Romney hits the Donald. Obama may nominate a Republican to the Supreme Court. John Swallow added to FEC case.
Happy Thursday. Mitt Romney said he thinks there is a "bombshell" in Donald Trump's tax returns, either the Republican frontrunner is exaggerating his wealthy, paying abnormally low amounts or he isn't as charitable as he says he is. Romney's ploy is more than a little ironic, since he endured relentless attacks from Democrats, led by Harry Reid, during his 2012 campaign on the very same issue. Trump, not surprisingly, is firing back. [FoxNews] [TheHill] [CNN]
Topping the news: The Republican Governor of Nevada, Brian Sandoval, is reportedly being considered for the vacancy on the Supreme Court, but Senate Republicans don't seem impressed. [CNN] [WaPost]
-> A House committee rejected a proposal to ensure gay and lesbian couples an equal chance to adopt and foster children. [Trib] [DNews] [APviaKUTV] [Fox13]
-> A judge ruled former Utah Attorney General John Swallow can be named as co-defendant in a civil election fraud lawsuit against Jeremy Johnson. [Trib] [DNews]
Tweets of the day: From @realDonaldTrump: "Mitt Romney, who was one of the dumbest and worst candidates in the history of Republican politics, is now pushing me on tax returns. Dope!"
From @robertgehrke: "The voting buttons aren't working in the House today. Chaos ensues. We broke the system of democratic government."
Tune in: Attorney Roger Hoole, former FLDS member Kristyn Decker and Tribune reporter Nate Carlisle join Jennifer Napier-Pearce to talk about the federal case and how the arrests will affect Utah's largest polygamous sect. Watch Trib Talk live at 12:15 p.m. MT on sltrib.com.
From Capitol Hill: Advocates say House Majority Leader Jim Dunnigan's bill to expand Medicaid to cover 16,000 Utahns doesn't go far enough. [Trib] [DNews] While a new poll shows a big majority of Utahns wants some action on Medicaid expansion. [UtahPolicy]
-> Utahns may have to pay an online sales tax under two bills that passed committees Wednesday. [Trib]
-> A Senate committee voted to strip Salt Lake City of its authority to increase sales tax to recoup costs of housing the new prison. [Trib] [DNews]
-> The Senate voted to ask Congress to repeal the 17th Amendment which allows for the direct election of United States senators. [Trib] [DNews]
-> The Senate voted to declare porn a "public health crisis." [Trib]
-> Sen. Deidre Henderson expressed concern that lawmakers are allowing smaller counties to rework rules on Proposition 1 tax increases while larger counties can't. [Trib]
-> Rep. Mike Noel is pushing legislation to limit federal law enforcement involvement in rural Utah's land battles. [Trib]
-> Rep. Francis Gibson unveiled a bill to create a ""Homeless to Housing Reform Account." [DNews]
-> The Senate voted to crack down on the speed trap in Manuta, by limiting the money cities can collect from speeding tickets. [Trib]
-> A proposal to allow the Air Quality Board to enact limits on the amount of pollutants emitted by natural gas burning water heaters passed a House committee. [Trib] [DNews]
-> The House voted to ban noncompete clauses. [Trib]
-> Sen. Steve Urquhart is going to seek feedback on a plan to create a rainy-day fund for higher education construction funding. [Trib]
-> The Senate rejected a plan to allow parents to pay a fee to enroll kids in all-day kindergarten. [Trib] [DNews]
-> A committee passed a plan to rename Columbus Day " Indigenous Peoples Day." [Trib] [DNews] [Fox13]
-> A newly released bill reduces the criminal penalty for many low-level offenses. [UtahPolicy]
-> The Utah Taxpayers Association is upset over a new bill that may force them to register with the state and release a list of donors. The bill is aimed at political organizations that pressure lawmakers. [UtahPolicy]
-> Advocates are pushing for more protections for child victims caught in sex trafficking rings. [ABC4]
-> Here is today's legislative committee schedule. [Trib]
In other news: The leaders of an FLDS polygamous group pleaded not guilty in a food-stamp fraud case. [Trib] [KUTV] It appears that ex-members of the sect have helped law enforcement bring these charges. [Trib]
-> The Great Salt Lake is shrinking but researchers say it's not because of the drought. [Trib] [DNews]
-> Environmentalists criticized a proposal to expand Utah's desert testing range as a "land grab." [Trib]
-> Salt Lake City is surveying residents on their bus and train preferences. [Trib]
-> A former employee of I Works testified against his former boss, Jeremy Johnson, in the ongoing fraud trial. [Trib]
-> Two members of the Utah Tax Commission received national recognition for uncovering a tax fraud. [DNews]
->Catholic Community Services is implementing a new ID system to help identify the homeless from people trying to game the system. [DNews]
-> Pat Bagley offers his take on repealing the 17th Amendment. [Trib]
Nationally: Donald Trump received his first endorsements from members of Congress, a House member from Buffalo. [Politico] [TheHill]
-> Karl Rove says time is running out to stop Trump from getting the nomination. [Politico]
-> Here are five things to watch for in tonight's Republican Debate in Houston. [CNN]
Where are they?
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 Michael Anderson
Donate to the newsroom now. The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax deductible