What You Need to Know About Utah Politics Today – December 9, 2013

Countdown:  There are 49 days until the start of the 2014 Legislature, 197 days until Utah’s 2014 primary elections, 330 days until the 2014 midterm elections, 694 days to the 2015 elections, 758 days until the 2016 Iowa Caucuses and 1065 until the 2016 presidential election.

On this day in history:

  • Longtime U.S. House Speaker Tip O’Neill was born in 1912.
  • China declared war against Japan, Germany and Italy in 1941.
  • The anti-communist John Birch Society was formed in 1958.
  • Arizona’s Petrified Forest was designated a national park in 1962.
  • Lech Walesa was elected president of Poland in 1990.

Today’s Utah news highlights:

  • The House committee investigating John Swallow says they’ve discovered more data that’s gone missing from Swallow’s time in office [Tribune, Deseret News].
  • Acting Attorney General Brian Tarbet joins the race to permanently replace Swallow [Tribune].
  • Here’s a good rundown of the 9 candidates vying to replace Swallow [Publius Online].
  • Utah has issued more than a half-million concealed carry firearm permits, but more than 60% of them have gone to people who don’t live here [Tribune].
  • Former Gov. Jon Huntsman pokes fun at his unsuccessful run for president in 2012 [Tribune].
  • Sen. Jim Dabakis is planning legislation to do away with a rule requiring restaurant patrons to dine before they are able to order booze [Tribune].
  • The fight over an online sales tax measure is creating some strange bedfellows [Tribune].
  • 3,000 Utahns who get unemployment insurance may have been affected by a computer data breach [Deseret News].
  • The Utah Board of Education elects Tami Pyfer as their new chairwoman [Tribune].
  • Provo Mayor John Curtis is getting some pushback on a proposed change to the city’s towing ordinance [Daily Herald]. 
  • The State Board of Education will not unveil new guidelines for disciplining teachers until next spring [Tribune].
  • Salt Lake City takes the wraps off the new Sugar House Streetcar [Tribune].