Another government shutdown looms as Congress quibbles with health care, immigration. What you need to know about today’s caucuses. Hatch says Trump would be “foolish” to fire Mueller.
Happy Thursday. Feeling a bit of déjà vu? The federal government will shut down at midnight Friday unless Congress can pass a spending bill, but so far, several issues like health care and immigration are holding up a deal. Congressional negotiators had hoped to finalize a bill yesterday but are still working out the details. [WaPost]
Topping the news: It’s caucus day in Utah, so get out there and participate. Here’s a rundown of what you need to know about how the process works. [Trib] Robert Gehrke also has some tips on how to get involved. [Trib]
-> Sen. Orrin Hatch said it would be “foolish” for President Donald Trump to fire special counsel Robert Mueller but doesn’t support legislation to prevent Mueller’s removal. [Trib]
-> A Utah GOP donor has accused a state senator of trying to bribe a woman with $1 million to bring sexual harassment charges against him in order to smear him. [Trib] [DNews]
Tweets of the day: From @StephenAtHome: “Baseball season is only ten days away, which means we’ll soon be able to measure the longevity of Trump’s cabinet members in innings.”
-> From @StephenAtHome: “Congrats to Vladimir Putin on winning his first election since November 8, 2016!”
In other news: Mitt Romney is running for re-election to Marriott International’s board of directors, a position he will have to abandon if he is elected to the Senate in November. [AP]
-> Three state legislators will run for re-election uncontested this year — down from 15 in 2016. [Trib]
-> A PAC with ties to House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi is spending $43 million on TV ads across the nation to help Democrats win in this year’s midterm elections. But for now no support has been given to Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams — who is seeking the Democratic nomination against Republican Rep. Mia Love in the Utah race. [Trib]
-> Gov. Gary Herbert signed 71 bills Monday. Here are some highlights. [Trib] [KUTV]
-> State lawmakers passed two bills this year that will help women have easier and cheaper access to birth control and IUDs. [Trib]
-> Salt Lake County Election Director Rozan Mitchell is running against her boss, Salt Lake County Clerk Sherrie Swensen, in this year’s election. Subordinates running against bosses has become a pattern in Salt Lake County. [Trib] [KSL]
-> Smith’s Food and Drug stores will no longer carry magazines that feature assault rifles, a move spurred on by last month’s Florida school shooting. [Trib]
-> A Utah man has been accused of attacking his black neighbor with a stun device and is now on trial for an alleged hate crime. [Trib]
-> Pat Bagley depicts Republicans “killing justice.” [Trib]
-> Robert Gehrke writes that more Utah women are getting involved in state politics, a positive thing for Utah. [Trib]
Nationally: Trump has begun to attack special counsel Robert Mueller and the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, a move that Republicans are criticizing. [NYTimes]
-> Trump gave a speech in New Hampshire Monday about fighting the nationwide opioid epidemic by combatting illegal immigration and pushing for the death penalty for drug dealers. [NYTimes]
-> The Supreme Court said Monday it will consider the federal government’s ability to detain immigrants for deportation who have served time for crime. [WaPost]
Got a tip? A birthday, wedding or anniversary to announce? Send us a note to cornflakes@sltrib.com.
— Thomas Burr and Madalyn Gunnell
Follow @sltribpolitics