Tag Archives: politics

Take 2: Firework restrictions, federal unemployment and infrastructure

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Heidi Hatch hosts Maura Carabello and Greg Hughes to talk about the week of politics in Utah.

FIREWORKS

Gov. Spencer Cox said he doesn’t have the authority to ban the, the Republican lawmakers will not call a session to tackle the problem, Salt Lake County can’t ban them but Salt Lake City did ban them. Whose problem is this anyway?

FEDERAL UNEMPLOYMENT PAYMENTS

Federal bonuses end today. Will job vacancies be filled or has the working situation changed?

INFRASTRUCTURE

Sen. Mitt Romney was part of a bipartisan group that met and worked with the White House on the framework of a deal. There are still details to be worked out but Democrats said they are working on a further $6 trillion spending package on what they call “human infrastructure.”

Meanwhile Rep. John Curtis is working on a climaye change committee for GOP. The three also talk about voting, crime bill COVID-19 cases and vaccinations.

 

Take 2 Podcast: A conversation with Rep. Chris Stewart

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Host Heidi Hatch is joined by Rep. Chris Stewart, a Republican representing Utah’s Second Congressional District.

Stewart talks about Utah’s drought and wildlands fires, the the newly formed Juneteenth federal holiday.

Stewart also discusses the Utah delegation that he was part of meeting with President Joe Biden over the designation of national monuments on Utah lands. Another topic is the vote to repeal authorization for use of military force against Iraq and Biden’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Next time we return to our usual format with Greg Hughes and Maura Carabello.

Take 2 podcast: Pride, QAnon, unemployment, and the Fauci emails

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Heidi Hatch, Greg Hughes, and Maura Carabello are back this week to review the political news you might’ve missed — and they’ve got a few things on their minds.

TAKE 2: Utah senators split on riot commission, Wuhan lab buzz, Mike Lee’s challenger

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Utah’s two senators cast opposing votes on Friday regarding a proposed commission to investigate the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. The first Republican challenger, Becky Edwards, has announced a run to unseat Sen. Mike Lee. And President Joe Biden wants to know whether COVID-19 could have started in a lab in Wuhan.

Heidi Hatch is joined by Greg Hughes and Maura Carabello to discuss these developments and other Utah political news you might have missed this week.

Take 2: Masks, lotteries, and Liz Cheney

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Heidi Hatch, Greg Hughes and Maura Carabello are ready to de-brief after another week of news.

Gov. Spencer Cox: Masks can be ditched the last week of school: He said schools will still have the option to require masks during the last week, but the state will no longer mandate the rule.

Cox wants to give away millions to encourage more Utahns to get vaccinated: Is this legal and is it a good idea? The announcement comes a day after Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine established a lottery system to give five people $1 million each as a vaccination incentive.

“There is no amount of money that is too much to help us get an extra 5% or 10% of people vaccinated,” Cox said.

CDC says vaccinated can toss the mask: Why Now? In a move to send the country back toward pre-pandemic life, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday eased indoor mask-wearing guidance for fully vaccinated people, allowing them to safely stop wearing masks inside in most places.

The new guidance still calls for wearing masks in crowded indoor settings like buses, planes, hospitals, prisons and homeless shelters.

Liz Cheney voted out of House leadership: Rep. Blake Moore voted to keep her, Owens did not vote, Curtis and Stewart voted for change.

Sen. Mitt Romney backed Cheney, Lee would not weigh in on the issue because it was in the House.

Plus, Heidi’s whirlwind trip to Washington, D.C. for an exclusive sit down with Utah’s Senators, in the same room at the same time. Watch 2 News at 10 on Thursday, May 20.

Take 2: Censuring Romney, Utah’s crazy growth, and ‘Show Up Utah’

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What Utah political news did you miss this week? Heidi Hatch, Greg Hughes, and Maura Carabello are back to fill you in.
The rundown:
Utah Republican Party convention this Saturday includes a vote to censure Mitt Romney.
Where is Utah at with redistricting?
Utah is the fastest-growing state, according to 2020 Census data. What does that mean for the future?
First Lady Abby Cox launches her “Show Up Utah” initiative to combat what she’s calling an “empathy crisis.”
Joe Biden celebrates 100 days in office, but Utah Republicans don’t appear to be celebrating with him.

Take 2: 100 days of Spencer Cox, war of words over political cartoon

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Greg Hughes and Maura Carabello join 2News anchor Heidi Hatch to review this week in Utah politics.
They’ll review Gov. Spencer Cox’s first 100 days in office, the ongoing mask debate in Utah, Republicans’ opposition to President Joe Biden’s definition of “infrastructure,” and a war of words between Salt Lake Tribune cartoonist Pat Bagley and Utah’s congressional delegation over a cartoon criticism of Rep. Burgess Owens’ speech at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Take 2 Podcast — Public lands, gun reforms after mass shootings, mask mandates and the U.S. Border with Mexico

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Take 2 host Heidi Datch welcomes guests Scott Howell and Greg Hughes to talk about recent issues in Utah and Utah politics. The trio discusses public lands after federal and local officials visited Bears Ears and Grand Staircase national monuments. They ask talk about possible gun reforms after more mass shootings in the United States. Utah’s mask mandate is also a topic and the U.S. border with Mexico.

PUBLIC LANDS: Interior Secretary Haaland in Southern Utah touring Bears Ears and Grand Stair Case with the Governor and Congressional leaders. Her visit comes after President Biden signed and order on his first day in office to change boundaries and cut off fracking, drilling in the area.
Is this visit just for show? Or do we think there are real conversations happening. Secretary Deb Haaland is the 1st Native American to serve in the position. She Is a member of the Pueblo tribe and 35th generation New Mexican.

GUN REFORM: 2 Mass shootings Thursday in the US on Thursday.
One in Texas where an employee of a company shot 5 people, killing one- 4 critically injured. Then shot a trooper who was in pursuit of him.
In South Carolina: Former NFL player Phillip Adams fatally shot five people including a prominent doctor, his wife and their two grandchildren before later killing himself, authorities said Thursday.
That morning President Biden signed executive action to start the process of enacting new gun laws. “He pushed back against arguments that these executive actions would infringe upon the right to bear arms. The changes include reviewing federal policy surrounding ghost guns — handmade or self-assembled firearms that don’t include serial numbers — and the use of stabilizing braces on pistols, a modification that turns the weapon into a short-barreled rifle.” – CBS

UTAH’S MASK MADATE ENDS ON SATURDAY:
Salt Lake City Mayor used executive powers to keep the mask mandate in place. Even adding possible $1000 fine and up to 6 months in jail if you refuse to wear a mask.
Salt Lake County Health Dept. Did not recommend a mandate. County buildings and parks require masks. Is the park mandate good policy for sports like softball and baseball?
Grand County keeps the Mandate through June 15th.
Will there be confusion and nastiness?
Masks are still required in schools- and where businesses ask that patrons where a mask.

BORDER:
Mike Lee visited last week
Burgess Owens was there this week
What is the best way forward? Can we all admit there is a problem?

Take 2 Podcast: Gov. Cox signs 464 bills, uses his first veto, plus gun control and U.S. border crisis

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Host Heidi Hatch welcomes former Utah House Speaker Greg Hughes and from the other side of the aisle, Maura Carabello.

Utah’s newly elected Gov. Spencer Cox signed 464 bills but vetoed one titled “Electronics Free Speech Amendments.”

Final Bills

Gov. Cox signed these four bills:

● HB 220 Pretrial Detention Amendments. Schultz, M. (A win for Greg Hughes)

● HB 294 Pandemic Emergency Powers Amendments. Ray, P

● SB 107 In-person Instruction Prioritization. Weller, T.

● SB 195 Emergency Response Amendments. Vickers, E.

 

Gov. Cox vetoed these three bills:

● HB 98 Local Government Building Regulation Amendments. Ray, P.

● SB 39 Hemp Regulation Amendments. Hinkins, D.

● SB 187 Local Education Agency Policies Amendments. Winterton, R.

 

Gov. Cox allowed these three bills to become law without his signature:

● HB 197 Voter Affiliation Amendments. Teuscher, J.

● SB 104 Tax Levy for Animal Control. Weller, T

● SB 167 Utah Film Economic Incentives. Winterton, R

 

Our trio also discusses gun controls after a supermarket shooting in Colorado. President Joe Biden called for a ban on assault weapons and background check legislation.

The crisis on the border: Who is at fault anyway? There could be selective outrage depending on who is president.

According to statistics published by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, authorities encountered 9,457 children without a parent in February, a 61% increase from January, not 28%. The numbers of unaccompanied children did rise 31% between January 2019 and February 2019.

Take 2 podcast: The longest year ever

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Take 2 host Heidi Hatch welcomes Maura Carabello and Greg Hughes as the state of Utah — and the nation — reflect on the one-year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic changing everything about our daily lives.

This week’s political news:

President Joe Biden delivered his first primetime address to the nation on Thursday, setting a May 1 goal for all American adults to be made eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Utah has a target date of April 1 for that to happen, as 2News reported earlier this week.

American Rescue Plan is passed and signed, with individual checks to start this weekend. Utah’s entire Congressional delegation voted against it.

Does Utah need the money and, if yes, how should it be used?
Questions about a Latter-day Saint general authority’s political donations emerged this week: “These donations were made by our family using an online account, which is shared by our family and associated with my Name. I regret such an oversight on my part. I fully support the church’s policy related to political donations from church leaders.” – statement from Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Daylight Saving Time this weekend: Utah passed a bill a year ago to end the clock change, but it’s still happening.

LEGISLATIVE SESSION

502 bills passed that may become laws. Are there any for-sure vetoes?
April 10: The statewide mask mandate is expected to be lifted (schools and 50+ gatherings not included)
The mental health day bill for school kids passed
Bail reform was repealed and now the work starts again
Constitutional carry or permit-less carry: Adults 21+ can conceal a firearm without a permit
No more picketing private homes
More doctors can recommend cannabis for up to 15 patients