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House conducts organizational votes, hears veto messages and adjourns after overrides
Summary
In a special veto-override session April 26, 2004 the Utah House adopted session organization and rules, received multiple veto messages from the governor (including appropriations items and several House bills), held committee-of-the-whole hearings on fiscal/legal questions tied to appropriations, considered Senate overrides and later debated calendar order before adjourning.
The House opened the veto override session with a prayer and pledge and moved promptly into organizational business. Representative Curtis moved to retain the same leadership and organization as in the general session; the motion passed and the House adopted the same House and joint rules as previously used.
Madam Reading Clerk and Lieutenant Governor Gail F. McKechnie presented certified communications, including Governor Olene S. Walker’s veto messages for numerous line items and bills (for example, line item 65 in the supplemental appropriations bill and House bills 115, 140 and 158). Walker’s veto messages repeatedly cited separation-of-powers concerns when the legislature’s intent-language was drafted to direct an executive-branch action such as selection of a contractor under an RFP process.
A Committee of the Whole was convened so fiscal analyst Mike Kerr and legal counsel Gaye Taylor could answer members’ questions about the budget, the mechanics flowing from overriding certain line items, and the State Office of Education’s authority to spend funds and meet program requirements. Members pressed staff on whether funds would remain with USOE or revert to the uniform school fund if particular vetoes were sustained.
After the two Senate-bill overrides (SB 115 and SB 239), members debated whether to proceed with House vetoed items and argued about calendar order, point-of-order rulings and motions to limit debate. Representative Philpott moved a process to consider house bills with 15 minutes of debate each; substitute motions and points of order followed. The House ultimately approved a motion to adjourn; the Speaker was authorized to appoint a committee to notify the Senate and Governor of adjournment.
Procedural outcomes recorded in the session transcript include the adoption of session rules, committee appointments to notify the Senate and Governor, convening and dissolving a Committee of the Whole, and a motion to adjourn carried following division.
