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Mike Lee: Obama will start program to pay for birth control. AG's office misses 10th Circuit deadline. Kate Kelly to appeal excommunication.
Happy Tuesday. In the aftermath of the Supreme Court decision that the government can't force closely held companies to provide contraception coverage, Sen. Mike Lee says he's heard that President Barack Obama wants to start a new government program to cover birth control for workers who lose coverage because of the decision. Lee said the Health and Human Services department would use federal funds to cover the cost. [NRO]
-> Political leaders in the Utah, including Sen. Orrin Hatch and Rep. Rob Bishop, praised the high court's ruling. [Trib] [KSL] [Fox13] Mormon and Catholic religious leaders also heralded the court's action. [Trib]
-> More coverage of the Supreme Court's decision, and how it could have far-reaching implications for corporate personhood exceptions in the future. [NYTimes] [WaPost] [WSJ] [Politico] [LATimes]
Topping the news: The Utah Attorney General's Office missed sending a few files in its appeal of the 10th Circuit's same-sex marriage ruling and must submit the information by July 10. [Trib] [Fox13]
-> Kate Kelly, founder of the Ordain Women group, says she will appeal her excommunication from the LDS Church. [KUTV]
-> President Barack Obama appointed University of Utah distinguished alumni Robert McDonald as the new VA Director. [Trib]
-> The CEO of the company that manages The Salt Lake Tribune says in a court filing that there's no reason to fear the paper would shut down today, tomorrow, next month or ever. [DNews]
Tweet of the day: From @gopTODD: "By my count, @BarackObama is 0-2 against SCOTUS since the World Cup started."
-> From @BobbyJindal: "@BarackObama is now googling "Can an Executive Order override Supreme Court?" #HobbyLobby"
Happy Birthday: To Salt Lake County Public Works Director Russ Wall, Ben Horsley and Bob Springmeyer.
In other news: Six Utah cities are moving ahead with UTOPIA, the broadband network, and five are not. [Trib] [DNews]
-> Primary Children's Hospital gained federal approval to do a drug trial of cannabis on kids and teens with epilepsy. [Trib]
-> Former First Lady Laura Bush spoke at Brigham Young University about baseball, literacy and the 9/11 attacks. [Trib] [DNews] [KSL]
-> Piute County faces some of the highest rates of poverty in the nation. [Trib]
-> The general manager of Real Salt Lake says the crowds that pack the soccer stadium are a sign of the changing population in Utah. [UtahPolicy]
-> Pat Bagley gives his take on what the Supreme Court's decision on Hobby Lobby's religious argument means for workers. [Trib]
-> Some Utah leaders are pushing for a constitutional convention to push through a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution. [UtahPolicy]
-> Residents of Sunset now have the option to not participate in the city's recycling program. [StandEx]
Nationally: The new director of the NSA said the damage Edward Snowden caused in leaking classified information isn't as bad as it seems, but he hopes to ensure that the same information is not compromised again. [NYTimes]
-> Obama spoke on immigration, saying he does not expect Congress to act by the end of this year and will accordingly use executive orders to "fix as much of our immigration system as we can. If Congress will not do their job, at least we can do ours." [WaPost] [WSJ] Utah immigration advocates are hopeful the move spurs reform but aren't sure what the president can do alone. [Trib] [DNews]
-> Obama also sent another 200 combat soldiers to Iraq to ensure safety at the U.S. Embassy. [WSJ]
-> Check out the opinion column Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, wrote on religious freedom in relation to the Supreme Court decision, saying, "religious freedom has been sewn into our country's very fiber since before it was founded." [USAToday]
-> The Supreme Court also decided not to hear a case regarding California's ban on "conversion therapy." The group challenging the ban hopes the therapy will change the sexual orientation of gay and lesbian residents; in not hearing the challenge, the court sided with the ban. [NYTimes] [Politico]
-> Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, will spend the five-week summer recess from the Senate in Guatemala to help people with eyesight issues. [WaPost]
Where are they?
Rep. Chris Stewart travels to southern Utah where he meets with some Boy Scouts and Washington County commissioners, tours the IHC facility and meets with constituents.
Gov. Gary Herbert spends the day in Logan touring Cafe Ibis, EK Ekcessories and Al's Sporting Goods. He also meets with Utah State University President Stan Albrect and attends the Bear River Association of Governments dinner.
SL Co. Mayor Ben McAdams participates in a state criminal justice reform working group, meets with county staff, talks with Murray Mayor Ted Eyre and heads to the County Council hearing.
President Barack Obama holds a Cabinet meeting and speaks on the economy at the Georgetown Waterfront Park.
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