Republicans wanting a voice in Utah’s political process were given that chance last night as thousands of new delegates and precinct chairs were elected at GOP caucus meetings across the state. KCPW’s Jessica Gail was at Hawthorne Elementary in Salt Lake City and reports on what people there had to say about the upcoming elections.
Republican Utah Senator Mike Lee’s decision to vote against all of President Obama’s judicial nominees in protest of his controversial recess appointments could put him in an awkward situation when a Utah judge comes up for a vote. Every Friday, we talk with Thomas Burr, Washington Correspondent for the Salt Lake Tribune and author of Political Cornflakes, a daily, online round-up of Utah politics.
Today, Utah Republicans will flock to their caucuses across the state, following the Democrats’ meetings held Tuesday. And with his bid for a seventh term in office on the line, it’s a huge day for longtime Republican Senator Orrin Hatch. KCPW’s Jeff Robinson spoke with both Hatch and challenger Dan Liljenquist, and has this report.
Utah Governor Gary Herbert’s 2012 campaign kickoff last night came only five days after the end of the annual session of the Utah Legislature, which had less discord than in years past, but at least a few sharply divisive issues. And with Republicans holding their caucuses tomorrow to select delegates to the convention, he hopes they’ll listen to his message of job creation.
Democrats turned out in large numbers last night to get involved in the political process, as precinct caucuses elected delegates and precinct chairs to represent the party in the upcoming county and state conventions. KCPW’s Whittney Evans spoke with Democrats in House District 24 about their thoughts on the process and the high profile race for Salt Lake County Mayor.
The Utah Parent Teacher Association says Utahns are being misinformed about the controversial sex education bill that state lawmakers passed during the 2012 legislative session. HB 363 requires that schools teach abstinence-only sex education, or none at all.
Salt Lake City is back to fine tuning its regulation of electronic billboards now that efforts by state lawmakers to thwart the city’s proposed ordinance during the session were unsuccessful. Last January, the city put a moratorium on any new electronic billboards in the city, keeping in mind several recommendations by the city’s planning commission.
Weber County Attorney Dee Smith became the first Democrat to enter the race for Utah Attorney General this morning . As KCPW’s Whittney Evans reports, Smith has the support of prominent Democrats, but they say he’s a candidate for the people, not politics.
The 2012 legislative session is now over. And with no immigration battles or open records fight, it was certainly calmer than 2011. Still, Democratic lawmakers are fuming over a package of bills aimed at starting a fight with the federal government over public lands, and they’re not happy about a new abstinence-only plan for sex education in public schools.
After 45 days of negotiating bills and budgets, the Utah Legislature wrapped up its business last night at midnight. KCPW’s Jessica Gail reports on what lawmakers got done over the last seven weeks.
Additional Programming Provided by
