This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Republicans seek a way out shutdown mess. Boehner loses all control. Get to know Utah's next Lt. Governor.
Happy Wednesday. Another day of circular negotiations in the House ended without a promised vote. It shows House Speaker John Boehner is struggling mightily to control his fractured GOP caucus and it indicates who really has the power — no one. [WaPost]
Topping the news: Republicans have dropped their aims considerably. No longer are they trying to defund Obamacare as Lee and Cruz called for, now they are just trying to get something... anything.. out of this impasse. [Trib]
-> Senate leaders are rushing to create a bill to lift the debt limit and reopen the government before the nation may default on Thursday. It's unclear if Sen. Ted Cruz or Sen. Mike Lee will attempt to thwart or delay the effort. [WaPost] [Politico] [NYTimes]
-> Lieutenant Governor nominee Spencer Cox didn't expect to be selected by Gov. Gary Herbert, but his farm upbringing and family influence gave him the preparation to be ready when the call came. A state Senate committee voted unanimously to confirm him. [Trib] [DNews]
Tweet of the day: From @juliussharpe: "If you're as outraged by this government shutdown as I am, call your congressman. Also, who is my congressman?"
From @danieltosh: "the only way to show our government that we don't miss them is to start dating another government. my vote is for thailand."
From @imchriskelly: "About every hour I get a CNN Breaking Alert on my phone that more or less says 'Nothing happening.'"
Happy birthday: To soon-to-be former Lt. Gov. Greg Bell and to Jennifer Toomer-Cook.
Shutdown, day 15: The nation could lose it's AAA credit rating from Fitch Ratings by the end of the year if the political logjam in Washington continues. [WaPost]
-> Utah's programs for the poor, such as WIC and food stamps, would be in serious trouble if the shutdown lasts into November. [Trib] [DNews] [Fox13]
-> Senate staffers learned they will not get a paycheck this Friday. [Politico]
-> A slew of federally-funded programs, including food stamps and Women, Infants, and Children, will be suspended if the shutdown goes into November. [Trib] [KUTV]
-> Utah lawmakers are preparing to spend up to $7 million to keep the national parks open if the budget impasse can't be resolved. [DNews]
-> Paul Rolly talks about how veterans didn't approve of Lee and others "hijacking" the protest at the World War II Memorial. [Trib]
In other news: A new audit says Utah wildlife officials failed to safeguard taxpayer dollars when it gave Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife $800,000 over the past four years to delist the gray wolf from the Endangered Species list. [Trib] [DNews] [UtahPolicy]
-> Another audit claims that USTAR, the state's highly publicized effort to attract high-tech businesses and fund university research, overestimated the capital it attracted and the jobs created. [Trib] [UtahPolicy] [DNews]
-> A Utah lawmaker is working on a bill to better protect the religious rights of students in pubic schools. The ACLU and Atheists of Utah have openly opposed the bill saying the U.S. Constitution already covers everything. [Trib]
-> A state lawmaker wants to make it legal to keep and consumer roadkill, particularly deer. [Trib]
-> The Count My Vote initiative will hold it's first public hearings across Utah starting Wednesday. [DNews]
-> Herbert has created a 38-member action team that will investigate how to improve Utah's air quality. [Trib] [DNews] [KUTV]
-> UTA is looking to offer all residents of Utah cheap annual passes depending on the results of Salt Lake City's pilot program. [Trib]
-> A Utah women is using an internet petition to help her husband, who is an Afghan native, get a spouse visa so that their family can be together. [Trib]
-> The federal budget impasse may hurt Utah's tax collections as consumers have less confidence. [UtahPolicy]
Nationally: The Supreme Court took up a 2006 Michigan law that affirmative action advocates oppose that bans the use of racial of gender profiling in public education employment or contracting. [WaPost] [Politico] [NYTimes]
-> President Barack Obama said he would veto any legislation that would cut health subsidies from congressional staffers. [Politico]
-> After being banned for nearly 56 years, growing and harvesting hemp might be legal in America soon. [WaPost]
-> Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says she backed the Osama Bin Laden raid while Vice President Joe Biden did not. [Politico]
Where are they?
Gov. Gary Herbert holds the Community Business Regulation Review, films public service announcements and attends the Downtown Rising Event.
SL Co. Mayor Ben McAdams appears on Radio From Hell, sits downs with the Utah Broadcasters Association and attends the Downtown Rising Visioning Dinner.
WVC Mayor Mike Winder attends the Capitol Club breakfast and the Utah Communities Business Regulation Reception.
President Barack Obama meets with Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, and then Secretary of State John Kerry.
Got a tip? A birthday, wedding or anniversary to announce? Email us at cornflakes@sltrib.com. If you haven't already, sign up for our weekday email and get this sent directly to your inbox. [Trib]
— Matt Canham and Jordan Bailey Twitter.com/mattcanham and Twitter.com/thejordanbailey