How to Sound Smart About Utah Politics – June 4, 2014

Shurtleff decries the search of his home by law enforcement agents. Matheson endorses Owens in Utah’s 4th District. Lawmaker says the Supreme Court may not rule on same-sex marriage.

 

Countdown:

  • 20 days to Utah’s 2014 primary election
  • 153 days until the 2014 midterm elections
  • 236 days to the opening day of the 2015 legislature
  • 517 days until the 2015 elections
  • 593 days to the 2016 Iowa Caucuses (tentative)
  • 891 days until the 2016 presidential election

Wednesday’s Utah political news highlights:

  • Former Attorney General Mark Shurtleff decries heavy handed tactics used by law enforcement officials during the search of his home [Tribune, Deseret News].
  • Democratic Rep. Brian King says he doubts the U.S. Supreme Court will rule on same-sex marriage [Deseret News, Tribune].
  • Utah won’t file a lawsuit against the federal government anytime soon in the effort to wrest away control of public lands [Tribune].
  • Rep. Jim Matheson offers up his endorsement of Democrat Doug Owens to replace him in Congress [Utah Policy, Deseret News, Tribune]. Here’s a podcast conversation with Owens about the campaign [Utah Policy].
  • The ACLU tells the Salt Lake City Council that they could be violating the First Amendment if they send a letter supporting a group that was excluded from the Days of ’47 Parade [Tribune].
  • Officials break ground on the new Broadway-style theater in downtown Salt Lake City [Utah Policy, Tribune, Deseret News].
  • Rose Park residents protest possible changes to their golf course [Tribune, Deseret News].

On this day in history:

  • 1892 – The Sierra Club was incorporated in San Francisco.
  • 1896 – Henry Ford made a successful test run of his horseless carriage.
  • 1912 – Massachusetts became the first state to adopt a minimum wage law.
  • 1919 – Congress approved the 19th Amendment to the Constitution guaranteeing citizens the right to vote regardless of gender.
  • 1940 – Allied toops completed the evacuation of British troops from Dunkirk, France.
  • 1942 – The Battle of Midway began in World War II.
  • 1984 – The album “Born in the U.S.A.” by Bruce Springsteen was released.
  • 1985 – The Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling striking down an Alabama law providing for a daily minute of silence in public schools.
  • 1988 – A federal judge sentenced Terry Nichols to life in prison for his role in the Oklahoma City bombing.
  • 1989 – Chinese troops stormed Tiananmen Square to crush a pro-democracy movement.
  • 2003 – Martha Stewart was indicted on charges of insider trading.