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Lee outrageously compares voting bill to a dark time in American history
During a Wednesday appearance on Fox News Channel, Sen. Mike Lee delved into his bag of hyperbole to attack HR1, the Democratic-sponsored election reform bill currently under debate in the Senate.
“This bill would turn the Democratic Party into a sort of revolutionary institutional party that would control American politics for decades, and would do so in a way that would clamp down on political free speech to such a degree that it would almost rival the Alien and Sedition Acts in terms of the tyranny it imposes on the American people,” hyperventilated Lee.
Congress passed the Alien and Sedition Acts in 1798 in response to a perceived threat that France was about to invade the United States. The laws increased residency requirements for U.S. citizens to 14 years and permitted the government to arrest and deport all male citizens of an enemy nation in the event of war. The president was given the power to expel any non-citizen suspected of plotting against the government, even in peacetime. The Sedition Act was particularly heinous as it outlawed any “false, scandalous and malicious writing” against Congress or the president.
This is not the first time Lee has railed against HR1, which provides for nationwide automatic voter registration, enacts several campaign finance reforms, and requires every state to use an independent redistricting process to prevent gerrymandering. In March, Lee said the proposal was “written by the devil himself” and that he disagreed with “every single word in HR1, including the words ‘but’ and ‘the.’”
Lee’s over-the-top comparison went unchallenged by the friendly Fox News anchors.
Lee said there are not enough votes in the Senate to break the filibuster, and he predicted its ultimate demise.
“This thing cannot pass. It must not pass,” said Lee.
PSA: Don’t put gasoline in plastic bags
I cannot believe that I’m typing these words. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission tweeted a warning against putting gasoline in plastic bags after gas stations experienced shortages following the shutdown of the Colonial Pipeline.
Don’t believe people could be that stupid? Behold.
Here’s what you need to know for Thursday morning
Local news
Gov. Spencer Cox said Wednesday the state would end its participation in expanded federal unemployment benefits. Utah is the 9th GOP-led state to end the extra benefits early [Tribune].
Utah lawmakers are preparing to meet in a special session next week to accept more than $1.5 billion in federal COVID relief. Most of that money will go toward infrastructure projects, but lawmakers are worried about rising inflation [Tribune].
Most of Utah’s members of Congress say they’re okay with the ouster of Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney from her leadership spot in the House Republican Caucus. Cheney was axed Wednesday for her refusal to go along with former President Donald Trump’s lie that the 2020 election was fraudulent. Freshman Rep. Blake Moore and Sen. Mitt Romney both said they supported Cheney’s stance [Tribune].
A number of Utah parents are excited to get their kids the COVID vaccine now that it’s been approved for use in 12- to-15-year-olds [Tribune].
National news
House Republicans shockingly tried to recast the horde of Trump supporters who attacked the U.S. Capitol on January 6 as victims. Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar blamed the media for a false representation of the riot and claimed Ashli Babbitt, who was fatally shot by Capitol Police as she tried to break into the House chamber was “executed.” Georgia Rep. Andrew Clyde said the violence was not an insurrection and the mob who chanted “hang Mike Pence” was no different from a typical tour of the Capitol [WaPo].
Stunning new bodycam footage from Capitol Police officer Michael Fanone, who suffered a heart attack after being beaten up by the pro-Trump mob on January 6, showed MAGA rioters grabbing him while one gleefully yells, “I got one!” Fanone can be heard screaming as the crowd descended on him while some in the crowd plead to let him go [CNN].
President Joe Biden met with Congressional leaders in the White House to discuss infrastructure spending [Politico].
Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene reportedly chased Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez around the Capito,l ranting about Antifa and Black Lives Matter [WaPo].
President Biden called for an end to the latest round of violence between Israel and Palestine but assured Israeli leaders of his support [Politico].
The Colonial Pipeline restarted operations after the ransomware attack that caused a six-day shut down [CNN].
The number of COVID-related deaths in the U.S. drops to the lowest level in 10 months [AP].
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine says residents who get vaccinated for COVID will be entered into a drawing for $1 million [NBC News].
Consumer prices jumped 4.2% in April as the economic recovery from the pandemic began to pick up steam [WSJ].
Tesla announced it would no longer accept Bitcoin as payments for its cars due to the impact on the environment from cryptocurrency [BBC].
Thursday’s Utah news roundup
Utah
Could a tiny Utah town’s expansion dreams get snuffed out by its own residents? [Tribune].
Former Voices for Utah Children CEO resigns after he wrote checks to his own company [Tribune].
‘We did it’: Utahns achieve $10 million matching grant from Miller Foundation for new homeless centers [Deseret News].
Lawsuit filed over Utah ballot initiative changes [Fox 13].
Army records reveal more about Utahn charged in Capitol riot [Fox 13].
Zion National Park to double shuttle ticket prices starting Friday [Spectrum].
COVID
Utah reports 13 more deaths caused by COVID-19 [Tribune].
Davis County now offering vaccines to those ages 12 and older [ABC 4].
Economy
What are Utah restaurants and bars doing now that mask mandates are gone? [Tribune].
Lumber prices have quadrupled. Here’s who it’s hurting [Deseret News].
Education
Morgan School district lifts its mask requirement, makes it a recommendation [Standard-Examiner].
How school nurses made it through a ‘monumental year’ with the pandemic [KUTV].
Environment
Salt Lake County receives $600k from EPA for clean-up efforts [Fox 13].
Local government
North Ogden project impacted by rising land prices, more funds needed to widen road [Standard-Examiner].
Utah County Commission postpones discussion about budget amendments [Daily Herald].
Former commissioner Greg Graves among candidates for Utah County Clerk/Auditor [Daily Herald].
Some Summit County nonprofits may be hit with a surprise tax bill [Park Record].
BC mayor proposes $85 million 2021-2022 budget [Box Elder News Journal].
EPA officially moves Utah side of Cache Valley into PM2.5 ‘attainment’ [Herald Journal].
UDOT expands rural fiber optic network [Richfield Reaper].
On the editorial pages
Tribune editorial: Utah Republicans turn on Liz Cheney because she won’t lie for Trump [Tribune].
Ammon Bundy’s vaccine conflagration isn’t the real reason rural America isn’t vaccinated [Deseret News].
You say it’s your birthday?
Happy birthday to Adam Snow, Southern Utah Director for Rep. Chris Stewart.
Got a birthday you’d like us to recognize in this space? Send us an email.
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