News roundup: Obama sinks to new low in poll

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Poll: Obama sinks to new low. Matheson, Love start name calling. Florida congressman caught with coke.

Happy Wednesday. President Barack Obama's signature domestic issue was supposed to help him but the disastrous rollout of the Affordable Care Act has dinged his credibility. A new poll by CBS News shows him at an historic low, just 37 percent of voters approve of his handling of the job. [CBSNews] [SCRIBD]

Topping the news: Rep. Jim Matheson and Saratoga Springs Mayor Mia Love have started with name calling as battle lines are already being drawn for a potential rematch of their 2012 election fight. [Trib]

-> Freshman Rep. Trey Radel, R-Fla., was charged with possession of cocaine as a result of a D.C. Superior Court Grand Jury indictment. Radel said because of his alcoholism it led him to make an extremely irresponsible choice and that he's sorry. [WaPost] [Politico] [CNN] [NYTimes]

-> Trade talks opened between the United States and 11 Pacific Rim countries as protestors gathered outside the Grand American Hotel to rally against the Trans-Pacific Partnership discussions being private and unknown. [Trib] [KUTV]

-> Utah may have some surplus cash coming but that doesn't mean everyone can have a pony. [UtahPolicy]

Tweet of the day: From @TheNardvark: "Seeing Sarah Palin on all these shows promoting her book makes me feel sorry for her because that means she actually had to read it."

From @jamiedupree: "Jay Carney mocks reporter questions on http://healthcare.gov ; 'Breaking news, the website is a problem'"

Happy birthday: To House Speaker Rebecca Lockhart and state Rep. Francis Gibson.

In other news: Sen. Orrin Hatch said that children exploited for sex should be treated as victims, not criminals as he and other senators pushed a resolution titled "Our Daughters Are Not For Sale." The resolution hopes to reform child-welfare systems to protect and assist kids who are victims of sex trafficking. [Trib]

-> An official recount of the ballots in South Jordan confirm that Dave Alvord will be the city's new mayor by defeating incumbent Scott Osborne. [Trib]

-> Pat Bagley gives his take on Walmart throwing a food drive for its own employees. [Trib]

-> Is Sen. Mike Lee playing equivalent of Robin to Sen. Ted Cruz's Batman? [Yahoo]

-> Gov. Gary Herbert is still weighing whether to expand Medicaid but he's not the only governor figuring out what to do. [KUTV]

-> Low employee moral, cut compensation and inconsistent bonuses are the result of the management practices at the Department of Workforce Services according to a legislative audit. [Trib] [DNews]

-> State lawmakers proposed a plan to initiate a environment protection defense fund to fund research and to limit the reach of federal decisions that would limit future energy development in Utah. [Trib]

-> Columnist Peggy Noonan told a BYU audience that President Barack Obama could learn some lessons from former President George W. Bush about getting the opposite party on board with big decisions that implicate everyone. [DNews]

-> Paul Rolly discusses how a member of Gov. Gary Herbert's security team wouldn't let a woman park in a stall because it was reserved for the governor even though she was then stuck in oncoming traffic. [Trib]

-> State Superintendent Martell Menlove said the public education system in Utah is amazingly successful but constantly needs to be improved. [DNews]

-> An employee in the town of Wallsburg in Wasatch County responsible for oversight of elections forgot to post openings and hold an election; this is the second time it has happened. [Trib]

-> Transportation leaders from across the nation are trying to persuade Congress to spend an extra $30 billion on highways and mass transit. [Trib]

-> Legislative leaders including House Majority Leader Brad Dee, R-Odgen, say they're frustrated that the state's prison relocation committee has halted plans to get bids on a new facility before 2014. [DNews]

-> The Utah Environmental Congress has merged forces with the WildEarth Guardians in an effort to thwart coal mining in the southern Rockies and to bring back to population of the gray wolf. [Trib]

Nationally: President Barack Obama tried to place some of the blame of the botched Affordable Care Act rollout on the GOP saying Republicans are rooting for the law's failure. [WaPost]

-> Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Deputy CIO Henry Chao testified that up to 40 percent of the IT systems supporting healthcare.gov still need to be built. [Politico] [BuzzFeed] [NYTimes]

-> Obama took a pen to paper and hand write some thoughts on the 150th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address. [WhiteHouse]

Where are they?

Rep. Jason Chaffetz eats at an Aspen Institute breakfast, conducts an Oversight subcommittee hearing on abuse of DHS overtime and meets with students from Maple Mountain High School.

Rep. Rob Bishop attends a Conference Committee meeting for the Water Resources and Reform Development Act, sits in on a House Natural Resources Committee hearing and meets with Christian Science representatives from Park City.

Gov. Gary Herbert attends various Republican Governors Association functions in Arizona, returns to Utah to tour the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit and then flies back to Arizona.

SLC Mayor Ralph Becker attends a WFRC Active Transportation meeting, holds his Constituent Open Door meetings and tours the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit.

WVC Mayor Mike Winder attends a Salt Lake Chamber's Capitol Club meeting, a ZAP program workshop and a Cub Scout pack meeting.

President Barack Obama awards recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, participates in a ceremony honoring President John F. Kennedy and meets with representatives of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners to discuss the Affordable Care Act implementation and its issues.

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 Jordan Bailey Twitter.com/thomaswburr Twitter.com/thejordanbailey