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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
“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.
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.
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.
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 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
Take 2 host Heidi Hatch welcomes Maura Carabello and Greg Hughes on the same day Utah’s legislative session ends. With a slew of things to talk about, including all that happens on the session’s last day, the trio tackle some of the highlights of what Utah’s lawmakers have been up to.
An English-only bill died on Utah’s political hill while another piece of legislation wants to get rid of mask mandates in the state. This happens just as Utah and other counties move to the “moderate” phase of COVID-19 precaution.
In a sobering reality of the virus, Rep. Jon Hawkins of Pleasant Grove joined the Utah House of Representatives from his hospital bed. Hawkins has been hospitalized with coronavirus since January and said he will have to learn to walk and swallow again.
“The things we all take for granted,” he said.
A new position will be created after the Legislature approved to help tackle those who are homeless. Is Utah having a “homeless czar” the right move? In addition, lawmakers put $50 million into housing
One bill with no controversy, a Senate law enforcement modification bill, passed the House unanimously Thursday that will put some oversight over BYU police.
There is also a big transportation bill that passes that includes $1 billion in one-time spending and borrows an additional $264 million.
Other topics include:
SB228 Social Media Controls: A bill passed Thursday would regulate how social media companies’ moderate content on their platforms. SL TRIB SB228 requires social media platforms to clearly state their content moderation policy, and inform Utah users within 24 hours when they run afoul of it. There’s also a requirement that those companies provide an appeal process for Utah account holders.
Bail Reform Passes: Greg’s work is complete? Or just beginning
Party Switching Bill: A bill limiting certain Utahns from switching parties before a primary election has passed the Senate and is on its way to Gov. Spencer Cox’s desk. House Bill 197, sponsored by Rep. Jordan Teuscher (R-South Jordan), passed the Senate 22 to 3. One Democrat joined Republicans in voting for it.
The bill specifies that for those who are already registered with a political party after March 31, any party affiliation change would not take effect until after that year’s primary election. Unaffiliated voters could register with a party at any time and still vote in the primary.
Two new Utah state parks: Raptor State Park and Lost Creek State Park by Echo Reservoir are here.
There is also a new law to studying flying car traffic.
