Day 35 is over. Whew.The math is easy. 45 – 35 = as many days left as most people have fingers.

Today on the Hill, Elder Gene R. Chidester of the Quorum of Seventy of the LDS church gave the opening prayer for a busy 35th day of the Session.

We honored John Nord of UDOT today on the floor with a citation.  John is the Executive Director of UDOT, and is retiring after 25 years of service [including 12 as the E.D.].

Press conferences were held by both opponents and supporters of SB71, Results Based Financing for Early Childhood Education.  Materials/videos of the pressers are included here at the Senate Site: HERE for Support, and HERE for Opposition.

A press conference unveiling Senator Stuart Adams’ SB275, “Energy Amendments” was also held today… on a school bus.  HERE is a post which includes a video of the presser, as well as news links and materials.  HERE is an article by Senator Adams which includes a quick synopsis of what the bill aims to do.  [The wheels on the bus go round-and-round, round-and-round...]

SB72 re: Prison Relocation received a lot of debate on the floor today.  The bill was substituted, and then circled.  You can check out the most recent version of the bill, as well as floor debates and the fiscal note at le.utah.gov > bills > SB0072.

Over the weekend, Senator Kevin Van Tassell celebrated a birthday.  Here’s to wishing him many more years of legislative bills. [I mean bliss...]

Today’s Flickr Albums – Sunshine, and People of the Senate.

Today’s Senate Smiles Album includes birthday parties, karaoke-ing Representatives and interns, LDS church leaders on school busses, and lots of general happiness. Check it out.

Links we Like:

- PoliticIt hosts a post from Daniel Burton re: the Price of Politics – Bob Woodward v. the White House.

- The D New’s Benjamin Wood wonders: Do Utah lawmakers’ bills advance overall goals?

- Senator Allen Christensen is receiving both praise and criticism today for a comment re: Abortion and Cockfighting.  Coverage here and here and here.  And here.

- The Sutherland Institute’s Dave Buer writes on marriage and society here.

- Utah Political Capitol is wondering what we’re doing about healthcare.  An interesting take on the issue from Mr. Robert Gehrke.

- The House is wondering whether or not they can ‘vote yes, no, or take a walk‘.  They decided they’d better think about it a little more.  [Maybe they should take a walk to clear their heads a bit.]

- Latest coverage of PRADA, Prison Relocation by Brooke Adams of the SL Trib.

Top Tweets: 

@repbrianking 3 Kings 17:76 “And the Lord saith, it shall come to pass that the bearded legislators shall deny gun rights.”. #utpol #utleg

— Jeremy Roberts (@JeremyBRoberts) March 4, 2013

Hope to have list of fiscal notes out by tomorrow so we can see what needs to be funded #utleg #utpol

—Sen. Lyle Hillyard (@SenLyleHillyard) March 4, 2013

Lots of commotion at the Capitol coming from protestors over the police shooting death of Kelly Simons#utpol twitter.com/briangrimmett/…

— Brian Grimmett (@briangrimmett) March 4, 2013

It is obviously a Monday here at the #utleg. Pretty much every legislator is just sitting at their desk with their head down. #utpol

— Brian Grimmett (@briangrimmett) March 4, 2013

Nip and tuck on Moss’ CPR bill. Time to begin chest compressions. #utpol

— RobertGehrke (@RobertGehrke) March 4, 2013

It’s the laptop. “@cboyack: I’ve been asked twice in the past five minutes if I’m a reporter. #mustbethebeard #utpol”

— Craig Hall (@hcraighall) March 4, 2013

If you mess with @donlipson, you’re messing with Freedom. #utleg #utpol #freedomtheeagle twitter.com/MasCaucus/stat…

— Más Caucus (@MasCaucus) March 4, 2013

Just chillin in the bus with @governorherbert and @jstuartadams talking about improving air in Utah #rightplacerighttime #utleg #utpol

— Matthew Gamett (@mgamett5) March 4, 2013

Best bills of the session #hb114 #hb391 #Nullification of unconstitutional Federal over reach! I love it. #utleg #utpol #tcot

— Kevin Greene (@guadalahonky) March 4, 2013

Peanut free and pollution free! #utpoltwitpic.com/c8oqes

— Spencer Nitz (@spnitz86) March 4, 2013

You know it’s week six in the #utleg when this is what you eat for lunch: #utsen #utpol twitter.com/DeidreHenderso…

— Deidre Henderson (@DeidreHenderson) March 4, 2013

You know it’s week six in the #utleg when: you know how many steps lead up to the Senate chamber from the Sen. Bldg (78). #utsen #utpol

— Deidre Henderson (@DeidreHenderson) March 4, 2013

Great to see so much input. RT @dnewspolitics Senate debating #SB72, prison relocation bill. Lots of floor amendments coming. #utleg #utpol

— Jeff Stenquist (@JeffStenquist) March 4, 2013

@goptodd Win some, lose some #utpol #utleg

— MarkBMadsen (@votemadsen) March 4, 2013

@goptodd @votemadsen bejeebers- don’t hear that word much haha #utleg #utpol

— Ralph Okerlund (@RalphOkerlund) March 4, 2013

HB342: Are these feral turkeys? Rep. Gibson asks.Yes they are, Rep. Menlove. #utleg #utpol

—Joel Briscoe (@RepBriscoe) March 4, 2013

Often the legislative session feels like a hangover that will never end. #utleg #utpol #ladypoliticoproblems #whatdoesahangoverfeellike

— Alissa Wilkinson (@AWilksi) March 4, 2013

Traitor ;) @goptodd: I just amended the prison relocation bill so that 1/4 of the legislators on the board be Democrats who = 18% of #utleg

— Spencer Cox (@SpencerJCox) March 4, 2013

 Rise and Shine for tomorrow morning’s Standing Committees:

- Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice

- Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment

- Transportation, Public Utilities, and Technology

TTFN, ta-ta for now!