News roundup: Reid: Romney didn't pay taxes for 10 years

Reid: Romney didn't pay taxes for 10 years. Matheson tops Love by 18 points. 98 days to Election Day.

Happy Wednesday and welcome to August. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says he's been told by a Bain Capitol investor that the reason Mitt Romney won't release his tax returns is that Romney didn't pay taxes for a decade:

-> "He didn't pay taxes for 10 years! Now, do I know that that's true? Well, I'm not certain," Reid told the Huffington Post in an interview. "But obviously he can't release those tax returns. How would it look? ... You guys have said his wealth is $250 million. Not a chance in the world. It's a lot more than that. I mean, you do pretty well if you don't pay taxes for 10 years when you're making millions and millions of dollars." [HuffPost]

Topping the news: A new poll shows that despite Mia Love's national exposure, Rep. Jim Matheson is in the lead by 18 points. [TheHill]

-> The Utah Supreme Court tosses out a bid to get a rigorous ethics initiative on the November ballot. Utahns For Ethical Government folks are discouraged, but say they'll be back. [Trib]

-> The House passes a measure by Rep. Jason Chaffetz that would allow government agencies to fire employees who are seriously delinquent on their taxes. [Trib] [AP]

Tweet of the day: From @zrmorris: "Why do I need an App to tell me who Mitt Romney chooses as his VP running mate when Twitter will do it for me about 2 seconds later?"

Happy birthday: To Jennifer Fox Young.

Congrats: Aaron Walker, a native Utahn, former FEMA spokesman and founder of Utah-based Intermountain Communications, will be staffing the communications and media office at the Republican National Convention in Tampa. For updates, follow him on twitter @AaronTWalker.

Overheard: At the Washington, D.C. premier of The Campaign, Will Ferrell saying that he wants to hang out with the "Romney boys" because they seem so cool, like an a capella group, and praising the nation's capital for the right height of its buildings (a reference to Romney's tree height joke).

In other news: The deadline for the state to pay the property trust of land formally owned by the FLDS polygamous sect is extended. AG Mark Shurtleff awaits a Utah Supreme Court decision, but either way, it will be paid for with taxpayer money. [Trib]

-> Sen. Mike Lee is attempting to amend a cybersecurity bill in the Senate to bar abortions in the District of Columbia after 20 weeks, despite a plea by the bill's sponsor that it will just drag down a bipartisan effort to secure the Internet. [TheHill]

-> Gov. Gary Herbert butts heads with an outdoor recreation leader over the state's federal land-grab plan. The governor meets with other leaders to try and bridge gaps. [Trib]

-> Herbert announces a new tool that he hopes will bring 20,000 new volunteers to Utah schools. [DNews]

-> BYU's Adam Brown compares the record of state Reps. Fred Cox and Janice Fisher who were forced into the same race after redistricting. [UtahDataPoints]

-> Paul Rolly says that while there are loopholes that allow lawmakers to take money from lobbyists, there are still some out there that will refuse it on principle. [Trib]

-> Proponents of the struck-down Proposition 8 in California are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the circuit court decision that vacated the state initiative that barred gay marriage. [NRO]

-> The Department of Alcoholic Beverages still have a cavalcade of issues to work through starting with two key positions that need to be appointed by the governor. [ABC4]

-> A drop in population growth in Washington County may not warrant a proposed water pipeline from Lake Powell. [Trib] [KCPW]

-> UTA general manager John Inglish announces his retirement. He started at the company when it ran only 250 buses. [DNews]

-> Pat Bagley offers his take on lawmakers' idea of paying for education in Utah. [Trib]

2012 watch: Romney returns to home to America with a minute-long positive ad. [WaPost]

-> Obama donates $5,000 to his own campaign, maxing out his federal contribution to try and gin up more donors. [ABCNews]

-> A Bloomberg columnist wonders if Romney has a problem being rich. [Bloomberg]

-> Romney ran one of the most gay friendly Olympics in history — though you may not have realized it. [MotherJones]

-> Romney will announce his VP pick through a smartphone app. [CNN]

-> Before leaving Poland, Romney says the country has been a proud fighter of communism, adding that he's concerned about Russia's faltering freedom. [Reuters]

-> Obama amps up his fundraising schedule in an attempt to combat Romney's huge cash flow. [TheHill]

-> A Romney press aide lashes out at reporters who prod the candidate for questions, at one point shouting: "Kiss my a—." [TheHill]

-> What made the difference in Obama's successful 2008 overseas trip, compared to Romney's questionable one? The political staff they brought with them. [WaPost]

Where are they?

Rep. Rob Bishop attends the GOP weekly conference meeting, hits the Natural Resources Committee hearing, sits down with the Republican Study Committee and later heads to the Rules Committee workgroup meeting.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz attends a Judiciary Committee markup, meets with Salt Lake City police, then sits in on a Republican Study Committee meeting.

Gov. Gary Herbert appears at a ribbon cutting for Best Western Hotel, speaks at a Outdoor Industry Association, and then attends the Regional Governors Association Conference.

Lt. Gov. Greg Bell speaks at a Hale Theater meeting.

SL Co. Mayor Peter Corroon unveils the new Jordan River trail map and then attends a statewide Jail Task Force Meeting.

President Barack Obama attends several campaign events in Ohio.

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 you inbox. [Trib]

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