This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Sandstrom's personal fortune. Romney's shift on payroll tax. And the man elected by a coin toss.

Happy Tuesday, Washington is embroiled in a fight over an expiring cut in the payroll tax. Mitt Romney has opposed the move in debates, but now says he wants a one-year extension. At the same time, he's trying to head off criticism from Republican rivals and the Democrats that he switched positions. [NYTimes]

Topping the news: State Rep. Steve Sandstrom reveals his personal wealth now that he is running for Congress in the 4th District and it is in the millions. [Trib]

-> Romney spent $100,000 in state money on new computers to keep his Mass. gubernatorial records a secret. [Reuters]

-> The White House presses GOP senators to confirm the nomination of Richard Cordray to head the new consumer watchdog agency created in the wake of the 2008 financial meltdown. But Sens. Orrin Hatch and Mike Lee don't appear to be swayed by the campaign. [Trib]

Tweet of the day: From @daveweigel: "Victorye! RT @mikeallen: AP: Former Vice President Dan Quayle is endorsing Mitt Romney"

-> And just in case you want to read more about that endorsement. [USAToday]

In other news: Alta's new town council member is determined by the flip of a coin. Heads — and it goes to Steven "Piney" Gilman. [Trib] [Fox13]

-> Salt Lake City Council appears headed to approval of $18 million to help finance a Broadway-class theater downtown whose total price tag is around $110 million. [Trib]

-> GOP leaders will launch a campaign to double attendance at delegate-selection meetings, a strategy that could blunt the tea party and an effort to water down the caucus system. [UtahPolicy]

-> Rep. Rob Bishop and state Sen. Pete Knudson wrote letters to the judge urging a softer sentence for doctor Dewey MacKay, convicted of 86 counts of illegally providing pain pills. Bishop was slated to testify at MacKay's trial, but was never called to the witness stand. [StandEx]

-> Giant reactor part headed to Utah from Illinois for disposal. [Trib]

-> David Morales, a 20-year-old Salt Lake Community College student and Dream Act activist, says he was granted legal residency — then backed down from the claim. His deportation hearing is still on for Thursday. [Trib]

-> Bagley uses dinosaurs equipped with laser-guided missiles to get across his view of Republican love for defense spending. [Trib]

-> LaVarr Webb says the Occupy movement makes some points about Wall Street. [UtahPolicy]

-> The ACLU is calling for an independent investigation into the police pepper spraying of football fans dancing the Haka. [Trib]

-> Education officials hail the Regents' Scholarship as a big hit with college-bound Utah students. [Trib]

-> Tesoro Corp. says it will invest $180 million to expand crude oil processing in Salt Lake City. No information on additional jobs, if any, was released. [Trib]

-> Some more shrinkage in Utah news coverage: The Herald Journal in Logan announces it will cease publication on Mondays, the one day a week officials say the printed paper doesn't pay for itself. [Trib]

-> The BCS' snub of Boise State is just one more reason why AG Mark Shurtleff wants to go after the college football behemoth. [AZRepublic]

2012 watch: Jon Huntsman continue his feud with Donald Trump. He'll skip out on The Donald's Iowa debate and had this to say on Fox News: "I'm not going to kiss his ring and I'm not going to kiss any other part of his anatomy." [Time]

-> Trump calls Huntsman and Ron Paul "joke candidates." [TodayShow]

-> Newt Gingrich says he didn't want to qualify for the Missouri primary. [WaPost]

-> Iowa voters see Gingrich and Romney as the most electable candidates. [CBSNews]

-> Republican hopefuls have taken their turn at the top of the polls. [DNews]

Where are they?

Sen. Orrin Hatch goes to a joint House Ways and Means/Senate Finance hearing on tax reform.

Sen. Mike Lee will meet with representatives of GE and then attend the lighting of the Capitol Christmas tree.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz meets with the Utah Arts Council Board and then the general counsel of Vivint.

Reps. Jim Matheson and Rob Bishop didn't provide public schedules.

Gov. Gary Herbert attends a press event on business regulation before flying to Palm Springs for the Western Governors Association meeting.

S.L. County Mayor Peter Corroon attends the Future of Salt Lake County Committee Meeting and later the County Council meeting.

SLC Mayor Ralph Becker meets with his community liaisons and then hits the City Council Meeting.

WVC Mayor Mike Winder goes to the Future of Salt Lake County gathering, meets with Max Burdick, the chairman of the county council and then goes to WVC's City Council meeting.

President Barack Obama travels to Kansas and delivers a speech about the middle class to Osawatomie High School.

Got a tip? A birthday, wedding or anniversary to announce? Email us at cornflakes@sltrib.com.

— Matt Canham Twitter.com/mattcanham with editor Dan Harrie