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Ten Things You Need to Know for Tuesday – March 10, 2015

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Teachers rally at the Capitol for more education funding. Medical marijuana legislation narrowly dies in the Senate. Lawmakers still looking for a compromise on Medicaid expansion.

Countdown:

  • Days to the final day of the 2015 Utah Legislature – 2
  • Days to the 2015 Utah municipal primary elections – 154
  • Days to the 2015 election – 238
  • Days to the 2016 Iowa Caucus (tentative) – 314
  • Days to the opening day of the 2016 Utah Legislature – 321
  • Days to the 2016 Utah presidential primary – 476
  • Days until the 2016 presidential election – 609

Tuesday's top-10 headlines:

  1. Educators pack the Capitol to rally for more education funding, but it's not clear if it had any effect on lawmakers [Tribune, Deseret News].
  2. The medical marijuana bill falls by one vote in the Utah Senate [Tribune, Deseret News]. A poll shows 66% of Utahns would support legalizing medical cannabis [Utah Policy].
  3. Time is running out for the House and Senate to come to a compromise on Medicaid expansion [Utah Policy, Deseret News, Tribune].
  4. The Utah House changes the rules after Democrats force a vote on Healthy Utah [Tribune].
  5. Utahns overwhelmingly support a hike in the gasoline tax [Utah Policy]. Lawmakers advance two competing plans to raise gasoline taxes [Deseret News].
  6. A proposal to send primary election results back to the parties if no candidate gets above 40% squeaks through the House [Tribune, Deseret News]. Lawmakers may be mulling changing the plan to include instant runoff voting [Utah Policy].
  7. Most Utahns support proposed "right to die" legislation [Utah Policy].
  8. The Utah House rejects legislation allowing car manufacturers from owning a dealership in Utah. That means plans for a dealership in Utah are now very much in doubt [Tribune].
  9. Utah Senators kill an attempt to increase fines for air quality violations [Tribune].
  10. The Utah House unanimously approves legislation that could strip former Attorney General John Swallow's state pension [Tribune].

On this day in history:

  • 1496 – Christopher Columbus concluded his second visit to the Western Hemisphere as he left Hispaniola for Spain.
  • 1862 – The U.S. Treasury issues the first American paper money.
  • 1876 – Alexander Graham Bell transmitted the first telephone message to his assistant in the next room: "Mr. Watson, come here. I want you."
  • 1997 – "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" debuted on the WB network.