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Romney grandchild shares birthday with royal baby. Lawmaker slammed for saying many undocumented children involved in drug trade. Weiner, aka Carlos Danger, back in trouble for sexting.
Happy Wednesday and happy Pioneer Day. Republicans, including House Speaker John Boehner, turned on one of their own yesterday, rejecting the comments of Rep. Steve King, R-Ia., an immigration reform opponent. King tried to downplay the plight of the children of undocumented immigrants, who could gain citizenship under the Dream Act
"For every one who's a valedictorian there's another hundred out there that weigh 130 pounds and they've got calves the size of cantaloupes because they're hauling 75 pounds of marijuana across the desert," King said. "Those people would be legalized with the same act." [Omaha] [Politico]
Topping the news: A gossip site acquired more inappropriate pictures and texts sent by New York mayoral candidate and former congressman Anthony Weiner to a young woman, purportedly well after he resigned from Congress in 2011. He also used the fake name Carlos Danger. [Politico] [AtlanticWire] Weiner's wife Huma Abedin publicly defended her husband Tuesday night. [WaPost]
- Nearly four dozen Utah local governments are proposing property-tax hikes this year to replenish the savings pot that has been paying for services during the recession. [Trib]
-> The Utah Transit Authority says it is not asking the state for a sales tax hike, despite recent reports to the contrary. Officials say current funding is sufficient for the time being, but the agency is recommending a tax increase to pay for future projects. [Trib]
Tweet of the day: From @MittRomney: "Our Josh and Jen also had a new baby boy yesterday. @AnnDRomney and I feel royally blessed. #22 pic.twitter.com/y8buqul6p6"
From @philipaklein: "Fact that Weiner put his family through this again knowing more stuff would emerge is a level of narcissism few of us can understand"
From @HuntsmanLiddy: "Carlos is now in danger and Anthony is still being a weiner."
In other news: Rep. Rob Bishop is arguing that it is illegal for the Department of Defense to furlough civilian employees at capital funds depots because they are paid from customer fees, not from federal appropriations. [Trib]
-> Paul Rolly discusses the Huntsman family's political journey, a gelato store's fight against graffiti and a new product with its sights set on Utah's cops. [Trib]
-> Pat Bagley gives his take on Sen. Mike Lee's threat to shut down federal government unless all funding for Obamacare is cut. [Trib]
-> Kirk Jowers considers Yeah Samake, a presidential candidate in Mali, a modern day Mormon pioneer. [KSL]
-> Two Utah environmental groups, who argue the state isn't doing enough to protect air quality, are taking legal action against the Wasatch Front refineries in an attempt to limit harmful emissions. [Trib] [DNews] [Fox13]
-> Wellington Police Chief Lee Barry has resigned, but city Mayor Ben Blackburn will not say why. [Trib] [DNews]
-> After the third hiking fatality this month near The Wave rock formation, the Bureau of Land Management is evaluating safety options in the area. Measures currently under consideration include boosting cell phone coverage and increasing access permits. [Trib]
-> West Valley City officials have signed a pact with Latino groups which aims to restore the community's trust in police. Officers and staffers will receive "cultural competency" training and joint community meetings will be held to strengthen the relationship. [Trib]
-> Business law firm Snell & Wilmer, LLC, beat out 13 other firms to be the one to investigate whether AG John Swallow committed three election violations during his campaign last year. [Trib] [DNews]
Nationally: A new Washington Post-ABC News poll shows that partisan, ethnic and racial divisions are dampening overall public support for comprehensive immigration reform. The poll also shows most Republicans think their party is headed in the wrong direction. [WaPost]
-> At a National Council of La Raza conference in New Orleans, leaders of Latino groups said they will push the House to vote in favor of a comprehensive immigration reform and plan to mobilize support for those Republicans backing the bill. [NYTimes]
-> Republicans are considering their own version of the Dream Act to help the children of undocumented immigrants, holding an emotional hearing on Tuesday. [LATimes]
-> Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell said he has repaid more than $120,000 in loans his wife and business took out from Star Scientific CEO Jonnie Williams and he apologized for embarrassing his state. [WaPost] [Politico]
-> NSA Director Gen. Keith B. Alexander lobbied against a proposed amendment that would cut funding for the agency's phone data collection program in a meeting with both Democrats and Republicans. The House is preparing to vote on the legislation. [NYTimes]
-> A new report shows most federal agencies are doing a poor job of identifying and recruiting senior government leaders and argues agencies must work on developing their talent pipeline. [WaPost]
Where are they?
Rep. Rob Bishop attends a Natural Resources committee markup and joins an Republican Study Committee members meeting.
Rep. Jason Chaffetz meets with AEI President Arthur Brook, attends a reception with Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang and joins Sen. Mike Lee's Pioneer Day celebrations.
Rep. Chris Stewart breakfasts with Rep. Tom Rice, R-S.C., attends an environment and energy subcommittee hearing, discusses the Office of Weather and Air Quality with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, meets with the Philippine ambassador and attends a foreign relations member meeting .
SLC Mayor Ralph Becker attends the Days of '47 Parade.
President Barack Obama travels to Galesburg, Illinois to speak on the economy at Knox College. In the afternoon he moves on to Warrensburg, Missouri, where he will speak at the University of Central Missouri before returning to D.C. in the evening.
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]
— Matt Canham and Isobel Markham Twitter.com/mattcanham and Twitter.com/i_markham