Here are some tidbits and quips our reporters saw or overheard during the first day of the 2018 Legislature.
House Democratic Rep. Susan Duckworth, D-Magna, slamming GOP Sen. Daniel Thatcher, R-West Valley, up against the wall in the House corridor. Not as bad as it looked — and she really pushed him back hard with two hands — Duckworth was demonstrating how she pushed House Majority Leader Brad Wilson, R-Kaysville, last year when constituents demanded she vote for a Wilson-sponsored bill that she didn’t agree with.
P.S. Duckworth told UtahPolicy.com she had missed the mandatory pre-session harassment training, but would take it later. Thatcher laughed off the incident, as the two are friends.
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Rep. Jim Dunnigan, R-Taylorsville, having a quiet moment with his wife Vicki, kissing her before going on the floor for opening ceremonies. When will he get that chance again during the hectic 45-day session?
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Senate President Wayne Niederhauser, R-Sandy, asked the press to go around the room and introduce themselves during the daily media time following the early floor session, giving the 2018 session a very “first day of school” feeling.