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Establishment Republicans start questioning who let The Donald get this far. Ammon Bundy arrested, one killed in Oregon. Utah Dems sue to make GOP comply with SB54.
Happy Wednesday. At first it was an unexpected but interesting turn of events. Then it became serious. And then it became dangerous. Establishment Republicans are now wondering how they let businessman Donald Trump get this far. Less than a week before Iowa voters head to the caucuses, some Republicans have begun a ferocious round of finger-pointing over who is to blame for the party's failure to stop Trump. [http://www.politico.com/story/2016/01/republicans-point-fingers-who-let-trump-get-this-far-218260" target="_blank">Politico]
Topping the news: Ammon Bundy, the leader of an armed protest group that took over a federal refuge in Oregon, was arrested along with six of his followers on Tuesday night. One member of the group was killed during the arrest. [http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/26/us/oregon-wildlife-refuge-siege-arrests/index.html" target="_blank">CNN] [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/01/26/five-oregon-occupiers-arrested-one-person-killed-in-confrontation-with-police/?hpid=hp_hp-top-table-main_oregon%3Ahomepage%2Fstory" target="_blank">WaPost] [http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/27/us/oregon-armed-group-arrest-bundy.html?_r=0" target="_blank">NYTimes]
-> Utah Democrats have asked a judge to order the GOP to comply with the new elections law under SB54 or lose its status as a recognized political party in the state. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3463790-155/dems-want-gop-stripped-of-party" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865646266/Utah-Democrats-want-to-weigh-in-on-court-battle-over-state-election-law.html" target="_blank">DNews]
-> A Tribune/Hinckley Institute poll shows the majority of Utahns support government action to restrict emissions and improve air quality. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3442063-155/improving-utahs-air-might-require-bigger">Trib]
-> Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski said she was considering private counsel for the board that oversees police action and for pushed economic development in her first State of the City address. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3463659-155/biskupski-state-of-the-city-slc" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Utahn Wayne Wagner explains why he filed a lawsuit claiming Sen. Ted Cruz is ineligible to be president. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3463043-155/utahns-federal-suit-challenges-ted-cruzs" target="_blank">Trib] [http://fox13now.com/2016/01/26/a-utah-man-is-suing-ted-cruz-claiming-hes-not-a-natural-born-citizen/" target="_blank">Fox13]
Tweets of the day: From https://twitter.com/BrendanNyhan" target="_blank">@BrendanNyhan: "I don't think anyone has prepared themselves for the media/party freakout that will ensue if Trump and Sanders win both IA and NH.
From https://twitter.com/utpolcapitol" target="_blank">@utpolcapitol: "Whenever you hear a legislator say 'I have a quick question and it's about the budget. It's never a quick question.'"
Happy birthday: To state Rep. Daniel McCay, lobbyist Spencer Stokes and former West Valley City Mayor Mike Winder.
Tune in: Former Salt Lake City Councilman J.T. Martin, Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective President Deb Henry and Salt Lake City School Board member Michael Clara join Jennifer Napier-Pearce to analyze. Watch Trib Talk live at 12:15 p.m. MT on http://sltrib.com/" target="_blank">sltrib.com.
From Capitol Hill: Utah residents may face "conservation pricing," which would create water pricing tiers based on usage under a bill passed by the Senate. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3463332-155/use-a-lot-of-water-utahs" target="_blank">Trib] [http://kuer.org/post/tiered-water-pricing-could-be-mandated-statewide" target="_blank">KUER] [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/8336-" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]
-> The Senate passed a bill to allow people who lost the paper certificate to their water right to keep it as long they can prove they paid the fees in four of the last seven years. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3463028-155/water-rights-bill-passes-senate">Trib]
-> The Senate approved a bill which would prompt vote-by mail and absentee ballots to be sent out closer to the election. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3463045-155/by-mail-ballots-may-come-closer-to" target="_blank">Trib]
-> State Rep. Susan Duckworth unveiled a bill to make diapers and feminine hygiene products exempt from sales tax. [http://fox13now.com/2016/01/26/bill-creates-tax-exemption-for-feminine-hygiene-products-in-utah/" target="_blank">Fox13] [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/8327-" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]
-> A new bill sponsored by West Valley City Republican Daniel Thatcher would require minimum standards for how and when police use body cameras. The recordings would be private. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3464025-155/body-cam-bill-would-create-state-standards" target="_blank">Trib]
-> A proposal to create "teacher-leaders" passed committee yesterday. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3464091-155/lawmaker-hopes-creating-teacher-leaders-will" target="_blank">Trib]
-> A bill that would require employers to provide "reasonable accommodation" to breastfeeding and pregnant women has passed out of a committee. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3464044-155/after-outlawing-job-discrimination-lawmakers-seek" target="_blank">Trib][http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865646243/A-bill-to-help-pregnant-and-breastfeeding-women.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://www.good4utah.com/news/top-stories/committee-approves-bill-that-would-require-accomodations-for-pregnant-and-nursing-women" target="_blank">ABC4]
-> Clearfield Republican Rep. Paul Ray's bill to provide $100,000 to families of fallen National Guard members within 72 hours of their death passed committee. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865646260/Death-benefits-proposed-for-Utah-National-Guard-members.html" target="_blank">DNews]
-> The Salt Lake Chamber released its public policy guide focusing on workforce development and education. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865646257/Workforce-development-education-funding-top-business-communitys-legislative-priorities.html" target="_blank">DNews]
-> Republican Rep. Craig Hall drafted a bill to punish computer technicians who fail to report child pornography stored on their client's hard drive. [http://kutv.com/news/local/child-porn-bill-proposes-to-punish-witnesses-that-fail-to-tell-authorities" target="_blank">KUTV]
-> Here is today's legislative committee schedule. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3458889-155/utahs-legislative-schedule-for-wednesday" target="_blank">Trib]
In other news: The operator of "sober-living group homes" is suing city and state officials arguing that enforcement of new state rules violate the Fair Housing Act. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3462799-155/sober-living-group-homes-fighting-utah-over" target="_blank">Trib]
-> West Jordan City is expected to vote to slash costs the city pays to its lobbying firm. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3463443-155/west-jordan-to-slash-lobby-expenses" target="_blank">Trib]
-> The Utah Tax Commission estimates it blocked $11 million in fraudulent tax returns. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3462795-155/utah-blocked-11-million-in-fraud" target="_blank">Trib]
->The second of five defendants in the Jeremy Johnson bank wire fraud case pleaded guilty. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3463122-155/one-of-the-defendants-in-jeremy" target="_blank">Trib]
-> A judge dismissed an excessive force charge against a Utah immigration agent for the second time. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3463769-155/federal-charge-dismissed-again-" target="_blank">Trib] [http://kutv.com/news/local/case-against-immigration-agent-accused-of-abuse-tossed-again" target="_blank">APviaKUTV]
-> The Salt Lake County Council approved the expenditure of $6.6 million to purchase 9.8 acres of ground under Abravanel Hall and part of the Salt Palace from the LDS Church. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3464304-155/county-buying-salt-palace-land-for" target="_blank">Trib]
-> A standing room only crowd packed the Salt Lake City Library to discuss what to do about Utah air quality. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3464221-155/deeply-divided-crowd-packs-epa-meeting" target="_blank">Trib] [http://kuer.org/post/epa-gets-earful-utah-about-national-park-haze" target="_blank">KUER]
-> Pat Bagley offers his take on the Legislature's closed-door meetings [http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/3464353-155/bagley-cartoon-sunlight-is-the-best" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Paul Rolly discusses Texas grand jury indictments of the activists who created the infamous Planned Parenthood videos. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3458857-155/rolly-on-planned-parenthood-grand-jury" target="_blank">Trib]
Nationally: Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump will skip the GOP Debate on Fox News Thursday. [http://money.cnn.com/2016/01/26/media/donald-trump-poll-debate-fox/index.html" target="_blank">CNN] [http://www.politico.com/story/2016/01/donald-trump-fox-debate-218264" target="_blank">Politico] [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-says-he-wont-participate-in-gop-debate-on-fox-news/2016/01/26/58fa0b2e-c490-11e5-a4aa-f25866ba0dc6_story.html" target="_blank">WaPost]
-> Meanwhile, Social conservative leaders are sending out letters to Iowa voters trying to stall his momentum. [http://www.politico.com/story/2016/01/trump-evangelical-leaders-iowa-218244" target="_blank">Politico] Rep. Steve King, a major backer for Sen. Ted Cruz, claims Trump is buying endorsements. [http://www.politico.com/story/2016/01/iowa-caucuses-cruz-trump-218252" target="_blank">Politico]
-> Why does everyone in Washington hate Ted Cruz? Well, consider how he treats his best, and maybe only, friend in the Senate: Sen. Mike Lee. [http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/01/why-dc-hates-ted-cruz/426915/" target="_blank">Atlantic]
Where are they?
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— Thomas Burr and Michael Anderson
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