Congress returns this week. Will it prevent a government shutdown as the deadline looms? Real Salt Lake benefits from huge tax break. Gay Ugandan refugees find new home in Utah.
Happy Monday. As Congress returns to Washington this week — with just 12 legislative days left until the end of the year — the deadline to prevent a government shutdown looms. Leaders are downplaying the possibility, though a bipartisan divide has already upended other efforts this year, including health care reform. “I just say, be ready for a potentially wild month in December,” said Republican Rep. Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania. [WaPost]
Topping the news: Real Salt Lake had been quietly receiving a huge tax break on its property, Rio Tinto Stadium, since 2012. [Trib]
-> The Utah attorney general’s office continues to withhold its legal opinion about the 2017 special election, now citing a conflict of interest with a member of the State Records Committee. [Trib] [DNews]
-> Two gay Ugandan activists, who promoted LGBTQ rights and HIV/AIDS treatments, fled Africa and sought asylum in Utah. [Trib]
Tweets of the weekend: From @petridishes: “Gary Cohn: crinkle crinkle hissing sound weird echo. Trump: Did you just say the words ‘crinkle crinkle hissing sound’? Cohn: Oh no dropped call”
-> From @ryanbeckwith: “’Confess Your Unpopular Opinion’ would be a good name for a book about America right now.”
In other news: Former Utah Transit Authority board member Terry Diehl requested compensation for his legal bills after a case was dismissed against him. [Trib] [DNews]
-> A Utah County sheriff’s deputy told investigators that he thought he was helping a BYU student by sharing her police report with the university. [Trib]
-> Gov. Gary Herbert appointed Anna Lehnardt as his new public information officer. [DNews]
-> Pat Bagley illustrates how Sen. Orrin Hatch protects his “precious” Senate seat. [Trib]
-> Paul Rolly compares and contrasts Hatch to the late Frank E. “Ted” Moss, a former Democratic senator who looked out for the little guy and whom Hatch defeated in 1976. [Trib]
-> Michelle Quist describes how trials can be uplifting and strengthening experiences. [Trib]
-> Robert Gehrke provides a satirical look at what President Donald Trump might have tweeted on Thanksgiving. [Trib]
-> Frank Pignanelli and LaVarr Webb joke about what Utah’s politicians might be grateful for this year. [DNews]
Nationally: Rep. John Conyers announced Sunday that he will step down from his position as the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee amid sexual harassment allegations. [Politico]
-> Leandra English has filed a lawsuit to prevent President Donald Trump from appointing Mick Mulvaney as director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. [WaPost]
-> The GOP’s tax bill may repeal a 1954 ban which stopped churches from participating in political activity. [NYTimes]
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— Courtney Tanner and Karenna Meredith
