Trump jokes that “maybe” the United States will follow China’s example and try to remove presidential term limits. Interior Department emails show that oil and gas played a role in scaling back Utah national monument boundaries. Utah lawmakers filed a record number of bills this year.
Happy Monday. In a speech to donors this weekend, President Donald Trump praised Chinese President Xi Jinping for his proposal to scrap term limits. And then he joked that the United States might look into that in the future. “Maybe we'll have to give that a shot someday,” Trump said. [WaPost]
Topping the news: U.S. Interior Department emails obtained by The New York Times show that oil and gas played a large role in President Donald Trump’s move to scale back Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments in Utah. [Trib]
-> Sen. Orrin Hatch apologized Friday after calling Obamacare supporters "the stupidest, dumbass people I’ve ever met.” [Trib] [DNews] [KSL]
-> Utah lawmakers filed a record number of 1,359 bills this year — and one bill is aimed at shaming those who create too many. [Trib]
Tweets of the day: From @byrdinator: “my hair right now looks more like Steve Bannon’s hair in this photo than I would like to admit”
-> From @StephenAtHome: “March is coming in like a lion, but I’m pretty sure it’ll go out like a disgraced member of Trump’s inner circle.”
Happy Birthday: Today to former Trib intern Laura Schmitz and belatedly to state Sen. Kevin Van Tassell, who celebrated on Saturday.
In other news: The Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services committee approved a bill Friday that would create a special trade zone in Salt Lake City, despite objections from city leaders. [Trib] [DNews]
-> Community members and environmental activists also voiced their opposition to the trade hub Sunday. [Trib] [DNews] [KSL]
-> Here’s a breakdown of the bill that could ban abortions if Down syndrome has been diagnosed. [Trib]
-> The state has issued more than 1,400 permits for 18- to 20-year-olds to have concealed firearms. Here are the reasons why young Utahns carry. [Trib]
-> A Senate committee endorsed a House resolution Friday to give the Legislature authority to call a special session. [Trib] [DNews]
-> Lawmakers passed a bill to prevent workplace harassment and discrimination but rejected another that would extend protections to employees in small businesses. [Trib]
-> Sen. Jim Dabakis, D-Salt Lake City, is sponsoring a constitutional amendment that would abolish the state school board, a proposal the Senate Education Committee approved Friday. [Trib] [DNews] [KSL]
-> Sen. Margaret Dayton, R-Orem, is sponsoring a bill that would give Utah’s Hole in the Rock trail state park status. [Trib]
-> A bill that would expand Medicaid is awaiting the approval of the House after passing out of committee Thursday. [Trib]
-> A bill introduced Friday aims to ignore a recent Utah GOP bylaw change that disqualifies signature-gatherers from getting on the ballot. [Trib]
-> The Utah House passed a bill that would give employers tax credit if they offer paid leave, a move to encourage employees with families to stay in the workplace. [Trib]
-> Utah lawmakers are working behind the scenes to raise money for education and strike a deal with proponents of a campaign trying to hike taxes to fund schools. [Trib]
-> The Senate voted Friday to close a gambling loophole exploited by some businesses. [Trib]
-> State Republican lawmakers shot down a bill Thursday that would raise Utah’s minimum wage to $12. [Trib] [DNews] [KSL]
-> Pat Bagley shows where he thinks a state highway dedicated to President Donald Trump would lead. [Trib]
-> Paul Rolly tells the story of a retiring cop who aspires to become an armed high school teacher. [Trib]
-> Frank Pignanelli and LaVarr Webb discuss the inner turmoil of Utah’s GOP and what it means for this year’s election — and Utah Democrats. [DNews]
Nationally: The State Department has been allocated $120 million to combat Russian meddling in U.S. elections. It has yet to spend any of it. [NYTimes]
Got a tip? A birthday, wedding or anniversary to announce? Want to sign up for our weekday email and get this sent directly to your inbox? Send us a note to cornflakes@sltrib.com.
— Courtney Tanner and Madalyn Gunnell
