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Political Cornflakes: ‘Everything is on the table’: Democratic presidential hopefuls eye remaking the Supreme Court to stem Republican advantage

In this Jan. 24, 2019 file photo, the Supreme Court is seen at sunset in Washington, D.C. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

A series of White House hopefuls are expressing new interest in remaking the Supreme Court as payback for the Republican transformation of the judiciary over the past four years. Democrats are eager to chip away at the GOP’s growing advantage, and Sens. Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren and Kristen Gillibrand say they wouldn’t rule out expanding the court, imposing term limits on judges and more if elected president in 2020. “We are on the verge of a crisis of confidence in the Supreme Court,” said Harris, D-California. “We have to take this challenge head on, and everything is on the table to do that.” [POLITICO]

Happy Monday.

Topping the news: The Legislature failed to pass a tax reform bill this session, but plans to extensively restructure the state’s tax system remain on the table. [Trib] [DNews]

-> While lawmakers scrapped plans to borrow $1.6 billion for transportations projects just before the close of this year’s legislative session, they did pass a bill that would direct existing funds to specific pet projects. [Trib]

-> Hundreds of Utah students ditched class on Friday to rally at the state Capitol as part of an international movement against climate change. [Trib] [Fox13]

Tweets of the weekend: From @RepAStoddard: “I love the Reps I served with, but I’m going to need them to stop appearing in my dreams. I need to stop legislating in my sleep.”

-> From @TimDonaldson1: “Next year the Legislature should de-regulate funeral potatoes. How much happier we would all be if we didn’t have to wait for someone to die in order to prepare (section 1 of my bill) or consume (section 2) funeral potatoes (as defined in 201(a)."

-> From @ShireenGhorbani: “Standing in solidarity with our Muslim brothers and sisters. Standing together for peace.”

Trib Talk: Tribune reporters Benjamin Wood, Bethany Rodgers and Taylor Stevens and columnist Robert Gehrke discuss all the action at the state Capitol and the political loose ends that will continue into the summer. [Trib]

In other news: Though activist groups in Utah have been pushing for greater civilian oversight of the police force in Salt Lake City and beyond, lawmakers passed a bill to block municipalities from granting more power and autonomy to police review boards. [Trib]

-> The Midvale City Council passed a possibly first-of-its kind ordinance earlier this month recognizing pygmy goats as pets, not livestock, and allowing them in residential zones. [Trib]

-> A group of Tooele County residents has filed a lawsuit against the county for rejecting its petition that rezoning decisions be placed on the ballot, thus allowing residents to decide the fate of a large development project. [DNews]

-> The Utah League of Cities and Towns said the 2019 legislative session brought wins for local governmental control, as several bills that would have regulated cities in areas ranging from gravel pits to plastic bags either died or were amended. [DNews]

-> Utah lawmakers and citizens showed support for members of the state’s Muslim community in the wake of two mass shootings that took the lives of nearly 50 people at mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. [Trib] [ABC4]

Nationally: Using his first veto since becoming president of the United States, Donald Trump rejected a bipartisan resolution from Congress that would have reversed his declaration of national emergency at the nation’s southern border with Mexico. Lawmakers don’t have the votes to overturn his veto. [NYTimes] [WaPost] [Politico]

-> New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand officially announced that she will join a long list of Democratic hopefuls as a candidate in the 2020 presidential race. [NYTimes]

-> Former Vice President Joe Biden has not yet formally announced that he is seeking the Democratic nomination, but he seemed to almost accidentally do so while speaking at a fundraiser in Delaware. [WaPost]

->The divergence between Democrats and big tech companies is broadening ahead of 2020, as many presidential hopefuls denounce Silicon Valley giants. [Politico]

Got a tip? A birthday, wedding or anniversary to announce? Send us a note to cornflakes@sltrib.com.

-- Taylor Stevens and Christina Giardinelli

twitter.com/tstevensmedia; twitter.com/C_Giardinelli