EPA administrator says he’ll now fly coach, after First Class backlash. Hatch calls Obamacare supporters ‘dumbass people.’ Noel wants to name a road after Trump.
Happy Friday. The administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Scott Pruitt, has been flying first or business class consistently because his security detail was alarmed by hostile encounters while traveling. But Pruitt, after facing news coverage that wasn’t friendly either, is now vowing to fly coach. [Politico]
Topping the news: Sen. Orrin Hatch voiced his dislike of the Affordable Care Act and called those who support it the “stupidest, dumbass people I’ve ever met.” [Trib] [DNews] [ABC4] [KUTV] [Fox13] [KSL]
-> Hatch also spoke out against President Donald Trump’s new tariffs on steel and aluminium and encouraged the president to reconsider. [Trib]
-> State Rep. Mike Noel proposed a new bill that would rename the Utah National Parks Highway to the “Donald J. Trump Utah National Parks Highway.” [Trib] [DNews] [Fox13]
Tweets of the day: From @nickconfessore: “More and more I feel like we are living through the late decadent stage of a collapsing civilization. I guess I should have a donut..”
-> From @DavidCornDC: “Obama: I support moderate gun restrictions. GOP: He’s taking your guns away!!!!!!! Trump: I want to take guns away. GOP: <shrug>”
-> From @ktumulty: “Trump should just acknowledge reality and appoint himself White House Communications Director.”
-> From @pkcapitol: “If you had Tillerson outlasting Hope, you could’ve won 7-figure payout probably at one of those overseas gambling sites.”
Happy Birthday: On Sunday to state Rep. Stephen Handy, Taylorsville City Recorder Cheryl Cottle and Rep. Chris Stewart’s executive assistant, Mark Coffield.
Behind the Headlines: Tribune reporters Bill Dentzer and Benjamin Wood, senior managing editor Matt Canham and editorial page editor George Pyle join KCPW’s Roger McDonough to talk about the week’s top stories, including news from the nearly finished state legislative session. Each Friday morning, stream “Behind the Headlines” online at kcpw.org or tune in to KCPW 88.3 FM or Utah Public Radio for the broadcast.
In other news: Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski signed a gender pay equity policy that would force Salt Lake City human resource departments to conduct regular audits on gender pay equity. [Trib] [DNews] [ABC4] [KUTV]
-> Major retailers are calling for a boycott of Vista Outdoor, a Utah outdoor gear company that has continued to sell and support assault-style firearms. [Trib]
-> Newly appointed state Rep. Travis Seegmiller stated he was “nervous about the concept of empowering the citizenry” when it comes to delaying the date of voter initiatives. [Trib]
-> The House passed a bill that would require Utah cities that do not have homeless shelters to contribute to those who do. [DNews]
-> Senators voted down but then later approved a bill that would ban cities from imposing fees on items like plastic shopping bags, cups, cans and bottles. [Trib]
-> In a video that is as good as it sounds, Utah lawmakers created a spoof of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” about the bill creation process entitled “Fresh Prints of Bills Here.” [Trib]
-> The Senate voted in favor of a bill that would allow the state to create more toll roads in order to reduce traffic and congestion. [Trib]
-> Attempts to stall Utah’s new strict DUI laws failed as lawmakers struck down a bill that would delay the new 0.05 blood-alcohol level standard. [Trib] [Fox13]
-> Salt Lake County D.A. Sim Gill announced Wednesday that he will run for a third term. [Trib]
-> Arts for All, a new Salt Lake City County program that offers Broadway tickets to low-income residents, gave its first reward to Brandon Montes, an 11-year-old at Whittier Elementary. [Trib]
-> Pat Bagley depicts one possible future for Utah’s canyons. [Trib]
-> Robert Gerke spoofs the legislatures new rap video with a song of his own. [Trib]
Nationally: President Donald Trump imposed new tariffs on steel and aluminium in a move that is being criticized by the GOP and foreign allies. [WaPost]
-> The NRA’s top lobbyist said Thursday that Trump is backing off his call for gun control after an Oval Office meeting the president called “great.” [NYTimes]
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-- Thomas Burr and Eric Baker