Lockhart wants to spend big on technology in schools. Lawmakers could see a record number of bills this year. Legislation targets the use of drones in Utah.
Countdown:
- 41 days until the final day of the 2014 Legislature
- 144 days until Utah’s 2014 primary elections
- 277 days to the 2014 midterm elections
- 640 days to the 2015 elections
- 705 days until the 2016 Iowa Caucuses
- 1011 days to the 2016 presidential election
Today’s Utah political news highlights:
- House Speaker Becky Lockhart wants to spend between $200 and $300 million to increase technology in Utah’s schools [Tribune].
- Legislators say they may be considering a record number of bills during the 2014 session [Standard-Examiner].
- The House GOP meets with Attorney General Sean Reyes and the rest of his team defending Amendment 3 in federal court [Tribune].
- Utah has been given permission to file a legal brief in their defense of Amendment three that could run as long as 24,000 words, which is more than double the normal limit of 10,000 words [Deseret News].
- The Sutherland Institute says they will pull misleading television ads targeting a proposed statewide anti-discrimination bill [Tribune].
- Proposed legislation would toughen Utah’s DUI and seat belt laws [Tribune].
- Sen. Jim Dabakis wants the state to charge more for out-of-staters who get Utah concealed carry permits [Standard-Examiner].
- Proposed legislation would restrict the use of drones by governments in Utah [Tribune].
- Lawmakers chew over Gov. Gary Herbert’s call to reduce air pollution [Utah Policy, Deseret News].
- Rep. Jason Chaffetz introduces legislation to strip the NFL of its nonprofit status [Tribune].
- The University of Utah will close its Red Zone stores that unfairly compete with private businesses according to a legislative audit [Tribune].
- Rep. Rob Bishop has three Democratic aiming to challenge him in this year’s election [Standard-Examiner].
On this day in history:
- Guy Fawkes was executed for his role in a plot to blow up Parliament in 1606.
- Robert E. Lee was appointed commander-in-chief of the Confederate forces in 1865.
- The U.S. House of Representatives approved the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery in 1865.
- The very first social security check was issued in 1940.
- The United States launched it’s first satellite, Explorer I, into orbit in 1958.
- The first McDonalds restaurant was opened in Russia in 1990.
- Samuel Alito was confirmed by the Senate as a Supreme Court justice in 2006.
