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What You Need to Know About Utah Politics Today – February 5, 2014

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Competing gas tax proposals on the Hill. A proposal could make “Count My Vote” moot. A Senate committee defers action on an anti-pollution measure.

 

Countdown:

  • 36 days until the final day of the 2014 Legislature
  • 139 days until Utah’s 2014 primary elections
  • 272 days to the 2014 midterm elections
  • 635 days to the 2015 elections
  • 700 days until the 2016 Iowa Caucuses
  • 1006 days to the 2016 presidential election

Today’s Utah political news highlights:

  • Lawmakers will consider two separate proposals to change the gas tax [Utah Policy, Tribune].
  • Sen. Curt Bramble unveils legislation that could kill the “Count My Vote” petition drive. His bill would require parties to adopt significant changes in their nominating process or be forced to have their nominees chosen in open primaries [Tribune]. 
  • A Senate committee defers action on a measure that would allow Utah to have more stringent clean-air standards than the federal government [Deseret News].
  • A bill proposes to keep mentally ill persons from accessing firearms [Utah Policy].
  • A bill requiring more campaign spending disclosure moves forward [Tribune].
  • Legislators are grappling with the cost of Speaker Lockhart’s education tech initiative [Utah Policy].
  • A legislative committee gives quick approval to a measure to increase the number of 80-mph zones on Utah highways [Tribune].
  • Rep. Gage Froerer unveils his bill allowing the use of some hemp extracts for medicinal purposes [Standard-Examiner].
  • The Senate approves an election reform measure that would keep state officials who are accused of election improprieties from investigating themselves [Tribune].
  • A legislative audit dings lax security at the Capitol [Standard-Examiner].
  • A committee tables a bill to decrease the costs associated with GRAMA requests [Tribune].
  • Dirty tricks have already popped up in the race for the GOP nomination in House District 57 [Tribune].

On this day in history:

  • President Franklin Delano Roosevelt proposed increasing the number of Supreme Court justices in 1937.
  • The Arizona House of Representatives impeached Gov. Evan Mecham in 1988.
  • Secretary of State Colin Powell tells the U.N. Security Council that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction in 2003.