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GOP wants another vote to kill Obamacare. Hatch says legal gay marriage inevitable. Hatch also says he's sorry if he offended anyone on Memorial Day.
Happy Thursday. They've tried some 40 times already but some House Republicans are pushing for another vote to jettison the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, and replace it with a Republican plan. Some GOPers feel it would show the party isn't just against something and has its own plan but others fear it could just hand Democrats ammunition that the Republicans are only about the health care law. [Politico]
Topping the news: Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, said on KSL's Doug Wright Show that the legality of same-sex marriage in the America is inevitable and "anybody who doesn't admit that just isn't living in the real world." [Trib] [DNews] [KUTV] [KSL] [Fox13]
-> Hatch also also said he's sorry if he offended anyone with his comments at a Memorial Day speech that veered into politics and left some veterans upset. [KUTV]
-> Utah AG Sean Reyes said he has not decided whether to appeal a federal judge's ruling that required the state to recognize same-sex marriages; Reyes has until June 9 to appeal. [Fox13]
Tweets of the day: From @SpencerJCox: "Sen. Howard Stephenson: 'Ferris Bueller should be an education hero. He learned more that day than the entire student body combined.'"
-> From @stevesalaita: "#ClivenBundy leaves the #Republican Party. Apparently, they're too moderate for him. Damn bowtie-wearing hippies."
-> From @RicCantrell: "@GovHerbert Everybody's talking about anarchy like it's a bad thing."
Happy Birthday: To state Rep. Brian Greene, R-Pleasant Grove, and former state Rep. Jay Seegmiller.
In other news: Doug Owens, the Democratic candidate for Utah's 4th congressional district, said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki needs to go. [Trib]
-> Paul Rolly discusses the historically divided Utah County Republican Party, including recent accusations of slander between the vice chairman and a GOP volunteer. [Trib]
-> SL Co. Mayor Ben McAdams began a non-discrimination campaign to honor diversity in the county. [Trib] [DNews] [KUTV] [KSL]
-> The Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control said single-event liquor permits have been abused in the past and now the department is narrowing down the amount of permits for future events, such as Oktoberfest at Snowbird. [Trib]
-> State lawmakers are looking at how to handle budget surpluses in the future. [UtahPolicy]
-> Bryan Schott notes the phrase "don't punch down," might apply to Mia Love in whether she responds to Doug Owens' charges. [UtahPolicy]
-> Salt Lake City officials hope to draft an ordinance on ride sharing programs within the next few months. [Fox13]
-> Utah lawmakers are working to have a "learning device" for every student in the state to teach about technology. [KSL]
Nationally: President Barack Obama, in a commencement address to West Point graduates, unveiled a foreign policy that asserts "America must alway lead on the world stage," but that the country can't always be called upon to solve the world's problems. [NYTimes] [WaPost] [Politico] [WSJ] [LATimes]
-> A report on the Phoenix VA hospital found that more than 1,700 patients were placed on unofficial waiting lists and some may not have been cared for at all. [NYTimes] [WSJ] [Politico]
-> Edward Snowden, in an interview with NBC News, said when he leaked classified information he wasn't only an analyst, but also a spy working with the CIA and the NSA. [NYTimes] In an interview with CBS, Secretary of State John Kerry said Snowden needs to "man up" and come back to the United States. [WaPost] [WSJ]
-> Rep. Ralph Hall, R-Texas, currently the oldest member of Congress at 91-years-old, was defeated in the primaries. [WaPost] [Politico]
-> Author Maya Angelou, who wrote about the political issues of poverty, race and sexism, died at the age of 86. [NYTimes] [WaPost] [WSJ]
Where are they?
Rep. Jason Chaffetz attends a GOP breakfast event, goes to a Judiciary hearing on Homeland Security, meets with Mike Styler to discuss sage grouse and returns to Utah.
Rep. Rob Bishop goes to a GOP conference, calls Emery County commissioners and Utah State Parks and attends the Natural Resources Committee markup. Bishop later speaks on the House floor, participates in an ESC meeting, meets with representatives from the Airline Pilots Association and ends his day by going to the Rules Committee hearing and the Western Caucus member meeting.
Gov. Gary Herbert attends a Cabinet meeting, views the Freeport West groundbreaking, ceremonially signs a Native American document and conducts judicial interviews for the 4th District. Herbert later meets with the Utah State Office of Education Leadership, calls Andy Tung and announces the Entrepreneur of the Year award.
Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox also takes part in the Cabinet meeting and gives a Junior Achievement presentation at Mountain View Elementary School.
SL Co. Mayor Ben McAdams speaks at the county's Building Healthy Communities conference, attends the groundbreaking ceremony for the Freeport West industrial development project, participates in a ribbon cutting at the Jordan River Bridge Crossing and goes to the Art is 100 gala at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts.
President Barack Obama participates in a White House Healthy Kids & Safe Sports Concussion summit.
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 Courtney Tanner Twitter.com/thomaswburr and Twitter.com/CourtneyLTanner