In an interview with The Atlantic, Utah Senator Mitt Romney revealed that he uses a secret Twitter account to keep tabs on political conversation. His screen name? Pierre Delecto. [Trib]
Happy Monday!
Topping the news: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is suggesting that a proposed ban on “conversion therapy” for minors would put a muzzle on therapists attempting to help youth; advocates argue it would simply prohibit a widely discredited practice that harms members of the LGBTQ community. [Trib]
-> A new tax reform proposal aims to cut state income tax and boost tax breaks for children and dependents while adding new sales taxes. [Trib] [KUER] [Fox13]
-> Utah’s payday loan industry is suffering, with one of every four shops in the state closing within the last three years. [Trib]
-> Despite last-minute pleas, Legacy Parkway will see a new 65 mph speed limit and the disappearance of the truck ban come Jan. 1. [Trib] [DNews] [Fox13]
Tweets of the day: From @UTJolley: “It’s about time we tax yoga. Namaste this, ya hippies.”
-> From @dandrezner: “I may be just a simple, small-town political scientist, but I reckon that quid pro quos can happen without saying the words ‘quid pro quo.’”
-> From @HeerJeet: “Elevator pitch: A heist film where the crooks don the names Pierre Delecto, Carlos Danger, John Baron, Reinhold Niebuhr.”
Happy Birthday: To former U.S. Rep. Chris Cannon, BYU’s David Magleby and belatedly to former state Rep. Douglas Aagard.
Also in the news: A representative with the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association said Friday that Utah strikes a “sweet spot” between providing consumer access to beer, wine and spirits while also taking into consideration health concerns and underage drinkers. [Trib] [DNews] [Fox13]
-> The zip line operators at Provo Canyon Adventures won their land-use battle with the Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake and Sandy at the Utah Supreme Court last week. [Trib]
-> Utah gun sales rates per 1,000 adults have increased by 80.4% in the last decade, ranked 16th in estimated gun sales in the nation in 2018. [DNews]
-> After a two-year stint as U.S. ambassador to Russia, Jon Huntsman Jr. talks about his diplomatic experience, getting to know Russian President Vladimir Putin and his next steps in Utah. [KUER]
-> Beto O’Rourke, a Texas Democrat and presidential candidate, said religious groups should lose their tax exemption if they oppose same-sex marriage. Utah’s Ben McAdams disagrees. [DNews]
-> With the cold winter months coming, homeless shelters in the Salt Lake City area are calling for donations as more people come in for support. [Trib] [KUER]
-> A group of designers has created logos for more than 20 Salt Lake City neighborhoods, from Rose Park to Sugar House. [Trib]
-> A new resource center for veterans opening in North Logan next month will provide connections for those in need of housing, employment and health care. [DNews]
Nationally: Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney tried and failed again to explain his comments on Ukraine, denying his remarks were proof of a quid pro quo. [NYTimes] [AP]
-> Following accusations from rivals that she is not being candid about how she would fund Medicare for All, 2020 presidential candidate and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren said Sunday that she plans to roll out a plan with more details over the coming weeks. [Politico] [CNN] [NYTimes]
-> President Donald Trump has flipped on his decision to host the next G7 summit at Trump National in Doral, Florida, after facing bipartisan backlash over the plan. [CNN] [NYTimes]
-> After lackluster debate performances, a recent lag in fundraising and attacks from Trump, presidential candidate Joe Biden is facing growing anxiety about his bid for commander-in-chief. [AP]
-> At his “Bernie’s Back” rally in New York, Sen. Bernie Sanders received a glowing endorsement from New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. [CNN]
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— Taylor Stevens and Clara Hatcher
Follow @sltribpolitics