News roundup: Palin: Obama wears 'mom jeans,' while Putin wrestles bears

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Palin: Obama wears 'mom jeans;' Putin wrestles bears. Count My Vote compromise advances. Senate kills smoking age hike.

Happy Tuesday. In criticizing President Barack Obama over his response to the possible invasion of Ukraine by Russia, former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin said the president doesn't wield the same respect as Russia's Vladimir Putin. "People are looking at Putin as one who wrestles bears and drills for oil," Palin said. "They look at our president as one who wears mom jeans and equivocates and bloviates." [Politico]

Topping the news: The compromise between lawmakers and Count My Vote organizers got a tongue-lashing in a House Committee but passed unanimously. [Trib] [DNews] [Herald] [UtahPolicy] [KUER] [Fox13] [KUTV] [ABC4] [CityWeekly] [Chrony]

-> The Senate killed a proposal to raise the legal smoking age from 19 to 21. [Trib] [DNews]

-> The House passed a bill allowing the purchase of certain cannabis extracts to treat epilepsy. [Trib] [Herald] [Fox13] [KUTV] [ABC4]

Tweet of the day: From @UTJolley: "The 'Defeat Mike Lee in 2016 Act' passes unanimously out of House committee."

Happy Birthday: To state Rep. Stephen Handy, R-Layton and friend of Cornflakes Cheryl Cottle.

On the Hill: Ever wanted to see a legislative meeting? Here's your chance! Today's schedule [Trib]

-> Sen. Scott Jenkins says he's going to sit on his proposed Constitutional amendment to allow political parties to choose their candidates how they see fit — at least until he knows what happens with the compromise between Count My Vote and caucus-convention supporters. [UtahPolicy]

-> A restructuring of lawmakers' pay has decreased the number of free lunches offered them on the Hill. [Trib]

-> Lawmakers have introduced 738 bills but only passed 138. [Trib]

-> A House committee advanced the alternative plan to expand Medicaid. [Trib] [DNews]

-> A Department of Corrections official said without expansion, the state prison in Gunnison will run out of space in three years. [Trib]

-> The House passed a resolution in the first step to allow Stericycle to relocate its incinerator to Tooele County. [Trib] [DNews] [Fox13]

-> A House panel passed a resolution encouraging the state to expedite the implementation of Tier 3 fuels. [Trib]

-> Gov. Gary Herbert and others support new EPA standards for cleaner fuel adopted Monday. [DNews] [KUER] [Fox13]

-> A proposal requiring that 50 percent of state-owned passenger vehicles to be high-efficiency or alternative fuel by 2018 is on its way to the governor's desk. [Trib]

-> A House committee passed legislation to give tax breaks on the purchase of high-end cigars in order to prevent bootlegging and internet sales. [Trib]

-> A House panel decided to hold a study on a bill to raise the minimum wage to $10.25 an hour. [Fox13]

-> A Senate committee passed a proposal to ban aggressive panhandling on certain streets and on sidewalks near ATMs. [DNews]

-> Legislation to create partisan elections for school board members passed a House committee. [DNews]

-> The Senate passed legislation to take away requirements for parents who home school their children to follow state curriculum guidelines. [Trib] [UtahPolicy] [KUER]

-> The House passed a proposal to broaden the types of school employees that could be charged with a crime for engaging in sexual conduct with a child. [DNews]

-> A House panel passed a proposal to put carbon monoxide detectors in schools. [DNews]

-> A House committee advanced a bill to create parent and teacher committee to review state educational standards. [DNews]

-> Legislation requiring law enforcement to obtain a warrant before track a cell phone's location passed the House. [Trib]

-> Legislation to help fund a new convention center hotel in downtown Salt Lake City now includes funds to compensate existing hotels for lost business. [Trib]

-> The House also passed legislation giving parents the option of a jury trial to decide if they are going to lose their parental rights. [Trib] [DNews]

-> A lawmaker is proposing legislation to ensure that small towns hold elections. [APviaHerald]

-> A Senate panel passed a bill allowing a drug used in emergency rooms to help opiate overdoses to be prescribed to a third-party in order to administer it to an overdose victim. [Trib] [CityWeekly]

-> Lawmakers honored Olympic bobsledder Steve Holcomb. [Trib] [DNews]

In other news: Re-opening Utah's national parks during the government shutdown brought a big financial return. [Trib] [APviaDNews] [KUER] [Fox13]

-> Several Utah public entities burn waste at Stericycle and it is not always medical refuse. [Trib]

-> Sen. Mike Lee is backing Midlands University President Ben Sasse for Senate in Nebraska; Sasse has the support of Club for Growth and the Senate Conservatives Fund. [RollCall]

-> One reason for the drop in parking revenue in Salt Lake City is because many can't stand the new parking kiosks. Other causes include warnings issued instead of citations and the high turnover rate of compliance officers. [Trib]

-> Pat Bagley gives his take on how the dominoes are falling in Eastern Europe. [Trib]

Nationally: President Barack Obama's budget, being released this morning, will focus on ways to help the poor, including through more job training and more preschool opportunities. [WaPost]

-> Rep. Jason Chaffetz and other members of Congress have held court with AG Eric Holder on sentencing reform efforts. [NYTimes]

-> A new poll shows the American trust Democrats more than Republicans on some important issues, but that's not an advantage in the upcoming midterm elections. [WaPost]

-> A group of Western Republicans will file a brief to the 10th Circuit Court in favor of same-sex marriage. [NYTimes]

Where are they?

Rep. Chris Stewart has breakfast with the Utah Association of Counties, hits the weekly Republican Conference meeting, meets with the Millard County commissioners and attends an Appropriations Committee Legislative Branch Subcommittee hearing. Later, he meets with the American Academy of Neurology, the Independent Petroleum Association of America, the School Nutrition Association of Utah and Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., and has dinner with Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Ill.

Gov. Gary Herbert hits the Education Excellence event, prepares for an Economic Summit, calls Idaho Gov. Butch Otter and meets with Senate President Wayne Niederhauser and House Speaker Becky Lockhart.

Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox goes to the Capitol Hill working group and the Governor's Strategy Meeting.

President Barack Obama visits a classroom at Powell Elementary School in Washington, D.C. and speaks about the 2015 budget. He also meets with Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and speaks at a DSCC event.

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 Topher Webb Twitter.com/thomaswburr and Twitter.com/topherjwebb