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New book: Clintons keep a 'hit list.' A look at kingmaker Jason Powers. Swallow tapped campaign funds for legal fees.
Happy Monday. A new book looking at Hillary Clinton says that the former first lady and ex-President Bill Clinton keep a file of "saints and sinners," those people who are on their good list, or their hit list. As you might expect, it's better not to have crossed the Clintons and getting off the list isn't easy. [Politico]
Topping the news: A profile of Jason Powers, one of Utah's political kingmakers. Powers had a hand in the election of Sens. Orrin Hatch and Mike Lee, Gov. Gary Herbert and former AGs Mark Shurtleff and John Swallow as well as others. [Trib]
-> Meanwhile, new filings show Swallow used campaign funds to pay almost $235,000 in legal fees. The Lt. Governor's office said there's nothing wrong with doing so. [Trib]
-> More than 1,000 members of the LGBT community rallied at the Capitol and handed Utah officials two petitions asking the state not to appeal Judge Robert Shelby's decision legalizing same-sex marriage. [Trib] [DNews] [Fox13] [KUTV] [ABC4] One speech in particular has gained interest online. [Fox13]
-> Mitt Romney spoke at a youth LDS conference in Arizona and joked on a stage with several stake presidents that he was the only one who wasn't a president. "I tried to fix that," he said. [DNews] [AZCentral]
-> FYI: Romney will be in Park City tomorrow to speak at a real estate developers conference. [BusinessWire]
Tweet of the day: From @SpencerJCox: "Future is here and it's working. Kids solving problems NOT just finding answers. Legislators you NEED to see this."
Happy birthday: To Trib intern Topher Webb.
Opinion Section: Attorneys Paul C. Burke, John W. Mackay and Brett Tolman argue that Utah's stance on same-sex marriages harms gay couples and mirrors the arguments against the Defense of Marriage Act, which the Supreme Court found unconstitutional. [Trib]
-> Salt Lake City attorney Zaven A. Sargsian says legally, the future of same-sex marriages performed in Utah is uncertain. [Trib]
-> George Pyle says Utah's reaction to Shelby's ruling has been unkind and even cruel. [Trib]
-> Pat Bagley explains how this is not the first time Utah has been in the middle of a debate about the definition of marriage. [Trib]
-> Michael Terence Worley, a law student at Brigham Young University, outlines three freedom of religion concerns associated with same-sex marriage. [DNews]
-> Don Gale, a long-time writer and observer of Utah events, says the LDS Church needs to adjust to modern realities in same-sex marriage, education and other issues. [Trib]
-> Bagley pokes fun at the different amount of outrage leveled at welfare cheats and Wall Street banks. [Trib]
-> Utah County resident Arturo Morales-Llan says that a direct primary will take away opportunities for average citizens to select candidates and give key decisions and more influence to corporations and special interests. [Trib]
-> Heather Stringfellow, a former sex crimes investigator and advocate for victims of sexual violence, says Utah leaders need to do more for victims of rape. [Trib]
-> The vice president of Utah Moms For Clean Air, Ingrid Griffee, offers suggestions to state leaders on how to clean up and prevent pollution. [Trib]
-> Paul Rolly wonders about the lack of First Amendment outrage about a respected Guns & Ammo magazine columnist who was fired after he wrote about limits on Second Amendment freedoms. It wasn't the same response for the Duck Dynasty guy. [Trib]
-> Rolly also says that GOP infighting in Utah is actually helping the Count My Vote effort. [Trib]
-> Frank Pignanelli & LaVarr Webb discuss moving the state prison in Draper, NSA spying and if the Legislature will help clean Utah's air. [DNews]
-> Former Sen. Bob Bennett offers some facts about Social Security but notes that Congress is unwilling to fix major problems with the entitlement because it's like touching the third rail. [DNews]
Weekend in review: AG Sean Reyes has hired a new chief of staff and deputy chief of staff. Reyes asked all division chiefs to resign and reapply for their jobs, so more leadership changes are likely. [Trib] [DNews] [Fox13]
-> The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued a statement saying leaders are not to perform some-sex marriages. The church also said same-sex weddings, receptions and celebrations are not to be held on church property. [Trib] [DNews] [Fox13] [ABC4] [Herald]
->The Holladay City Council decided to move forward on an ordinance that would prohibit housing and employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. [Trib]
-> A grassroots effort to defend one-man, one-woman marriages is starting in Utah County. [Herald]
-> An attorney says employers should follow the federal government's approach and recognize same-sex marriages for benefit purposes. [Fox13]
-> Restore Our Humanity, the group that mounted the legal challenge against Utah's constitutional amendment barring same-sex marriage, helped organize a mass wedding reception and fundraiser on Saturday. [Trib] [Fox13] [ABC4]
-> Some Utahns are looking for more civility in the debate over same-sex marriage. [DNews]
-> Some 17 percent of Utah's veterans live in rural areas, adding challenges to getting them their guaranteed health care. The VA's rural health advisory council is meeting in Salt Lake City this week to tackle that concern. [Trib]
-> In the last year, the Count My Vote initiative drive raised $810,902, the most of any political cause in the state. The opposing group, Protect Our Neighborhood Elections, raised $9,224. [Trib]
-> Keep Our Caucus aims to educate people about the benefits of the Utah caucus system and to keep people from signing the Count My Vote petition. [Fox13]
-> Sen. Mike Lee is pushing legislation with Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois that would reform mandatory minimum prison sentences. [Trib]
-> In a speech at the U., Lee said Washington needs more compromise and bipartisanship. He said Congress should move away from Boston tea party style-politics in order to create a government that better serves the people. [Trib]
-> D.C. Notebook: Lee gives Sen. Rand Paul, R-KY., a drone for his birthday; members of Utah's congressional delegation celebrate Weber State University's 150 anniversary and Rep. Chris Stewart honors the new and the outgoing St. George mayors. [Trib]
-> House Speaker Becky Lockhart plays a "Lightning Round" with Utah Policy's Bryan Schott. [UtahPolicy] And then spends more time discussing the same-sex marriage issue, Swallow and classic rock. [UtahPolicy]
-> North Dakota is having an oil boom but Utah leaders say they're hampered from experiencing the same because the feds own and control so much of the state's lands. [DNews]
-> Less than 11 percent of students in Salt Lake City's Youth City after school and summer program are from west-side neighborhoods, even though 46 percent of eligible students live on that side of the city. [Trib]
-> SL Co. Mayor Ben McAdams wants to change state law in order to lock the boundaries of unincorporated Salt Lake County and create a municipal council made up of representatives from the unincorporated townships. [ABC4]
-> Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox praised a new interactive math textbook designed by Utah educators as a "game changer." [Trib]
-> New legislation could raise speed limits up to 8o mph on Utah's freeways. [Trib]
-> The Governor's Office of Economic Development is providing a $500,000 grant to a campaign developed by two non-profit groups aiming to educate Utahns about what they can do to reduce air pollution. [Trib]
-> Raising the gas tax and improving air quality are the Salt Lake Chamber's top legislative priorities this year. [DNews]
-> State Sen. Karen Mayne is proposing a bill to stop publication of voter information after the Utah voter registration database ended up on the website UTvoters.com. [Trib] [DNews] [Fox13] [KUTV]
-> A dozen F-16 fighter jets are moving from Hill Air Force Base to a U.S. military facility in South Korea. [Trib]
-> Real Women Run held a training session for women who want to get involved in public life. [Fox13] And that's needed since women are seriously underrepresented in Utah government. [Herald]
Nationally: AG Eric Holder said the federal government will recognize same-sex marriages performed in Utah. Same-sex couples married in the state are also eligible for federal benefits. [WaPost] [Herlad]
-> Despite only hearing oral arguments on 25 cases in the next 100 days, the U.S. Supreme Court finds itself dealing with some hot button issues such as same-sex marriage, Obamacare, campaign contributions and affirmative action. [WaPost]
-> The Obama administration is going to end its contract with the company behind healthcare.gov. Health officials are looking to sign with a new company early this week. [WaPost]
-> Outlets selling marijuana legally, for both medical and recreational uses, have to largely do business in cash because they are having difficulty opening bank accounts and thus accepting credit cards. Since marijuana is illegal under federal law, banks fear punishment for providing services to marijuana businesses. [NYTimes]
Where are they?
Rep. Jason Chaffetz returns to Washington.
President Barack Obama hosts a bilateral meeting with Spanish President Mariano Rajoy Brey.
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