News roundup: Chaffetz urges oversight of special counsel on Russia investigation

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Chaffetz urges oversight of special counsel on Russia investigation. Western group sues Interior for national monument records. Study says presidents cannot rescind monument designations.

Happy Thursday. With plans to depart from his post June 30, House Oversight Chairman Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, urged Congress to watch over the special counsel appointed to the Russia investigation. "The special counsel doesn't get to continue on in perpetuity without any oversight," he told CNN on Wednesday. The Justice Department appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller to fill the post last week. Mueller is charged with investigating Russia's attempts to interfere in the 2016 U.S. election. [<a href="http://thehill.com/homenews/house/335045-chaffetz-congress-should-provide-oversight-on-special-counsel-probe">TheHill</a>]

<strong>Topping the news: </strong>The Western Values Project is suing the U.S. Interior Department for records regarding input solicited by President Barack Obama before his designation of five national monuments. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/5327324-155/western-group-sues-interior-for-documents">Trib</a>]

-> Presidents don't have the authority to rescind national monuments, according to a new study from the University of California, Los Angeles. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/5318788-155/presidents-cant-undo-national-monuments-new">Trib</a>]

-> A Utah conservationist purchased Needles Outpost from the School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration for $2.5 million. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/5327739-155/utah-conservationist-buys-needles-outpost-for">Trib</a>] [<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865680712/Conservationist-buys-Needles-Outpost-in-Bears-Ears-for-25-million.html">DNews</a>]

<strong>Tweets of the day: </strong>From @<a href="https://twitter.com/ConanOBrien">ConanOBrien</a>: "Trump is to U.S. Presidents as Godzilla is to U.S. Presidents."

-> From @<a href="https://twitter.com/DouthatNYT">DouthatNYT</a>: "The Trump era is really putting the WWE in We the People."

<strong>In other news: </strong>New Utah GOP Chairman Rob Anderson said the party will continue trying to reverse SB54, which changes the candidate nomination process; however, he is worried about the debt the party has incurred over the fight. [<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865680689/New-GOP-chairman-will-stay-the-course-on-SB54-lawsuit-while-working-toward-new-compromise.html">DNews</a>] [<a href="http://fox13now.com/2017/05/24/new-utah-gop-chairman-says-hes-figuring-out-debt-situation/">FOX13</a>] [<a href="http://kutv.com/news/local/new-utah-chairman-republican-party-in-more-debt-than-he-thought">KUTV</a>]

-> Democrat Kathryn Allen filed as a candidate to fill Rep. Jason Chaffetz's seat. [<a href="http://www.good4utah.com/news/local-news/dr-kathie-allen-officially-files-for-congressional-race/721267651">ABC4</a>]

-> Sue Curtis, wife of Provo Mayor John Curtis, sent a letter to Republican delegates confirming that her husband will also join the 3rd Congressional District race. [<a href="http://fox13now.com/2017/05/24/provo-mayor-john-curtis-is-jumping-in-the-race-for-congress/">FOX13</a>]

-> The Utah Transit Authority approved a controversial proposal to sell land near a FrontRunner station in Clearfield, which it will then resell to a rail-car manufacturer. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/5328992-155/uta-gives-initial-ok-to-controversial">Trib</a>] [<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865680730/UTA-board-gives-conditional-OK-for-sale-of-Clearfield-property-for-assembly-plant.html">DNews</a>] [<a href="http://fox13now.com/2017/05/24/uta-votes-to-sell-land-to-clearfield-who-will-sell-it-to-a-swiss-rail-company-with-ties-to-a-former-uta-board-member/">FOX13</a>] [<a href="http://kutv.com/news/local/uta-deal-moves-forward-that-could-bring-1000-jobs-to-northern-utah">KUTV</a>]

-> Teachers in Tooele County School District will receive a raise next year. [<a href="http://www.good4utah.com/news/local-news/pay-raises-all-around-for-teachers-in-tooele-county/721157021">ABC4</a>]

-> After allegedly stealing more than $100,000, the former treasurer of a Salt Lake City firefighters union was charged with fraud Tuesday. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/5327085-155/former-salt-lake-city-firefighter-union">Trib</a>]

-> The Utah Department of Health is warning residents about an elevated drowning risk due to high spring runoff. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/5327192-155/utahs-abundant-spring-runoff-poses-elevated">Trib</a>]

-> Most Utah residents don't have flood insurance because they think it's unnecessary — federal officials say that assumption is wrong. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/5306086-155/flooding-risks-escalate-in-northern-utah?fullpage=1">Trib</a>]

-> Salt Lake County opened the first phase of Wardle Fields Regional Park on Wednesday. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/5327246-155/salt-lake-county-opens-new-regional">Trib</a>]

-> Pat Bagley offers his take on the "Right-Wing Conspiracy Theory." [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/5328634-155/bagley-cartoon-right-wing-conspiracy-theory">Trib</a>]

<strong>Nationally:</strong> The Congressional Budget Office forecasts that the GOP bill to repeal and replace Obamacare would leave 23 million more people uninsured in 2026. [<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/24/us/politics/cbo-congressional-budget-office-health-care.html?ref=politics&mtrref=www.nytimes.com&gwh=FD58CFD3AC795AAE9AAE0D849009C37A&gwt=pay">NYTimes</a>] [<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/uninsured-ranks-still-to-grow-by-tens-of-millions-under-latest-house-health-care-bill-cbo-says/2017/05/24/81a42648-40b0-11e7-8c25-44d09ff5a4a8_story.html?hpid=hp_hp-top-table-main_cbo-510pm%3Ahomepage%2Fstory&utm_term=.b2db6f0e5fb5">WaPost</a>] [<a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/24/cbo-report-on-healthcare-reform-238786">Politico</a>]

-> Attorney General Jeff Sessions did not disclose meetings with Russian officials on his security clearance form, according to a Justice Department spokesman. [<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/24/us/politics/jeff-sessions-russia.html?ref=politics&mtrref=www.nytimes.com&gwh=E34DAB30549EE476E21316B804848D6A&gwt=pay">NYTimes</a>] [<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/federal_government/foreign-meetings-omitted-from-sessions-security-clearance/2017/05/24/ab9990ee-40e4-11e7-b29f-f40ffced2ddb_story.html?utm_term=.ae075d1419c1">APviaWaPost</a>] [<a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/24/sessions-russia-security-clearance-238796">Politico</a>]

-> Montana GOP candidate Greg Gianforte allegedly "body-slammed" a reporter. [<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/24/us/politics/gop-candidate-in-montana-house-race-is-accused-of-attacking-reporter.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&mtrref=www.nytimes.com&gwh=34798E45628B985D0277EE60F1F68F36&gwt=pay">NYTimes</a>] [<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/05/24/republican-candidate-in-montana-race-body-slams-reporter-prompting-police-investigation/?hpid=hp_hp-top-table-main_montana909pm%3Ahomepage%2Fstory&utm_term=.74eb2df01d4d">WaPost</a>] [<a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/24/montana-reporter-slam-238799">Politico</a>]

<strong>Where are they?</strong>

<ul>

<li>Rep. Mia <a href="https://twitter.com/RepMiaLove" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Love</strong></a> attends a congressional Memorial Day ceremony, participates in a strategy meeting with members of the Financial Services Committee, takes part in a legislative planning meeting with GOP colleagues and votes. She later returns to Utah.</li>

<li>Gov. Gary <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/GovHerbert" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Herbert</a></strong> holds judicial interviews and meets with staff.</li>

<li>Lt. Gov. Spencer <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/SpencerJCox" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Cox</a></strong> conducts judicial interviews, speaks with the Multicultural Commission, participates in a Junior Achievement event, tours the Life Start Village and meets with Oregon Secretary of State Dennis Richardson.</li>

<li>State Auditor John <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/FrugalDougall" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Dougall</a> </strong>has a morning meeting, welcomes a high school intern to the office, returns phone calls, speaks with State Treasurer David Damschen in a teleconference and reviews a draft audit presentation.</li>

</ul>

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— Courtney Tanner and Emily Anderson

<a href="https://twitter.com/CourtneyLTanner">Twitter.com/CourtneyLTanner</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/emilyinorgandy">Twitter.com/emilyinorgandy</a>