Happy Monday!
Some presidential candidates, or those likely to join, favor legalizing sex workers, drugs and sports betting. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., introduced a bill last week to legalize marijuana nationally. Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., favors legalizing sex workers, complaining that current law ends up hurting women more than customers and pimps. And Republican Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan is among those pushing for legal sports betting. So CNN says, “The 2020 election is shaping up to be a new chapter in the end of vice.” [CNN]
Topping the news: A bill that would impose a robust tax overhaul on Utah businesses passed committee after a lengthy public comment period during which a number of Utah business owners testified against it. [Trib] [Fox13] [DNews] [ABC4]
-> The sponsor of a bill to ban conversion therapy on minors — the widely discredited practice of attempting to change a person’s sexual preference or gender identity — warns that any changes to its delicate balance could lead the LDS Church to drop its agreement not to fight it. [Trib] [Fox13] [DNews]
-> A controversial culinary education program is back in line seeking $400,000 more in state money despite a critical audit and declining enrollment numbers. [Trib]
-> Utah’s United Methodist pastors say they are disappointed over their church’s LGBTQ vote, as question arise whether their congregations will bolt because of it. [Trib]
Tweets of the day:
-> From @jm_miller “Somehow managed to find time this week to wade into the controversial topic of civil asset forfeiture, after Utah police came out in force defending the law that lets them take cash from suspects. Is it "highway robbery" or a way to fight drug cartels?”
-> From @ShireenGhorbani “Expanded mass transit and improvements in active transportation must be part of the solution. #slco #Utpol”
-> From @RepAStoddard “I haven't heard the word widget used this frequently since law school. #revandtax #utpol.”
-> From @utahsenate “Did you know? Senator @KarenMayneUT5’s favorite movies are “Tremors” and “War of the Worlds!” She’s a huge fan of science fiction. #utpol #utleg.”
Happy Birthday: to State Rep. Stephen Handy, Taylorsville City Recorder Cheryl Cottle, Rep. Chris Stewart’s executive assistant Mark Coffield and Rep. Timothy Hawkes
In other news:
-> Legislators sent to Gov. Gary Herbert a bill to legalize driverless autonomous vehicles on Utah roads. It is expected to attract open road testing of those vehicles here, as it has in a few other states. [Trib] [DNews]
-> Tesla has announced that it will move all car sales online, reducing dealerships nationwide to a small number of galleries. This comes after years of court battles to allow Tesla to have a manufacturer-owned dealership in Utah. [Trib]
-> The Utah House voted down a bill that would require seat belts on all new school busses. Opponents said the change would put too much fiscal burden on the school districts. [Trib] [DNews]
-> Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, told Utah legislators that while he believes a crisis at the U.S.-Mexico southern border exists, he does not believe any president should have the power to sidestep congressional funding. [Trib] [DNews]
-> A bill to require tax legislative hikes to have standalone hearings that would allow for extensive public comment received preliminary approval after a unanimous vote in the Utah Senate would [Trib]
-> Planned Parenthood staged a protest at the state Capitol against two bills that restrict abortion, one which has already passed both chambers and awaits signature from Utah Gov. Gary Herbert and another which is on it’s way to the senate after passing the House. [Trib]
-> A bill that would increase Utah’s legal marriage age from 15 to 16, require parental consent and judicial approval for anyone under 18 and impose a 7 year maximum age gap for anyone marrying a minor, passed the House and is on its way to the Senate. [Trib] [Fox13] [DNews]
-> The Utah House passed a bill aimed at increasing free speech on college campuses in the state by prohibiting institutions of higher learning from punishing students for any form of speech unless it falls under the supreme court definition of harassment. [Trib]
-> After passing the House, a bill to increase the age of legal tobacco purchase in Utah from 19 to 21 is on its way to the Senate. [Trib] [DNews]
-> If an increase in funding for the arts proposed by Utah Gov Gary Herbert is approved at the end of the legislative session, a growing number of organizations in the state are hoping to see a piece of the pie. [Trib]
-> A celebration of life was held for prominent Utah civil rights leader, Archie Archuleta, who died last month at age 88. A number of Utah lawmakers as well as community leaders came to honor his life’s work. [Trib]
-> Utah police departments adamantly opposed a bill heard in committee that would seek to ensure that individual officers would not receive incentives for money obtained during asset forfeiture cases where drug activity is suspected. The bill was delayed by the committee and sent for further study to take place over the next year. [Trib]
-> Tribune Columnist, Robert Kirby, pens a personalized history of United States Presidents that have served during his lifetime. [Trib]
-> A Tribune editorial says cleaning up Utah’s air will be expensive, so it is time to begin now [Trib]
-> Pat Bagley illustrates the pledge of allegiance. [Trib]
-> Frank Pignanelli and LaVarr Webb look at the biggest issues remaining in the Legislature’s final two weeks. [DNews]
Nationally:
-> As Republican Sen. Rand Paul joins the list of opponents, the Senate appears poised to vote to block President Donald Trump’s declaration of national emergency at the nation’s southern border with Mexico, likely forcing him to veto it. [NYTimes] [WaPost] [Politico]
-> In an op-ed published for USA Today Utah Rep Ben McAdams makes an argument for a moderate approach to politics that favors pragmatic lawmaking in a split government. [USATODAY]
-> Utah Rep. Chris Stewart says on CCN that it is “extraordinarily unlikely” that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un did not know about the treatment of American Otto Warmbier that lead to his death, directly disputing President Donald Trump’s statements last week. [UtahPolicy]
-> The New York Times interviews women who have experienced sexual assault both during migration to the United States from central American countries and after they crossed the U.S-Mexico border. The abuse in some cases was not committed by smugglers but rather by border agents and immigration officers. [NYTimes]
-> President Donald Trump took to Twitter on Sunday declaring that his failure to negotiate a nuclear deal with North Korea was a result of the congressional testimony his former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen. [WaPost]
-> Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, a Democrat, announced Monday that he is joining the presidential race. [TheHill]
-> Got a tip? A birthday, wedding or anniversary to announce? Send us a note to cornflakes@sltrib.com.
Lee Davidson and Christina Giardinelli