This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Mitt Romney: Trump 'most likely' to be GOP nominee. Lee blocks Flint bill, says state has rainy day fund. Poll: Three-quarters of Utahns want to vote on Medicaid expansion.
Happy Monday. Mitt Romney's scathing take-down of Donald Trump isn't over but even Romney admits that Trump may be unstoppable and is likely the GOP's presidential nominee. "At this stage, we say all right, he could easily become the nominee, probably most likely to be the Republican nominee at this point, but I think there's a better choice out there," Romney said on CNN's State of the Union yesterday. The 2012 GOP nominee also refused to entertain the notion of jumping into the race at a contested Republican National Convention this summer. [http://www.politico.com/story/2016/03/mitt-romney-donald-trump-220321" target="_blank">Politico]
-> Romney says that even if Donald Trump wins the GOP presidential bid, he won't vote for him. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3617285-155/mitt-romney-i-wont-vote-for" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865649374/Romney-Ill-do-everything-within-normal-political-bounds-to-stop-Trump.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://kuer.org/post/romney-trashes-trump-university-utah" target="_blank">KUER] Romney confidant Mike Leavitt says Mitt showed a lot of courage in attacking Trump. [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/8756-" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]
Topping the news: Utah Sen. Mike Lee is blocking a bill in Congress to help clean the water in Flint, Mich. because he believes the state already has enough money to handle the situation. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3617198-155/why-mike-lee-is-stopping-federal" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/flint-water-crisis/2016/03/04/utah-senator-delays-flint-funding-s-grandstanding/81338736/" target="_blank">DetroitFreePress] [http://kutv.com/news/local/sen-mike-lee-defends-decision-to-block-220-million-in-aid-of-flint-michigan-water-crisis" target="_blank">APviaKUTV] [http://fox13now.com/2016/03/05/senator-mike-lee-defends-delay-of-flint-aid-bill-says-michigan-has-large-rainy-day-fund/" target="_blank">CNNviaFox13]
-> A federal judge indicated that signature gathering may be an unconstitutional way to qualify people for the Utah ballot, throwing this year's races in more chaos. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3619311-155/gop-appears-likely-to-win-challenge" target="_blank">Trib] [http://fox13now.com/2016/03/05/judge-may-rule-in-utah-gops-favor-on-signature-gathering/" target="_blank">Fox13]
-> Three-quarters of Utahns want to vote on expanding Medicaid services, a new poll shows, but they aren't likely to get that option. [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/8755-" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]
-> At a rally Saturday with hundreds who supported the Oregon occupation, LaVoy Fincham's widow said her husband was "assassinated" by the government. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3616623-155/lavoy-finicums-widow-tells-utah-rally" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865649405/Utahns-rally-in-support-of-Arizona-rancher-killed-in-Oregon-standoff.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://kutv.com/news/local/stand-by-me-protest-held-at-state-capitol-in-honor-of-lavoy-finicum" target="_blank">KUTV] [http://fox13now.com/2016/03/05/rally-at-utah-state-capitol-honors-arizona-rancher-killed-during-oregon-standoff/" target="_blank">Fox13] [http://www.good4utah.com/news/local-news/lavoy-finicum-rally-held-at-utah-state-capitol" target="_blank">ABC4] [http://kuer.org/post/rally-honors-anti-federal-activists-denounces-agencies" target="_blank">KUER]
Tweets of the weekend: From https://twitter.com/adamjohnsonNYC">@adamjohnsonNYC: "all anti-Clinton posturing aside, I do honestly fear the Democrats are bringing a wonkish knife to a populist gun fight."
From https://twitter.com/NateSilver538">@NateSilver538: "If you're reporting this as anything other than a huge night for Cruz and a terrible one for Trump, you're doing it wrong."
From https://twitter.com/NotKennyRogers">@NotKennyRogers: "Just so I'm clear...the water in New Orleans from Katrina was President Bush's fault but the water in Flint has nothing to do with Obama?"
From https://twitter.com/LOLGOP">@LOLGOP: "Hey https://twitter.com/GOP">@GOP. While you were waiting for Obama to come for you guns, Trump came for your party."
Happy Birthday: Taylorsville CFO Scott Harrington, Jared Whitley and Scott Burns.
Tune in: Utah Division of Air Quality director Bryce Bird, Air Quality Board member Erin Mendenhall, Joro Walker of Western Resource Advocates and Tribune environmental reporter Emma Penrod join Jennifer Napier-Pearce to discuss why the board refused to seek public input on a set of anti-pollution proposals from air quality advocates. Watch Trib Talk live at 12:15 p.m. MT on http://sltrib.com/" target="_blank">sltrib.com.
Opinion section: Josh James, the founder and CEO of Domo, advocates for HB251 in an attempt to encourage innovation throughout the state. [http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/3612629-155/op-ed-non-compete-agreements-needlessly-stifle-innovation" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Paul Spitler, director of Wilderness Campaigns for The Wilderness Society, says in the years it has taken to construct Rep. Rob Bishop's Public Lands Initiative, some important agreements have been left out of the final version. [http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/3612712-155/op-ed-pli-process-forged-agreements-that" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Laura Michalski, Fourth Street Clinic executive director, and Scott Williams, Fourth Street Clinic board chair, believe that lawmakers must build on HB437 if they want Medicaid expansion to truly affect the homeless in Utah. [http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/3612336-155/op-ed-hb437-a-start-but-we" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Matthew Weinstein, fiscal policy director at Voices for Utah Children, explains that issues like earmark reform have yet to be addressed in the last few days of the Legislature. [http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/3608114-155/op-ed-earmarks-reform-is-unfinished-business" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Juan Palma, the Utah state director for the Bureau of Land Management for 10 years, calls for more diverse stakeholders to take an interest in the public-lands issue. [http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/3582026-155/op-ed-todays-public-lands-challenges-require-more" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Dean McGovern, executive director of the Lowell Bennion Community Service Center at the U., says fulfilling a civic responsibility helps keep college students well-rounded. [http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/3602065-155/op-ed-civil-engagement-leads-to-a" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Jason Mathis, executive director of the Downtown Alliance, hopes Utahns will help prevent homelessness rather than just waiting to treat it once it happens. [http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/3602125-155/op-ed-a-healthy-shift-to-a" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Linda Johnson, a member of the board of Breathe Utah, explains how new rules from the BLM will benefit Uinta Basin. [http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/3602134-155/op-ed-blm-rules-for-wasted-gas" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Robert Kirby explains that during a police shooting, there's fear on both ends of the gun. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3607649-155/kirby-theres-fear-at-both-ends" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Paul Rolly defends a previous column on how the LDS Church "dominated" the Legislature by shutting down a medical marijuana and a hate crime bill after an op-ed from the church's lawyer attempted to disprove his theories. [http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/3607789-155/rolly-take-a-reading-comprehension-course" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Pat Bagley gives his take on the GOP presidential picks. [http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/3617840-155/bagley-cartoon-gop-presidential-picks" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Frank Pignanelli and LaVarr Webb weigh in on hot topic for the final week of this legislative session and Mitt Romney's Friday speech denouncing Donald Trump. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865649408/Utah-is-an-island-of-rationality-in-a-sea-of-political-lunacy.html" target="_blank">DNews]
From Capitol Hill: A bill intended to make a Mantua "speed trap" less lucrative for the community was shut down in a committee Friday. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3616975-155/attack-on-mantua-speed-trap-crashes" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865649322/Lawmakers-put-a-halt-to-speeding-ticket-bill.html" target="_blank">DNews]
-> A bill that would outlaw political parties from replacing candidates removed from the ballot for failing to file campaign financial disclosure forms on time is headed to Gov. Gary Herbert for approval. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3617149-155/political-death-penalty-gains-final-approval" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Advocates against domestic violence are worried about a proposed word change that would make it optional instead of mandatory for a judge to order offenders to get treatment. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3616659-155/advocates-concerned-over-bill-that-would" target="_blank">Trib]
-> A bill redistributing oversight of the Utah Fairpark is headed to the House. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3617246-155/fairpark-bill-moves-to-the-full" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Utah's tactics on how to handle wildfires and prevention would change under a bill headed to the full House. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3616959-155/bill-clarifies-responsibility-for-fighting-wildfires" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Critics are upset by the state Senate's approval of a bill they feel hurts solar energy and is a gift to Rocky Mountain Power. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3618367-155/utah-senate-approves-bill-critics-say" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865649361/Clean-energy-advocates-say-bill-would-stymie-rooftop-solar.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://fox13now.com/2016/03/06/solar-industry-advocates-claim-step-bill-will-kill-solar-in-utah/" target="_blank">Fox13]
-> After years of debate, the House approved a measure to give Medicaid coverage to the poorest Utahns. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3618415-155/house-votes-to-expand-medical-coverage" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865649363/House-passes-Medicaid-plan-for-poorest-of-the-poor.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://kuer.org/post/utah-house-passes-limited-medicaid-expansion-bill" target="_blank">KUER]
-> The Senate gave preliminary approval on a bill that requires anesthesia for fetuses after 20 weeks of gestation undergoing an abortion. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3618584-155/senate-gives-preliminary-approval-to-fetal" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865649357/Utah-Senate-moves-ahead-with-bill-to-require-anesthesia-for-a-fetus-before-some-abortions.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://kutv.com/news/local/abortion-bill-requiring-anesthesia-to-fetuses-passes-senate-vote" target="_blank">KUTV] [http://kuer.org/post/fetal-pain-bill-gets-preliminary-approval-utah-senate" target="_blank">KUER]
-> Planned Parenthood representatives believe lawmakers are trying to slip in a restriction preventing anyone using telemedicine, such as a video conference between a doctor and patient, from prescribing treatment to cause an abortion. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3618683-155/planned-parenthood-says-new-abortion-restriction" target="_blank">Trib]
-> A bill passed by the House Friday defines boundaries for federal, county and local law enforcement. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3618043-155/noel-bill-seeks-to-stop-fed" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Legislators voted in favor of a bill last week that would allow small metro townships to elect their councils at large rather than by district. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3586450-155/voting-worries-cleared-up-in-small" target="_blank">Trib]
-> A bill that would make it a misdemeanor to tie up animals without access to shelter during bad weather. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3618641-155/animal-cruelty-bill-sails-through-committee" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865649359/Bill-calling-for-adequate-shelter-for-pets-passes-committee.html" target="_blank">DNews]
-> Khosrow Semnani plans to put in new shops and housing in an effort to remake Trolley Square. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3586402-155/next-stop-for-trolley-square-new" target="_blank">Trib]
-> A bill full of amendments by legislators to alter state standards for immunizations passed in the House by a single vote. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3617289-155/revived-vaccine-education-bill-approved-by-a" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Leaders from Orem and Provo are planning to put pressure on lawmakers for clean air. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3602822-155/orem-provo-press-legislature-to-pass" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Several religious leaders are backing a bill for medical cannabis. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865649342/Faith-leaders-back-medical-cannabis-bill.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://kutv.com/news/local/local-religious-leaders-gather-in-support-of-passing-medical-marijuana-legislation" target="_blank">KUTV] [http://fox13now.com/2016/03/05/leaders-from-various-faiths-advocate-for-medical-marijuana-in-utah/" target="_blank">Fox13]
-> The Utah Supreme Court declined to take a case questioning whether Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox overstepped his authority when he blocked a petition in favor of term limits for appointed state board members and commissioners. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3620580-155/utah-supreme-court-rulesterm-limits-case-is" target="_blank">Trib]
-> A bill meant to protect gunmakers against "frivolous" lawsuits passed a Senate committee last week. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865649356/Bill-to-protect-gunmakers-from-frivolous-lawsuits-moves-forward.html" target="_blank">DNews]
-> A bill dealing with non-compete clauses in contracts continues to get pushback from lawmakers. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865649318/Employee-noncompete-bill-stirs-hornets-nest-in-Utah-business-community.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://kutv.com/news/local/bill-to-ban-non-compete-agreements-advances-but-faces-uphill-battle" target="_blank">KUTV] [http://fox13now.com/2016/03/04/utah-lawmakers-debate-non-compete-agreements-bill-advancing-to-full-senate/" target="_blank">Fox13] [http://kuer.org/post/companies-clash-w-workers-over-new-non-compete-proposal" target="_blank">KUER] [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/8737-" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]
-> A bill giving the late Utah House Speaker Becky Lockhart's name to the House building was approved. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865649302/Committee-OKs-bill-naming-building-for-late-House-Speaker-Becky-Lockhart.html" target="_blank">DNews]
-> A committee endorsed a bill creating a new commission to plan development for the Point of the Mountain area once the Utah State Prison is relocated. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865649298/Committee-OKs-bill-creating-commission-to-plan-prison-site-development.html" target="_blank">DNews]
-> A bill proposing a state investment for an Oakland coal company got legislators fired up. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865649395/Controversy-fires-up-over-Utah-push-for-coal-terminal.html" target="_blank">DNews]
-> Big decisions, including some that would affect the academic field [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865649454/From-testing-to-new-buildings-big-education-decisions-coming-this-week.html" target="_blank">DNews], will be made this week. [http://www.good4utah.com/news/local-news/entering-the-final-days-of-the-legislative-session" target="_blank">ABC4]
-> Here is today's legislative committee meeting schedule. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3618340-155/legislative-committees-monday-march-7" target="_blank">Trib]
Weekend in review: Experienced Utah politico Dave Hansen believes there's less than a 50-50 chance of stopping Trump from getting the GOP nomination. [http://kutv.com/news/local/longtime-utah-gop-politico-puts-odds-of-heading-off-trump-at-less-than-5050" target="_blank">KUTV]
-> Gov. Gary Herbert is calling out candidates in the GOP presidential race for their poor behavior. [http://kutv.com/news/local/gov-herbert-calls-for-civility-in-gop-race" target="_blank">KUTV]
-> Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders set up his headquarters in SLC. [http://kutv.com/news/local/bernie-sanders-opens-utah-campaign-office-in-downtown-slc" target="_blank">KUTV] [http://www.good4utah.com/news/local-news/workers-for-both-of-the-democratic-contenders-busy-in-utah" target="_blank">ABC4]
-> Utah caucuses will occur within the next few weeks. [http://www.good4utah.com/news/local-news/looking-ahead-to-the-utah-caucuses" target="_blank">ABC4]
-> David "Davey" Harold Bundy from Delta is due for a hearing this week after being accused of conspiracy in a 2014 Nevada standoff. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3618008-155/detention-hearing-scheduled-for-a-cliven" target="_blank">Trib] [http://kutv.com/news/local/grand-jury-indicts-19-including-bundy-family-members-for-2014-nevada-standoff" target="_blank">APviaKUTV]
-> The 17-year old shot by police more than a week ago was a refugee from Somalia in search of a better life. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3620825-155/refugee-shot-by-salt-lake-city" target="_blank">APviaTrib] His family has received letters of support from religious leaders throughout the state. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3617991-155/religious-leaders-send-letter-of-support" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Some were disappointed with the show of force officers demonstrated to the angry crowd after the shooting. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3614580-155/angry-salt-lake-city-crowd-at" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Police in West Valley responded to questioning after a week with multiple shootings. [http://kutv.com/news/local/west-valley-city-police-respond-to-multiple-attacks-this-week" target="_blank">KUTV]
-> Widow Nanette Wride was upset by protesters who memorialized her husband's killer at a Utahns Against Police Brutality rally. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865649335/Wife-of-fallen-officer-upset-his-killers-name-was-recited-at-rally.html" target="_blank">DNews]
-> A Utah clinic paid $100,000 to the family of an inmate who died after a dialysis provider neglected to give him treatment for two days. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3621080-155/utah-clinic-settled-suit-over-missed-dialysis" target="_blank">APviaTrib]
-> A defendant-turned-witness testified that problems at Jeremy Johnson's business occurred because of outside firms. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3618331-155/former-i-works-manager-says-problems" target="_blank">Trib]
-> The judge overseeing former Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff's trial has postponed it until October after the FBI released multiple terabytes of evidence to prosecutors and defense attorneys. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3617248-155/judge-resets-shurtleff-trial-for-october" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865649453/Shurtleff-trial-pushed-back-to-October.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://kutv.com/news/local/trial-in-case-against-former-utah-ag-again-rescheduled" target="_blank">KUTV]
-> Utah has joined other states to monitor rivers that may still be polluted from last year's Gold King Mine spill. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3618327-155/utah-joins-other-epa-wary-states-to" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Utahns in the Uinta Basin are clinging to hope that despite an oil boom, business will get better again. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865649103/Resilient-Utahns-hold-to-hope-amid-oils-boom-and-bust-cycle.html" target="_blank">DNews]
-> A special "working group" assembled by the FBI and containing officers from several entities has been investigating the FLDS communities on the Utah-Arizona border for years. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3602468-155/heres-who-investigates-crimes-in-a" target="_blank">Trib]
-> A gay-wedding expo connected Utah couples with LGBT-friendly businesses. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3625576-155/utah-gay-wedding-expo-connects-couples-with">Trib] [http://kutv.com/news/local/utah-gay-wedding-expo-connects-couples-friendly-businesses-03-07-2016-022233790" target="_blank">APviaKUTV] [http://www.good4utah.com/news/local-news/a-utah-first-is-a-huge-succes" target="_blank">ABC4]
-> The Huntsman family is accepting nominations for their Awards for Excellence in Education. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3611897-155/huntsman-family-calls-for-nominations-of" target="_blank">Trib]
Nationally: Former First Lady Nancy Reagan died this weekend, and politicians mourned her passing. [http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/271980-presidential-candidates-remember-nancy-reagan" target="_blank">TheHill]
-> In this weekend's contests, GOP candidate Marco Rubio and Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders came out on top. [http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/07/us/politics/election-results.html?partner=IFTTT" target="_blank">NYTimes]
-> The presidential race will likely feature Democrat Hillary Clinton vs. Republican Donald Trump, [http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21693924-prospect-trump-v-clinton-grim-look-carefully-and-2016-offers-faint-promise?fsrc=scn/tw/te/pe/ed/battlelines" target="_blank">TheEconomist] and it's likely that Clinton will use the same tactics for Trump as she has for Bernie Sanders. [http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-03-02/clinton-roadmap-for-beating-sanders-is-her-roadmap-for-beating-trump" target="_blank">Bloomberg]
-> Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders had a heated debate this weekend. [http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/272003-sanders-clinton-clash-on-autos-water-at-michigan-debate" target="_blank">TheHill] [http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/mar/06/democratic-debate-recap-hillary-clinton-bernie-sanders-flint-election-2016?CMP=twt_gu" target="_blank">Guardian] [http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2016/03/06/hillary-clinton-bernie-sanders-flint-debate/81415942/?hootPostID=71fd4c88f957bfdcc1476948be2689b4" target="_blank">USAToday] One of the more memorable parts was Sanders telling Clinton he's talking when she tried to interrupt him. [http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/271994-sanders-to-clinton-excuse-me-im-talking" target="_blank">TheHill] [http://www.buzzfeed.com/evanmcsan/how-the-sanders-campaign-sees-excuse-me-im-talking?utm_term=.esNWRyvRAL#.hs5yPLvP21" target="_blank">BuzzFeed News]
-> Louis C.K. sent out an email blasting Donald Trump and begging people not to vote for him. [https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2016/03/05/louis-begs-fans-not-vote-for-donald-trump/FeKInYUreLYtvaz4HJbxsI/story.html?s_campaign=bostonglobe%3Asocialflow%3Atwitter" target="_blank">BostonGlobe] [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/louis-ck-email-donald-trump_us_56db7571e4b03a405678e794?ncid=tweetlnkushpmg00000016&section=politics" target="_blank">HuffPost] [http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/07/arts/louis-ck-condemns-trump-in-email.html?smid=tw-nytimes&smtyp=cur&_r=0" target="_blank">NYTimes]
-> President Barack Obama said he would be open to suggestions from the GOP on his Supreme Court justice nominee. [http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-03-01/obama-would-consider-republican-suggestions-for-court-reid-says" target="_blank">Bloomberg]
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]
— Thomas Burr and Mariah Noble
https://twitter.com/thomaswburr" target="_blank">Twitter.com/thomaswburr and https://twitter.com/mnoblenews" target="_blank">Twitter.com/mnoblenews