Lawmakers passed the 3rd-most bills ever in 2014. Democrats hold their caucus meetings. Utah’s tax burden is below the national average.
Countdown:
- The Utah candidate filing period closes tomorrow at 5 pm
- Utah Republicans hold their caucus meetings tomorrow evening
- 37 days until the Utah State Republican and Democratic conventions
- 97 days until Utah’s 2014 primary elections
- 230 days to the 2014 midterm elections
- 313 days to the start of the 2015 Utah Legislature
- 593 days to the 2015 elections
- 658 days until the 2016 Iowa Caucuses
- 964 days to the 2016 presidential election
Today’s Utah political news highlights:
- An analysis shows the 2014 Legislature passed the 3rd most bills ever [Utah Policy].
- Utah’s Democrats say turnout for their caucus meetings was down, but not as much as some expected [Deseret News, Daily Herald].
- Sim Gill announces his bid for another term as Salt Lake County District Attorney [Deseret News].
- Democrat Charles Stormont jumps into the race for Attorney General to challenge Republican Sean Reyes [Deseret News].
- One of the candidates Utah Democrats were hoping could win a GOP-controlled legislative seat decides against a run at the last minute [Utah Policy].
- Murray Mayor Dan Snarr is challenging for a seat on the Salt Lake County Council, but Utah Democrats wish he was running for the seat being vacated by Tim Cosgrove instead [Utah Policy].
- Sen. Ralph Okerlund, who collapsed from heart failure on the second-to-last day of the Legislature, heads home from the hospital [Tribune].
- Clean air activists grade the performance of Utah lawmakers during the just-finished legislative session and find it wanting [Tribune, Standard-Examiner].
- A study says Utah’s taxes are the 14th lowest in the nation [Tribune].
- A group of Utah ski industry is set to unveil a plan to connect seven resorts in Salt Lake and Summit counties [Tribune].
- Utah farmers once again call for immigration reform [Tribune].
- A new report finds tourism is a major economic driver in a number of rural counties in Utah [Tribune].
On this day in history:
- 1860 – William Jennings Bryan, three-time Democratic presidential nominee, was born in Salem, Ill.
- 1891 – Earl Warren, the 14th chief justice of the United States, was born in Los Angeles.
- 1917 – The Supreme Court upheld the eight-hour work day for railroads.
- 1918 – Congress approved daylight-saving time.
- 1920 – The U.S. Senate rejected the Treaty of Versailles for a second time.
- 1931 – Nevada legalized gambling.
- 1962 – Bob Dylan’s debut album was released.
- 1995 – Michael Jordan returned to the NBA after an attempt to become a professional baseball player.
- 2003 – An American-led coalition went to war against Iraq, beginning Operation Iraqi Freedom with a series of air-strikes on Baghdad.
