New Salt Lake County GOP Chairman Chris Null also joins this week
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) U.S. Congressman candidate Blake Moore says he s willing to work with Democrats on an infrastructure package, but he s not interested in raising corporate taxes to pay for it.
| April 16, 2021, 7:31 p.m.
Republican Rep. Blake Moore says he’s interested in working with Democrats to fund needed infrastructure, especially if it will benefit parts of his district.
“Ogden has a rapid transit system coming in that’s going to be really great for students. Park City may get the Olympics again, so there may be some ways we can support that and tourism,” he said on this week’s Utah Politics podcast. “There’s lots of that stuff that can get put into highway bills, so I’ll absolutely work with the Democrats.”
| Updated: 8:26 p.m.
A group of Democrats who lost House races last November, including Utah’s Ben McAdams, plans to raise piles of cash to defend moderates from Republican attacks.
The newly created Shield PAC intends to launch TV ads early in the 2022 races, focusing its efforts on tough swing districts and countering GOP accusations that Democratic candidates are socialists.
These Democrats announced the effort in a USA Today opinion column Monday, framing their mission as nothing short of protecting the nation.
“Our democracy hangs by a thread,” the column reads, noting Democrats hold the House by just eight votes. “Our plan is to counter the torrent of lies that helped cost us our elections in 2020.”
| Updated: 11:04 p.m.
Utah County Commissioner Tanner Ainge is stepping down, the first-term Republican informed his colleagues in a letter Wednesday.
Ainge is out of town for six weeks, through May 14, for Utah National Guard Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer training in Charlottesville, Va., and had intended to carry out his duties remotely until his return, he said in the letter. However, because he had not filed a notice required by state law, a temporary vacancy already exists.
Ainge said he decided to step out of the way rather than sit back while a temporary replacement picked in a special election among county Republicans took over his commission duties for a few weeks, until Ainge’s return.
How the governor and lawmakers settled on April 10 to lift the statewide mask mandate
Gov. Spencer Cox says they wouldn’t wait until everyone had a chance to get the vaccine so ‘The Legislature owns this now.’
(Francisco Kjolseth | Tribune file photo) Gov. Spencer Cox steps into the House chamber following Rep. Francis Gibson, R-Mapleton, motion Friday night that the Legislature hear from “Gov. Gary Herbert.” The legislative session ended March 5, after lawmakers passed a bill ending the statewide mask mandate April 10. Cox said in an interview Wednesday that the Legislature wouldn t wait any longer so it now owns the consequences.
KUER
The Utah Legislature wrapped up its 2021 General Session Friday at midnight. Lawmakers passed more than 500 bills.
The Utah Legislature closed out its 2021 General Session late Friday night after passing 503 bills.
With the ongoing pandemic, the 45-day meeting of lawmakers was unlike any before. Masks were required in the Capitol, plexiglass dividers were installed, and the public was able to comment virtually during committee hearings.
“It s allowed for people to have more input than probably ever before in the history of the legislative session,” said Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton. “It’s something I hope continues.”
Gov. Spencer Cox said he was grateful there were no COVID-19 outbreaks at the Capitol during the session.