Happy Tuesday!
Andrew Card, who served as White House chief of staff for George W. Bush, supported Monday the House Democrats’ impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump, saying that “clearly lines have been crossed.” But he cautioned, "I do want the impeachment process if it’s going to go forward to be done deliberately without hyperbole, without exaggeration, based on the facts.” [TheHill]
Topping the news: Incumbent Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski endorsed state Sen. Luz Escamilla in the race to replace her. [Trib] [DNews] [Fox13]
-> Amid pressure from Trump to lower interest rates, Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell stresses during a Utah speech the need for independence for his agency. [Trib]
-> Most western states ban or restrict hunters from attracting big game with bait, but Utah allows it. The Division of Wildlife Resources is now studying whether to change that. [Trib]
Tweets of the day: From @AdamParkhomenko: “Trump promised his tax returns 1,544 days ago. My son was finishing kindergarten. He’s now in 5th grade.”
-> From @TheRickWilson: “Every tweet from Trump today was an outstanding argument for the 25th Amendment.”
-> From @LindseyGrahamSC: “The most probable outcome of this impulsive decision is to ensure Iran’s domination of Syria. The U.S. now has no leverage and Syria will eventually become a nightmare for Israel.”
Also in the news: Salt Lake City mayoral candidate and City Council member Erin Mendenhall outlined plans to launch a sustainable ecosystem for tech companies to grow in the city. [Trib]
-> Utahns who attended the Legislature’s recent listening tour to gather input and “decide whether Utah was facing a fiscal quandary,” were unimpressed by the $150,000 tax reform pitch laid out by lawmakers. [Trib]
-> Democratic state lawmakers have announced a packaged of “pro-family” bills they plan to introduce in the 2020 session of Utah Legislature, including calls for expanded sex education, access to birth control and six weeks paid parental leave for state workers. [DNews]
-> A new bus rapid transit line in Orem and Provo is now attracting about as many riders, and sometimes, than the Green Line TRAX trains. [Trib]
-> Research finds uranium in Navajo women and babies. [APviaTrib]
-> CNN offers an analysis why Utah Sen. Mitt Romney need not fear crossing Trump on impeachment. [CNN]
-> Vanity Fair says GOP donors are encouraging Romney to run against Trump — saying ‘there is a half-billion dollars on the sidelines from guys who are fed up with Trump.” [VanityFair]
-> Romney warns Trump’s decision to pull back troops in Syria has ‘grave’ consequences. [DNews]
-> Robert Gehrke discusses Utah’s move to renewable energy and what it could mean for the state and public’s future. [Trib]
-> Cases of vaping-related illness in Utah rose again last week, from 71 to 76. And 14 potential cases remain under investigation. [Trib]
Nationally: A federal judge rejected Trump’s efforts to keep his tax returns under wraps, ruling that New York City prosecutors can see Trump’s financial records for an investigation into hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels and a Playboy centerfold. [AP] [CNN] [WaPost]
-> President Trump vowed to withdraw American forces from the Middle East, and then dramatically pivoted to say he would restrain Turkey, following protests from congressional Republicans on the former. [NYTimes] [AP]
-> Trump says he has “great and unmatched wisdom” after receiving pushback on his decision to withdraw American Forces from the Middle East, and in warning to Turkey. [WaPost]
-> House Democrats have issued subpoenas to Defense Secretary Mark Esper and acting White House budget director Russell Vought in an impeachment inquiry of the President. [AP]
-> “Extreme measures” are being taken by the House Intelligence Committee and relevant lawyers to protect the identity of the whistleblower who filed a complaint about President Donald Trump’s conduct. [CNN] [WaPost]
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— Lee Davidson and Clara Hatcher
Follow @sltribpolitics