This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Republicans pan the Iran deal. The bipartisan push for federal sentencing reform. Utah's $1 million tab for defending its same-sex marriage ban.
Happy Wednesday. Criminal justice reform is gaining steam in Washington, with the goal of reducing the number of people incarcerated. This is an issue that has President Barack Obama on the same side as Sen. Mike Lee and Rep. Jason Chaffetz. And, as you know, that doesn't happen very often. [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/criminal-justice-reform-gains-bipartisan-momentum-120125.html?hp=r3_4" target="_blank">Politico]
Topping the news: Utah's members of Congress may join Republicans nationally in trying to kill the nuclear deal the United States and allies made with Iran, but it won't be easy. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2729264-155/utahns-in-congress-angry-over-iran" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865632559/Utah-congressional-delegation-wary-of-Iran-nuclear-weapons-deal.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://kuer.org/post/utahs-congressional-delegation-reacts-negatively-proposed-iran-nuclear-deal" target="_blank">KUER] Iran would give up parts of its nuclear program in exchange for an easing of sanctions. President Barack Obama heralded the diplomatic breakthrough as a chance to snub out Iran's ability to get the bomb. [http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/15/world/middleeast/congress-iran-nuclear-deal.html?ref=politics&_r=0" target="_blank">NYTimes] [http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/on-capitol-hill-deep-skepticism-persists-as-lawmakers-react-to-iran-deal/2015/07/14/90190bfe-2a27-11e5-a5ea-cf74396e59ec_story.html?hpid=z1" target="_blank">WaPost] [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/iran-deal-got-lawmakers-react-kill-deal-120083.html?hp=rc3_4" target="_blank">Politico]
-> Before the Supreme Court decision legalizing it nationwide, Utah taxpayers paid slightly more than $1 million to defend the state's ban on same-sex marriage. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2731172-155/utah-taxpayers-tab-for-attempt-to" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865632615/Utah-spent-12M-to-defend-same-sex-marriage-ban.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://fox13now.com/2015/07/14/utah-spent-1-2-million-to-defend-same-sex-marriage-ban/" target="_blank">Fox13]
-> Two economic reports detailing the costs and benefits of moving the state prison out of Draper offer competing results. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2731296-155/value-of-utah-state-prison-land" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865632595/Economic-impact-of-Draper-prison-move-could-be-lower-2-or-almost-1-billion-higher-2-than.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://fox13now.com/2015/07/14/legislative-memos-present-different-economic-pictures-of-draper-prison-site/" target="_blank">Fox13]
Tweets of the day: From @https://twitter.com/TeresaKopec" target="_blank">TeresaKopec: "Wonder whether the people of Pluto will be more interested in the Iran deal or the new Harper Lee novel when we get there today?"
-> From @https://twitter.com/mattdizwhitlock" target="_blank">mattdizwhitlock: "Nothing says 'you're going to like this deal' like an attached veto threat. #IranDeal"
-> From @https://twitter.com/briangrimmett" target="_blank">briangrimmett: "The new economic studies about developing the prison site confirm that no one has any idea what will actually happen in the future"
-> From @https://twitter.com/kkondik" target="_blank">kkondik: "Practical effect of Trump - he sucks up so much media oxygen that lesser-know candidates (non-Bush) get less coverage."
Happy Birthday: To Rep. Chris Stewart.
Tune in: Scouts for Equality member Kendall Wilcox, Scouting advocate Peter Brownstein and libertarian-Republican David Kirkham join Jennifer Napier-Pearce to talk about the new Boy Scouts of America policy that allows gay men to become troop leaders. Watch Trib Talk live at 12:15 p.m. MDT on http://sltrib.com/" target="_blank">sltrib.com.
In other news: Millennials are far more likely to support gay rights than older generations, according to a Utah Foundation study. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2729867-155/utahns-who-support-gay-rights-the" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865632543/Report-Utah-millennials-more-politically-independent-supportive-of-gay-marriage.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://kuer.org/post/younger-utahns-resemble-national-peers-politics-religion" target="_blank">KUER] [http://kutv.com/news/local/millennials-less-religious-less-politically-aligned-even-in-utah" target="_blank">KUTV] [http://fox13now.com/2015/07/14/utah-millennials-show-passion-on-social-issues-not-politics/" target="_blank">Fox13]
-> The Salt Lake Tribune will hold a debate Thursday for the five contenders in the SLC mayoral race. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2730354-155/salt-lake-tribune-sponsors-mayoral-debate" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Check out Pat Bagley's cartoon on how President Barack Obama's plan for ... well, everything will destroy America. [http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/2731384-155/bagley-cartoon-full-of-sound-and" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Paul Rolly looks into one person's roadblock-filled experience renewing their Utah driver license. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2726744-155/rolly-the-long-and-winding-road" target="_blank">Trib]
-> The Salt Lake County Council gave final approval on a plan to merge Salt Lake City prosecutors into the county district attorney's office. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2731289-155/salt-lake-county-oks-da-merger" target="_blank">Trib]
-> State legislators debated over the per pupil cost difference between charter and district schools, with one lawmaker suggesting to get rid of charters altogether. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2729901-155/utah-lawmaker-solve-charter-funding-issues" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865632600/Is-enrollment-the-key-to-a-better-charter-school-funding-system.html" target="_blank">DNews]
-> Utah's debt is $2.5 billion or $962 per person, with most of the money borrowed for big ticket items like freeways. [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/6332-" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]
-> The World Congress of Families wants the public to know before its conference in Salt Lake City in October that it has been mislabeled as anti-LGBT. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2731132-155/in-advance-of-utah-event-world" target="_blank">Trib] [http://kuer.org/post/world-congress-families-answers-attacks-new-report" target="_blank">KUER]
-> Stan Lockhart is one step closer to joining the state school board. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2731074-155/senate-committee-oks-stan-lockhart-for" target="_blank">Trib]
-> State foresters have used grant money and funds from the Legislature to reduce the risk of wildfires. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2730624-155/forester-utah-working-to-cut-risk" target="_blank">APviaTrib]
-> Among mostly positive results, an audit on the Division of Facilities Construction and Management found that the agency is not sufficiently conducting drug and alcohol testing. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2730378-155/audit-dings-state-agency-over-not" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Auditors say Utah's Poison Control Center should make slight adjustments to save taxpayers money. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2730413-155/audit-proposes-changes-for-utahs-poison" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865632606/Audit-Utah-Poison-Control-Center-has-no-lease-agreement-with-the-U.html" target="_blank">DNews]
-> Gov. Gary Herbert ceremonially signed SCR 9 — a bill that says Utah is ready to host the Winter Olympics again. [http://www.good4utah.com/story/d/story/governor-signs-resolution-stating-utah-is-ready-wi/41471/5ZSn-pf70U-b2Pa6h2O62g" target="_blank">ABC4]
Nationally: Can endorsements determine whether a presidential candidate will win or lose? If so, Hillary Clinton will win the 2016 race without a fight. [http://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2016-endorsement-primary/" target="_blank">FiveThirtyEight]
-> President Barack Obama called for criminal justice reform at a NAACP convention. [http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/15/us/politics/obama-calls-for-effort-to-fix-a-broken-system-of-criminal-justice.html?ref=politics" target="_blank">NYTimes] [http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-tells-naacp-that-justice-reform-is-long-overdue/2015/07/14/98c14e8a-2a52-11e5-a250-42bd812efc09_story.html" target="_blank">WaPost]
-> According to a national poll, presidential hopefuls Jeb Bush and Donald Trump are tied for first among a crowded field of GOP candidates. [http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/07/14/donald-trump-is-tied-with-jeb-bush-for-lead-in-national-poll/" target="_blank">NYTimes]
-> Two former aides from Mitt Romney's runs for office in 2008 and 2012 will help with Bush's campaign. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2015/07/14/two-senior-romney-aides-joining-jeb-bushs-campaign/" target="_blank">WaPost]
-> An undercover video shows a Planned Parenthood official discussing providing fetal tissue and organs to medical researchers, which may reignite the abortion debate. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/undercover-video-shows-planned-parenthood-exec-discussing-organ-harvesting/2015/07/14/ae330e34-2a4d-11e5-bd33-395c05608059_story.html?hpid=z4" target="_blank">WaPost] [http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/07/14/shock-video-planned-parenthood-sells-dead-baby-body-parts/" target="_blank">FoxNews]
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. [http://www.sltrib.com/pages/email" target="_blank">Trib]
— Matt Canham and Courtney Tanner
http://Twitter.com/mattcanham" target="_blank">Twitter.com/mattcanham and https://twitter.com/CourtneyLTanner" target="_blank">Twitter.com/CourtneyLTanner