We are 60 days out from the 2012 election and 143 days away from the start of the 2013 legislative session.

Democratic challenger Peter Cooke hits Gov. Gary Herbert on his handling of Utah’s economy [Tribune].

Mia Love’s budget proposal would slash more than $2 billion of federal spending in Utah. Love calls the plan a starting point for discussion [Tribune].

Rep. Jim Matheson says Mia Love’s proposed budget cuts would hurt local police departments [Tribune, KUTV, Fox 13].

Matheson skips the Democratic National Convention to campaign back home [Deseret News].

A summit on Utah’s liquor laws affirms for some state lawmakers that state control of alcohol is working [Tribune, Deseret News, ABC 4].

More proof that Utah is very frugal when it comes to public education. A new study says Utah is home to 7 of the 10-lowest spending school districts in the nation [Tribune].

Employees at the Utah State Prison allege a culture of cronyism is killing morale at the facility [Tribune].

Merrill Cook takes his fight to get an E-Verify initiative on November’s ballot to the Utah Supreme Court [Tribune].

An attendee at Paul Ryan’s private fundraiser in Utah County posts part of his speech online [ABC 4].

A former boyfriend is charged with stalking legislative candidate Celina Miller [KSL].