This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Lee meets with Romney. Hatch starts campaigning full time. Utah gets a new federal judge.
Happy Friday. Its the second anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, which remains a touchy political subject. The White House is defending the law, Republicans are attacking it and the Supreme Court is preparing for historic hearings that begin Monday. [Trib]
Topping the news: A massive turnover among the GOP delegates could only help Sen. Orrin Hatch, who won't have to face the tea partiers who ousted former Sen. Bob Bennett. [Trib]
-> Hatch's team says they are taking nothing for granted and to prove it, the senator is staying in Utah for the next month to campaign, missing two weeks of Senate work. [Trib]
-> Mitt Romney met with Sen. Mike Lee and other congressional conservatives on Thursday, but the Utah senator is still withholding any endorsement. [Trib] Sen. Jim DeMint said he was "excited" about Romney though. [CNN] [Reuters] [NYTimes]
Tweet of the day: From @CameronMVM: "At delegate mtg. Guy here wearing socks with sandals. If there isn't something in the bylaws against this, there shld be."
Happening today: Gov. Gary Herbert will sign legislation that will demand the transfer of federal lands to state control. And he has some backup. The governor will be joined by Sens. Hatch and Lee and Rep. Rob Bishop, along with the legislation's sponsors.
In other news: Despite Lee's consistent opposition to President Barack Obama's judicial appointments, Magistrate David Nuffer was voted in as a new judge. [Trib] [DNews]
-> The state Elections Office rejects a request to oust Herbert from the ballot. [Trib]
-> The Secretary of the Air Force will tour Hill Air Force Base with Utah political leaders. [Trib]
-> Four Republicans are running unopposed for the Utah legislature, essentially rendering them winners months before the election. [Trib] [Herald]
-> Paul Rolly says the new City Creek center had a far way to go just a week before the doors opened. [Trib]
-> Pat Bagley gives his take on the whole Etch-a-Sketch hubbub. [Trib]
-> The National Park Service throws down a $714,000 grant to fund the Topaz museum that will honor Japanese internees, which is slated to break ground this summer. [Trib] [DNews]
-> A mayor becomes a victim of check fraud. [Trib]
-> How Ebay teamed with Republican lawmakers in Utah for a green energy win. [Forbes]
-> Hatch co-authors an Op-Ed lambasting the Affordable Care Act. [Politico]
2012 Watch: Birthers filed suit in California questioning the birthplace of both Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. [LATimes]
-> The GOP candidates are feeling the grind and are ready for a slower pace to the presidential campaign. [APviaGlobe]
-> Romney is starting to get that air of invincibility. [CBSNews] Just don't expect him to win in Louisiana. [WSJ]
-> Romney will appear on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno next Tuesday. [AP]
-> Rick Santorum hits Romney for creating the "template" for federal health reform. [Reuters]
-> Utah has two of the top 10 super PAC contributors. [CBSNews]
Where are they?
Sen. Orrin Hatch attends the Summit and Wasatch County conventions.
Rep. Jason Chaffetz goes to the Wasatch County convention. He has a new website too.
Gov. Gary Herbert reviews bills from the legislative session then makes a stop at an event for the International Council of Shopping Centers.
Lt. Gov. Greg Bell speaks at ribbon cutting for Biometrics and attends the Wasatch County convention.
SL Mayor Ralph Becker goes to a policy consensus initiative board meeting.
WVC Mayor Mike Winder goes to the Taylorsville awards banquet.
SL Co. Mayor Peter Corroon has no public schedule.
President Barack Obama heads to South Korea.
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— Matt Canham and Laura Schmitz Twitter.com/mattcanham