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Sen. Lee gives Paul a drone birthday gift. Utah won't recognize same-sex marriages. Swallow fundraiser's real cost fixed.
Happy Thursday. It was Sen. Rand Paul's birthday this week and his good buddy, Sen. Mike Lee, gave him a drone as a gift. Paul told Fox News last night that he's always wanted to see what happens inside the Senate Democrats' meetings, so he might just send his drone over to check it out. The Kentucky Republican even flew the drone for Fox viewers. [TheHill] [Politico]
Topping the news: Utah will not recognize the validity of same-sex marriages performed in the state before the Supreme Court ordered a stay. [Trib] [DNews] [AP] [StandEx] [Fox13] [KUTV] [ABC4] [NYTimes] (More below)
-> A couple that held a 2012 fundraiser for former AG John Swallow amended the reported cost to $28,000 from the $1,000 Swallow's campaign requested they report. [Trib]
Tweets of the day: From @Nate_Cohn: "At this point, the likeliest outcome of the midterms is a more polarized Congress, if you can believe it."
From @gopTODD: "Jay Carney looks like the mean weird 'beard man' from Walter Mitty now."
Happy birthday: To KUER's Elaine Clark.
In other news: Supporters of Utah's ban on same-sex marriage held a rally in Orem yesterday. [Trib] [DNews] [Fox13] Video highlights from the rally from the Trib's Lindsay Whitehurst. [TOUT]
-> The ACLU is preparing a potential class action lawsuit against the state. [ABC4]
-> A couple's response to the governor's decision. [ABC4]
-> Pat Pagley pokes fun at Gov. Herbert barring same-sex marriage. [Trib]
-> Bryan Schott says it's a good thing the Supreme Court halted gay marriages — because it would have been a touchy subject during the Legislature's general session. [UtahPolicy]
- > New search warrants in the John Swallow investigation are released. [DNews]
-> Jeremy Johnson, the St. George businessman whose allegations led to the scandal and eventual resignation of Swallow, appeared in federal court and pleaded not guilty to a new indictment. [Trib]
-> Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker outlined an aggressive plan to improve air quality at his State of the City speech. [Trib] [DNews] [Fox13]
-> Senate President Wayne Niederhauser says "maybe," to a small tax hike on gasoline but House Speaker Becky Lockhart says no way. [UtahPolicy]
-> The EPA says Utah's air plan is not tough enough on industrial polluters. [Trib] [DNews] [Fox13]
-> UTA offers stats on how much it helps clean the air. [Trib]
-> State Sen. Jim Dabakis, D-Salt Lake City, proposes a $1 an hour hike in the minimum wage. [Fox13]
-> The South Jordan City Council passed a resolution supporting the Utah caucus system. [Trib]
-> UDOT is studying whether to keep eight mountain roads open year round rather than grooming them for use by snowmobilers and skiers. [Trib]
-> Ogden's mayor has pledged to commute to work on his bike every day no matter what the weather. [Trib]
-> The Browns, from the TLC reality show "Sister Wives," want to be the new face of Polygamy. [NYTimes]
-> The founder of outdoor gear company Black Diamond has been tapped to work on the Salt Lake City branch of the Federal Reserve. [KUTV]
-> Josh Romney was named to the Governor's Office of Economic Development. [DNews]
Nationally: Messages between New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's deputy chief of staff and Port Authority officials expose a vindictive effort to create traffic problems in Fort Lee, N.J. The messages often refer to and insult Fort Lee's mayor who did not endorse Christie's re-election in 2012. [BergenRecord] [NYTimes]
-> Blue Dog Democrat Mike McIntyre, D-N.C., announced he will not run for re-election. His announcement came shortly after Jim Matheson, D-Utah, another moderate Democrat announced he wouldn't run again. [NewsObserver]
-> Carolyn McCarthy, D-N.Y., also announced retirement today. Her seat will likely be filled by another Democrat. [NYTimes]
-> Congress may not make the Jan. 15 deadline for the $1 trillion spending bill. [CNN]
-> Even after 50 years the philosophical debate President Lyndon Johnson's War on Poverty is still around. [WaPost]
-> House Republicans are not chomping at the bit over extending unemployment insurance. [Politico]
-> Alaska activists said they have enough signatures for a ballot initiative to legalize recreational marijuana. [WaPost]
Where are they?
Rep. Jason Chaffetz hits an Oversight hearing on waste in government, meets with Deputy Whip Peter Roskam, R-Ill., and holds a tele-townhall meeting.
Rep. Chris Stewart meets with No Label's Problem Solver and hits a House GOP LDS member meeting.
Gov. Gary Herbert meets with Deputy of Community Outreach Mike Mower, General Councel Jacey Skinner and later has a discussion about the State of the State.
SL Co. Mayor Ben McAdams hits meetings with the United Way of Salt Lake Board, Sports Commission Board, Council of Governments and late chats with Deputy Mayor Nichole Dunn.
President Barack Obama meets with members of Congress, delivers remarks about Promise Zones and meets with Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew.
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 Topher Webb Twitter.com/thomaswburr and Twitter.com/topherjwebb