News roundup: Reid to Romney: Prove you paid taxes

Reid: Romney still needs to prove tax rate. Swing voters more rare. 81 days to the election.

Happy Friday. Mitt Romney says he's never paid less than 13 percent of his income in taxes, though that's not good enough for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Romney has refused to release more than a year's worth of tax returns and a summary of another, arguing that he's done more than is legally required and doesn't need to give Democrats ore fodder. Now, Reid says he's not satisfied with Romney's response. [Politico] More from The New York Times on Romney's declaration. [NYTimes]

Topping the news: The true swing voters on which the election hinges are a small and getting-smaller group. [NYTimes]

-> Sen. John McCain says Congress needs Mia Love because she has gravitas. [Trib] [ABC4] [Fox13] [KUTV] The DNews, meanwhile, focuses on McCain's 2008 pick of Sarah Palin in its interview with the visiting senator. [DNews]

-> Utah lawmakers have chosen the "bare minimum" health care plan over the protests of low-income advocates who fear it sets the bar too low. [Trib]

-> Obama is trying to connect with voters — over beer. That's a tactic his opponent, Mormon Romney, won't be able to try. [Trib]

Our condolences: Jim Judd, the head of the Utah AFL-CIO and vice chair of the Utah Democratic Party has been declared brain-dead after a motorcycle accident in Montana. More details here: [Trib] [ABC4].

Tweet of the day: From @HuntsmanAbby: "About to talk beer & politics on @HuffPostLive. Pretty sure the WH brewery will turn into a malt milkshake station IF Romney wins."

Happy Birthday: Today to KCPW's Jessica Gail. On Sunday, send your birthday wishes to state Rep. Brian King and former state Sen. Scott McCoy.

In other news: A federal appeals court affirmed its decision that Myriad Genetics can patent material from genes. [Trib]

-> Utah Highway Patrol troopers are cracking down on HOV lane violators to avoid being sanctioned by the feds. [Trib]

-> Paul Rolly notes that the wife of Senate Majority Leader Scott Jenkins organized a sales pitch event for Senate spouses at the Capitol during the interim meetings but that Jenkins says it won't happen again. [Trib]

-> Tom Wharton looks at whether Salt Lake City needs its own convention hotel. [Trib]

-> Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman speaks at the Aspen Institute about the state of American politics, and says the Paul Ryan pick will help the Republican base show up on Election Day. [AspenInstitute]

-> Peg McEntee notes the votes in the Senate for and against Sun Chon for a district court judgeship. [Trib]

-> Yours truly talks with KCPW's Jeff Robinson about the Paul Ryan pick and Rep. Jim Matheson's cosponsorship of a piece of legislation with the new GOP vice presidential candidate. [KCPW]

-> Oil and gas wells, and cars and trucks, are contributing to the Uinta Basin's high pollution setting in the winter months. [Trib]

2012 watch: Paul Ryan declined requesting any stimulus funds for his home state, though he did try to help out a couple Wisconsin companies. [Globe]

-> Romney uses a whiteboard to explain the differences between his plan on Medicare and Obama's "cut" of $716 billion. [Politico]

-> Former Democratic Rep. Artur Davis, who seconded Obama's nomination but who is now a Republican, will speak at the Republican National Convention. [WaPost]

-> The Washington Post has a nice breakout on who is speaking at the GOP confab. [WaPost]

-> Ryan's pick as Romney's running mate presents a different challenge for VP Joe Biden than he faced with Sarah Palin in 2008. [WaPost]

-> Obama dominates Romney when it comes to social media use. [DailyNews]

Where are they?

Rep. Jason Chaffetz heads to Iowa to stump for Mitt Romney.

Gov. Gary Herbert hits the UTA FrontRunner event in Orem, greets the U.S. ambassador to India in the Gold Room and later sits down with former U.S. attorney for Utah Brett Tolman.

Lt. Gov. Greg Bell meets with the Utah Olympic Exploratory Committee.

SLC Mayor Ralph Becker attends the Olympics Exploratory Committee meeting.

WVC Mayor Mike Winder lunches with Sen. Orrin Hatch and Mark Crockett and hosts a dinner for Taiwan exchange students.

President Barack Obama meets with senior advisers at the White House.

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 BurrTwitter.com/thomaswburr