This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated.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.
Poll: More Americans to blame GOP for shutdown. Government closure could hurt fragile economy. A FAQ about the NSA's Utah Data Center.
Happy Monday. As Congress edges closer to a government shutdown at midnight, a new poll suggests Republicans will shoulder more of the blame than President Barack Obama. Some 46 percent of Americans say they'd point the finger at congressional Republicans if the government shutters while 36 percent say it'll be Obama's fault, according to a poll for CNN/ORC International. The survey also found that most Americans also think congressional Republicans are acting like "spoiled children" with the public divided on whether the president is acting like a spoiled child or a responsible adult. [CNN]
-> The Tribune will be on Capitol Hill today monitoring the budget impasse, so look for updates from our Washington bureau. More on the potential of a government shutdown below.
Topping the news: Some people are questioning the impartiality of the two county sttorneys in the Swallow probe. Swallow's attorney and former AG Mark Shurtleff said that politics and personal differences are at hand. [Trib]
-> Nate Carlisle puts together a quick fact section on what the NSA's Utah Data Center is and is not. [Trib]
Shutdown showdown: With a government shutdown likely, all is quiet on Capitol Hill as neither House or Senate met on Sunday. Both Democrats and Republicans are refusing to budge as the first shutdown in nearly two decades looms. [WaPost]
-> President Barack Obama said that even if the government shuts down on Tuesday, the Obamacare exchanges will be open for business. [Politico]
-> How it went down over the weekend: On Friday, the Senate passed a bill that restored funding back to the Affordable Care Act, much to the dismay of Sens. Ted Cruz and Mike Lee. [Trib]
-> On Saturday, the House then responded by amending the Senate's bill by delaying the implementation of Obamacare for one year, and removed the medical device tax. And preparing for a possible government closure, the House added a provision to pay active duty soldiers. [Trib]
-> Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman said Sunday that if the government shuts down it will be short — but painful for his fellow Republicans. Huntsman urged GOP members to accept that Obamacare is here to stay and to work to fix the problems within it. [Trib] [DNews]
-> Rep. Jim Matheson called on House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, to prevent a government shutdown saying that such a move will be blamed on the Republicans. [KUTV]
-> All of America's national parks, including the five in Utah, will close if the government shuts down. The Interior Department said that it will have to initially furlough nearly 59,000 employees nationwide and Utah communities near a park will be impacted. [Trib]
-> Economists are worried that if the government shutdowns, the ramifications could be disastrous on a global scale. A short closure might not do much damage, but one lasting more than a week could seriously hurt the economy. [WaPost] [NYTimes]
-> Former Sen. Bob Bennett says the GOP should learn from 1996 and not hand Obama a win by forcing a government closure. [DNews]
Tweet of the day: From @mileskahn: "'Whateves, I totally shut down the government back in like, 1996.' -hipster Republican"
Happy birthday: To state Rep. Joel Briscoe.
Opinion section: The NY Times' Maureen Dowd takes a look at the NSA's new Utah Data Center and finds it very troubling. [NYTimes]
-> Vice President Joe Biden tells Americans the importance and significance of the Affordable Care Act to the country. He also outlines how to sign up, and how much coverage could cost here in Utah. [Trib]
-> Former state Sen. Dan Liljenquist says that with Obamacare, America will shift from employee-based insurances to one government insurance option plan. [DNews]
-> Generation Opportunity President Evan Feinberg says that millennials shouldn't be duped into signing up for Obamacare, and that in all, it's a bad wrap for them. [DNews]
-> George Pyle compares Sen. Mike Lee's attempt to jettison the Affordable Care Act to "2001: A Space Odyssey." [Trib]
-> Paul Rolly compares Lee to other former conservative senators from Utah, and how their actions caused economic crises for America. [Trib]
-> Rolly also discussed the imperfections on UTA's website and how some customers can end up stranded on the weekends because of it. [Trib]
-> Alliance for a Better Utah analyst Eric Rumple says that before Utah considers moving the Draper prison, more thought should be put into prison reform and policy. [Trib]
-> LaVarr Webb and Frank Pignanelli discuss the issues of the school grading system, pursuing prosecution on AG John Swallow and the divide within the GOP. [DNews]
-> Geography professor Eric C. Ewert lauds a former GOP congressman for researching and finding that climate change is a real thing and caused by humans. He also discusses how Utah's climate is changing for the worse and no one is doing anything to change it. [Trib]
-> Pat Bagley gives his take on Utah's four seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall and Inversion. [Trib]
Weekend in review: After a week-long trial about a nuclear power plant, Judge George Harmond will have 60 days to make a ruling if Blue Castle Holdings will get the water rights to continue its project. [Trib] [DNews]
-> A former Canyonlands National Park superintendent will be remembered for being an effective leader who helped save the park's beauty. [Trib]
-> Anita Hill spoke at the YWCA's 25th annual LeaderLuncheon and thanked Utahns for the support they gave her after she testified at a Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. [Trib]
-> Utah received an F and an overall rank of 49 among states for women's well-being according to a report from a liberal think tank. The report was based off of 36 factors including economic security, leadership and health. [Trib] [Fox13]
-> Environmental activist Erin Brockovich sparked up North Salt Lake residents against the medical-waste incinerator owned by Stericycle. Brockovich told the audience there was no business burning medical waste in the community; Stericycle issued a statement saying it is in compliance with all regulations. [Trib] [KUTV]
-> The Salt Lake County Council is pondering several provisions on how the mayor holds Cabinet meetings. Mayor Ben McAdams objected to the provisions because they would make him treat Cabinet meetings the same as a council meeting. [Trib]
Nationally: Americans are more conservative now than they have been since 1952, according to a researcher who tracks moods. [WaPost]
-> Former President Bill Clinton says there are too many caucuses in the presidential nominating process and that they're undemocratic and easily manipulated. [WaPost]
-> The health-care exchanges under Obamacare are struggling to get off the ground as sign ups start Tuesday. [NYTimes]
Where are they?
Gov. Gary Herbert plays in a charity golf tournament in Provo.
SL Co. Mayor Ben McAdams participates in the Prison Relocation and Development Authority Board meeting and takes a fact-finding trip to Arizona.
SLC Mayor Ralph Becker sits down with the Mayor's Office of Diversity and Human Rights Coordinator Yolanda Francisco-Nez.
WVC Mayor Mike Winder speaks at Fallen Warriors Memorial event at Kenworth and attends a Dunkin' Donuts grand opening.
President Barack Obama meets with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and sits down with his Cabinet.
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]
— Thomas Burr and Jordan Bailey Twitter.com/thomaswburr Twitter.com/thejordanbailey