An alternative to Medicaid expansion moves forward. A House committee approves a resolution supporting a move for the state prison. Legislation would make it more difficult to gather signatures for a citizen initiative.
Countdown:
- 16 days until the final day of the 2014 Legislature
- 17 days until the Utah candidate filing period opens
- 21 days until the Utah Democratic Party caucus meetings
- 21 days until the Utah candidate filing period closes
- 23 days until the Utah GOP caucus meetings
- 60 days until the Utah State Republican and Democratic conventions
- 119 days until Utah’s 2014 primary elections
- 252 days to the 2014 midterm elections
- 615 days to the 2015 elections
- 680 days until the 2016 Iowa Caucuses
- 986 days to the 2016 presidential election
Today’s Utah political news highlights:
- A legislative committee approves an alternative to accepting Medicaid expansion money from the feds [Tribune].
- Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox talks about his involvement in the negotiations over Medicaid expansion [Utah Policy].
- A House committee unanimously advances a resolution in support of moving the state prison away from Draper [Deseret News, Daily Herald, Tribune].
- Rep. Jason Chaffetz visits lawmakers, voices his opposition to the “Count My Vote” initiative [Deseret News, Tribune].
- Sen. Curt Bramble says the state may have to repeal a pair of immigration reform laws passed by the legislature due to inaction by the federal government [Tribune].
- A group of media outlets and educators form a non-partisan coalition to televise political debates [Utah Policy, Tribune.]
- Gov. Gary Herbert meets with President Barack Obama and asks for more help dealing with drought conditions in the Western United States [Tribune].
- Rep. Jon Stanard is proposing legislation to make it more difficult to gather signatures in order to get a citizen initiative or referendum on the ballot [Utah Policy].
- The House approves a bill imposing reforms on the payday lending industry [Tribune].
- The House Rules Committee uses a technicality to avoid taking action on a bill that would allow lawmakers to abstain from voting on legislation on which they have a conflict of interest [Utah Policy, Tribune].
- A Gallup survey says 60% of Utahns are members of the LDS faith [KSL].
- You must see this amazing video of Lt. Gov. Cox from when he was in high school [Utah Policy].
On this day in history:
- Samuel Cold patented his revolver pistol in 1836.
- Hiram Revels became the first black U.S Senator in 1870.
- The 16th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which gives Congress the power to collect income taxes, went into effect in 1913.
- Communists seized power in Czechoslovakia in 1948.
- Cassius Clay (who later changed his name to Muhammad Ali) became the world heavyweight boxing champion in 1964.