a national debate about how mental health factors into gun violence. [WaPost]
-> Despite being the highest-ranking member of his party eligible for the Oval Office in 2016, Vice President Joe Biden faces a unique situation as the underdog – if he chooses to run. [NYTimes]
-> Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's campaign is claiming their office was bugged after a recording of campaign staffers blasting then-opponent Ashley Judd surfaced on Mother Jones. While Judd denies any involvement, McConnell is asking the FBI to investigate. [WaPost] [Politico] [AtlanticWire]
Where are they?
Rep. Rob Bishop meets with representatives from Trout Unlimited, Cache Valley Transit and National Parks Foundation Board of Directors, has a Republican Study Committee meeting, meets with representatives from Mountain West Retail Investment, hits a Rules Committee hearing and Skypes into a Utah Association of Counties conference.
Re. Jason Chaffetz goes to an Oversight Committee hearing on foreign aid and the Kaubl bank and later meets with Utah pork producers.
Gov. Gary Herbert meets with state Rep. Johnny Anderson, meets with Lt. Gov. Greg Bell, has an energy task force meeting, meets with Spencer Eccles to discuss a site location for Unmanned Aircraft Systems, hits an annual public health conference and then a reception for the Governor's Office of Economic Development.
SL Co. Mayor Ben McAdams has an active transportation meeting, delivers a keynote address at the League of Women Voters' State of the Community event, meets with Salvador Lazalde from League of United Latin American Citizens & Federación de Mexicanos Unidos en Utah and then meets with David Parker and Jose Enriquez.
SLC Mayor Ralph Becker has a Wasatch Front Regional Council Active Transportation meeting and then travels to St. George for a Utah League of Cities and Towns mid-year conference.
WVC Mayor Mike Winder is in St. George for the Utah League of Cities and Towns mid-year conference.
President Barack Obama delivers a budget statement in the Rose Garden, meets with senior advisers, lunches with Vice President Joe Biden and Treasury Secretary Jack Lew and hosts Republican Senators at the White House for dinner.
Got a tip? A birthday, wedding or anniversary to announce? Email us at cornflakes@sltrib.com. If you haven't already, sign up for our weekday email and get this sent directly to your inbox. [Trib]
— Matt Canham and Emily Andrews Twitter.com/mattcanham and Twitter.com/emilytandrews