This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Healthy Utah in trouble with Legislature. Colbert's political hits. How to stop fence jumpers at the White House.
Happy Friday. Stephen Colbert beat Rep. Jason Chaffetz in a leg wrestling match — twice, but that doesn't count as one of his top political takedowns on The Colbert Report, which aired its last episode on Thursday. One Utah politician did make the list, and that's former Gov. Jon Huntsman. [http://www.politico.com/story/2014/12/stephen-colberts-greatest-political-takedowns-113695.html?hp=l2_3" target="_blank">Politico]
Topping the news: The Legislature's Health Reform Task Force won't sign off on Gov. Gary Herbert's Healthy Utah plan and instead is suggesting a far narrower Medicaid expansion. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/1965880-155/lawmakers-snub-governors-healthy-utah-plan" target="_blank">Trib][http://fox13now.com/2014/12/18/utah-legislature-vote-not-to-recommend-gov-herberts-healthy-utah-plan/" target="_blank">Fox13][http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865618031/Utah-lawmakers-recommend-lowest-cost-solution-to-Medicaid-expansion-insuring-only-the-most.html" target="_blank">DNews][http://www.kutv.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/Healthy-Utah-voted-down-64367.shtml" target="_blank">KUTV]
-> Sunday marks one year since Judge Shelby's ruling on same sex marriage in Utah. Take a look back at that moment and everything that has happened since. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/1965608-155/a-year-ago-shelbys-same-sex-marriage" target="_blank">Trib]
-> The White House is tried of the fence jumpers, which included one man who actually got into the presidential residence. Now the Secret Service has a plan — a much taller fence. [http://www.nationaljournal.com/white-house/the-new-white-house-fence-could-wind-up-being-really-really-tall-20141218" target="_blank">NatJournal]
Tweetd of the day: From https://twitter.com/hcraighall" target="_blank" rel="user">@hcraighall: "I secretly love when people talk to me (or I'm in mtgs) about the #utleg and they have no idea I'm a member of the #utleg."
-> From https://twitter.com/joederosacomedy" target="_blank">@joederosacomedy: "Could every TV news story not involve Twitter responses? Never watched the news and thought, 'What does the guy that likes Camaros think?'"
Happy Birthday: To Brian Steed, chief of staff for Rep. Chris Stewart and on Saturday to Mandy Rogers.
Programming note: Political Cornflakes is taking the holidays off. We'll return to your inboxes and computer screens after the New Year. Also, we want to give a big public thank you to Mallory Jesperson, who has served as our intern this semester and did a bang up job.
Tune in: Tribune reporters Matt Canham and Nate Carlisle, business editor Mike Gorrell and government and politics editor Dan Harrie join Jennifer Napier-Pearce to talk about choosing a prison site, moving homeless services and keeping the controversial fiduciary of the polygamist trust on the job. Listen to "Behind the Headlines" live at 9 a.m. on KCPW 88.3/105.3 FM or http://kcpw.org/" target="_blank">kcpw.org.
In other news: Gov. Gary Herbert has nominated Judge Constandinos Himonas for the vacancy on the Utah Supreme Court. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/1965736-155/gov-herbert-nominates-judge-himonas-for" target="_blank">Trib][http://fox13now.com/2014/12/18/gov-herbert-nominates-judge-himonas-to-utah-supreme-court/" target="_blank">Fox13][http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865617987/Gov-Herbert-nominates-3rd-District-Judge-Deno-Himonas-to-Utah-Supreme-Court.html" target="_blank">DNews]
-> Momentum is growing to find a new site the homeless shelter, with a group of business leaders urging on Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker's new commission. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/1951821-155/momentum-building-to-move-salt-lake" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Check out chapter six in "The Last Leg" series, which follows veteran Bryant Jacobs recovery from a voluntary amputation. [http://local.sltrib.com/charts/bryantjacobs/chaptersix.html" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Rep. Jason Chaffetz is the Hinckley Institute's politician of the year. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865617898/Chaffetz-named-6politician-of-year7.html?clear_cache=1" target="_blank">DNews]
-> Paul Rolly discusses Cinegrill losing its liquor license after moving to a new location. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/1959796-155/rolly-utah-restaurant-cinegrill-loses-something" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Legislators want to make sure that state money pays for the upkeep of vital higher education buildings and have private donations cover buildings deemed not critical. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/1965725-155/lawmakers-press-utah-higher-education-leaders" target="_blank">Trib]
-> One of Mayor Ralph Becker's concerns about building a prison near the airport is that it could get hit with a tsunami-like wave from the Great Salt Lake in an earthquake and an expert at the University of Utah says that's true. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/1961772-155/salt-lake-city-prison-sites-could" target="_blank">Trib]
-> The No. 8 political story of the year is the effort to move the state prison. [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/multimedia/4320-10-utah-political-news-stories-of-2014-8" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]
-> Bob Bernick and Bryan Schott talk about the week in politics. [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/multimedia/4318-video-bernick-and-schott-on-politics-episode-217" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]
Nationally: President Barack Obama isn't done with Cuba just yet. Now that he has established diplomatic relations, he's planning to lift restrictions on commerce and travel soon. [http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/19/us/politics/obama-intends-to-lift-several-restrictions-against-cuba-on-his-own.html?_r=0" target="_blank">NYTimes] The changes are causing U.S. businesses to rush to find opportunities in Cuba. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/for-us-businesses-and-tourists-opportunities-abound-in-cuba/2014/12/18/c8b5c0de-86f2-11e4-9534-f79a23c40e6c_story.html?hpid=z1" target="_blank">WaPost]
-> Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said three key Islamic jihadist leaders have been killed during U.S. airstrikes. [http://www.wsj.com/articles/several-islamic-state-leaders-have-been-killed-in-iraq-u-s-says-1418926663?mod=WSJ_hp_LEFTTopStories" target="_blank">WSJ]
-> An independent panel recommends deep changes at the Secret Service and says the agency is "starved for leadership." [http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/panel-calls-for-deep-changes-in-secret-service/2014/12/18/422b8612-86f1-11e4-b9b7-b8632ae73d25_story.html" target="_blank">WaPost][http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/outside-panel-says-secret-service-starved-for-leadership/article/2557614" target="_blank">Examiner][http://www.politico.com/story/2014/12/secret-service-white-house-security-panel-report-113686.html?hp=rc2_4" target="_blank">Politico]
Where are they?
Got a tip? A birthday, wedding or anniversary to announce? Email us at cornflakes@sltrib.com" target="_blank">cornflakes@sltrib.com. If you haven't already, sign up for our weekday email and get this sent directly to your inbox. [https://cornflakesdummy.wordpress.com/wp-admin/www.sltrib.com/pages/email" target="_blank">Trib]
— Matt Canham and Mallory Jesperson
http://www.twitter.com/mattcanham" target="_blank">Twitter.com/mattcanham and https://twitter.com/JespersonM" target="_blank">Twitter.com/JespersonM