News roundup: Feinstein won't 'play dead' on fate of assault gun ban

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Feinstein vows to keep fighting for assault gun ban. Stewart questions climate change science. Colbert gets Dem nomination for Congress.

Happy Wednesday. Sen. Dianne Feinstein's assault weapons ban won't be part of a gun bill brought up for a vote in the Senate, but that doesn't mean the California Democrat is going away. Feinstein says she won't "lay down and play dead" and says she's confident Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will give her a vote on her controversial bill. [Politico] More coverage of the ban's fate: [NYTimes] [WaPost] [MJ].

Topping the news: Utah's newest member of Congress says he's still up in the air about climate change. Rep. Chris Stewart, who chairs the House environmental subcommittee, also said that policy decisions regarding climate change need to be looked at from a fiscal perspective. [Trib]

-> Six Utahns are at the center of a heated debate regarding a proposed memorial to President Dwight D. Eisenhower. [Trib]

-> Stephen Colbert's sister, Elizabeth, won the Democratic nod for a vacant South Carolina congressional seat and could face a special election against former Gov. Mark Sanford. [HuffPost]

Tweet of the day: From @shaktisuite: "What if congress approached working w/ others the same way kids do: 'Hey, we're the same height. We should play together.'"

In other news: Sandy City employs more lobbyists than any other entity in the state, with 11 hired guns on the Hill. [Trib]

-> In a bipartisan move, Sen. Mike Lee is co-ponsoring legislation with Sen. Pat Leahy, D-Vt., to guard personal emails from federal investigations by setting up new precedents for search warrants. [Trib]

-> After years of appeals, the Utah Supreme Court declared that a cover-all, last-minute education bill passed by the Legislature five years ago is constitutional. [Trib] [DNews]

-> An Earth Day poster contest at some public elementary schools is causing a brouhaha, after some parents and teachers said that the theme goes against the principles behind the environmental holiday. [Trib]

-> Raising the state's gas tax might be the only solution to booming transportation needs, according to a new study. [Trib]

-> Utah's favorite pollster, Dan Jones, is retiring today with a celebratory breakfast at the U.'s Hinckley Institute of Politics. [Trib]

-> Citing clashing anti-discrimination policies, Chipotle Mexican Grill pulled out of sponsoring a Boy Scout event in May. [Trib]

-> Utah lawmakers want to study a lot of things; Bob Bernick gives the run down of how the Legislature goes about requesting items to be on the interim study list. [UtahPolicy]

-> Paul Rolly calls out two lawmakers on what he sees as behavior not befitting of gentlemen. [Trib]

-> Pat Bagley offers his take on the GOP's effort to change, calling them the "Sorest losers." [Trib]

Nationally: Local residents in Wyoming communities around Yellowstone National Park have raised $170,000 — just to make sure the park gets its main entrance roads plowed in time to open for spring visitors. Yellowstone took a significant hit in sequester cuts. [WaPost]

-> Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., pulled a 180 on immigration while speaking before the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Conference, acknowledging that he supports a plan for illegal immigrants to gain legal status. Paul, a much-rumored contender for the Republican nomination in 2016, joined his party in embracing immigration reform. [WaPost][NYTimes] [Politico]

-> Senate lawmakers are drafting up a bipartisan bill to keep the federal government afloat through Sept. 30, lessening cuts for embassy security, childcare subsidies and an infant nutrition program. [NYTimes] [Politico]

-> It's a tall order for the GOP if they want to win the Senate back in 2014's midterm elections: they'd have to knock out at least six Democratic seats in "purple" states like Colorado, New Hampshire and Minnesota. [Politico]

-> While the White House seems to be taking a more deliberate pace when it comes to picking nominees for Cabinet spots, the Senate is churning out confirmations at a quicker speed than those in years past. [WaPost]

Where are they?

Rep. Jim Matheson meets with the Utah Association for the Education of Young Children and with Professional Firefighters of Utah.

Rep. Rob Bishop hits a Natural Resources Committee hearing, an Armed Services Committee hearing, a Republican Study Committee meeting and meets with Rep. Chris Stewart to talk about public lands and environmental issues.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz hits a fundraiser, an Oversight Committee mark-up and a Homeland Security Committee hearing on cyber security, meets with the Silicon Valley Leadership Group and then hits the NRCC March dinner.

Rep. Chris Stewart chairs an Environment Subcommittee hearing, meets with the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the National Association of Convenience Stores, the Utah Firefighters Association, the Society for Neuroscience and then meets with House Speaker John Boehner and freshman House members.

Gov. Gary Herbert is in St. George for a water users conference and has community meetings in Snake Valley.

AG John Swallow flies back to Salt Lake City from Mexico.

SL Co. Mayor Ben McAdams holds a press conference before delivering Meals on Wheels, has a KUED interview and meets with the Copperton Community Council.

SLC Mayor Ralph Becker hits a new employee orientation, chats with Office of Diversity & Human Rights Coordinator Yolanda Francisco-Nez, has a performing arts center meeting, a police department budget meeting and a fire department budget meeting.

WVC Mayor Mike Winder volunteers with Meals on Wheels and meets with the Economic Development Corporation of Utah.

President Barack Obama is in Jerusalem, meeting with Israeli President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

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]

— Thomas Burr and Emily AndrewsTwitter.com/thomaswburr and Twitter.com/emilytandrews