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Utah House rejects executive pay bill, agrees to reconsider and circle it for amendment
Summary
After extended debate over salary increases for executive and judicial officers, the Utah House voted 24–51 to defeat House Bill 430, then voted to reconsider and 'circle' the measure for amendment and further work before rescheduling.
House Bill 430, a measure to adjust executive and judicial compensation and clarify several benefits provisions, failed on the House floor on Feb. 24, 1993 but was immediately set aside for additional amendment work.
Representative Stevens, the bill sponsor, said the measure “is an important piece of legislation” that would give a 3% increase to most department heads while moving four specified department heads up one salary bracket and inserting technical corrections on leave and Social Security contributions. He described the intent to “tie these to public employees' salaries” going forward.
Representative Tanner opposed the bill, saying, “I rise in opposition to this bill. I think the people of Utah would not be pleased with the legislature passing this type of legislation at a time when many people are having to take cutbacks themselves.” Tanner urged caution about approving notable pay increases during economic stress.
Representative Atkinson defended higher pay for top elected officials, stating, “I think the governor's salary needs to be higher,” and argued the state risks losing qualified administrators if compensation is too low.
The chamber considered and rejected an Ellerton amendment to raise the auditor's line by $2,500 and adopted a Stevens amendment that removed unemployment compensation for elected officials and clarified leave and Social Security employer contributions. After debate, the House vote on the bill failed, receiving 24 affirmative and 51 negative votes.
Shortly after the defeat, members moved and passed a motion to reconsider House Bill 430 and then to “circle” it — placing it at the top of the third reading calendar so sponsors and opponents could develop agreed amendments for future consideration. Representative Stevens said the plan was to prepare amendments “so that everyone could feel comfortable with paying our executive officers.”
The House adjourned with the bill circled for further action the following legislative day.
Next steps: HB430 was recalled for amendment work and placed on the third-reading calendar for additional consideration after staff and members develop revisions.
