News roundup: Conservatives ask: Where are Romney's tax returns

Conservatives call for Romney tax returns. Becker's environmental study plan. Ann Romney: No VP pick yet.

Happy Thursday. The Huffington Post's Ryan Grim teams up with Abby Huntsman to look at why Mitt Romney isn't releasing more of his tax returns, noting that even conservative news outlets are calling for the presidential candidate to release those documents. [HuffPost]

-> Meanwhile, Romney says he doesn't read the "papers." [NRO]

Topping the news: Should Congress fail to act to stop the so-called sequestration, Utah could lose some 16,000 jobs, according to a new study. [Trib]

-> Sen. Orrin Hatch isn't happy about the federal government handing out passes on tighter requirements for welfare recipients, but such a move is something that Gov. Gary Herbert has requested. [Trib] Hatch is introducing a bill to counter the waivers from the Obama administration. [TheHill]

-> Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker wants all of the Wasatch Canyons environmentally evaluated for any future development. This could put a pause to the controversial SkiLink. [Trib]

Tweet of the day: From @ariannahuff: "If you think you're too small to be effective, then you haven't spent a night in bed with a mosquito."

In other news: Peg McEntee says lawmakers like Rep. Christine Watkins are breaking ties to ALEC, the conservative think-tank, for it's shady dealings. [Trib]

-> Rep. Jim Matheson receives key endorsement from the Utah Education Association that calls the congressman a "true friend." [Trib] [Herald]

-> Draper goes back on its initial reaction to the threat of a lawsuit for sponsoring a Christian concert and invites the artist to come back. [Trib]

-> Rep. Jason Chaffetz calls for more security at lower-profile airports around the country. [DNews]

-> Jon Huntsman says putting Republicans in power isn't enough. Reforms to eliminate crony capitalism are needed. [FinancialTimes] ($)

-> Rep. Jim Matheson receives national support from his party through the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. [RollCall]

-> Pat Bagley pokes fun at Rush Limbaugh's view of "regurgitation." [Trib]

2012 watch: While some may say this election is getting more and more negative, people already forget some of the vicious attack ads of the 2008 campaign. [LATimes]

-> Contrary to what many have suspected, Romney has not made a final choice on his VP, says his wife, Ann. [ABCNews]

-> Pop culture just hasn't worked out for Romney. For example: The new Batman movie's villain is named Bane, but not after Bain Capital. [BostonHerald]

-> Adding to the long list of differences between the candidates, their approaches to the campaign are different. Obama makes time for more public appearances while Romney takes things a bit slower. [NYTimes]

-> Nearly a quarter of Republicans aren't confident in the direction Romney is taking his campaign. [WaPost] [CNN]

-> The Washington Post Fact Checker gives Romney four Pinocchios for one of his accusations of Obama's crony capitalism dealing with an alternative fuel automobile company and investors. [WaPost]

-> Romney turns to Americans overseas as an abundant source of votes and campaign funds. [MSNBC]

-> A moderately large portion of voters say Romney's VP pick could affect their vote. [CNN]

-> With Romney's business experience having been the primary target, the Obama camp finds the Republican candidate's secrecy of tax records as another weak point to hammer on. [Reuters]

-> Romney's newest attack ad puts into question the stimulus package, claiming it benefited Obama's biggest donors. [Reuters]

-> Democrats are fed up with Romney's refusal to give up tax returns, so several Dems are pushing a bill that would require presidential candidate's to release records going back 10 years. [TheHill]

-> Romney disagrees with self-proclaimed "angry mom" who at a town hall event called Obama a monster. [WaPost]

Where are they?

Rep. Rob Bishop attends a Republican Study Committee Steering Committee meeting, heads up a Natural Resources Committee oversight hearing, then meets with a representative of the National Association of Elementary School Principals.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz attends a Judiciary Committee hearing with Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, then meets with the National Association of Elementary School Principals.

Gov. Gary Herbert visits the Department of Health and then speaks at the Utah Farm Bureau Midyear Conference.

SL Co. Mayor Peter Corroon attends a United Police Department Board Meeting, then makes remarks at the Murray Chamber of Commerce.

SLC Mayor Ralph Becker attends the U.S. Conference of Mayors leadership meeting in Philadelphia.

President Barack Obama attends several campaign events in Florida.

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

— Thomas Burr and Andreas RiveraTwitter.com/thomaswburr and Twitter.com/andreascrivera