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Utah Senate organizes for 1991 session; Arnold Christensen elected president by acclamation
Summary
On the opening day of the 1991 Utah State Senate general session, newly elected senators were sworn in, Arnold Christensen was chosen Senate president by acclamation, and caucus-selected leadership and committee appointments were recorded and confirmed.
Newly elected members of the Utah State Senate were sworn in and the chamber organized for the 1991 general session, culminating in the acclamation election of Arnold Christensen as Senate president.
President Arnold Christensen was nominated, and, after a motion to close nominations and elect by acclamation, the Senate approved him without opposition. "I deem it a privilege to serve again as the president of the state senate," Christensen said after being sworn in, urging colleagues to prioritize education, human services, transportation, taxation and water development during a session he described as financially and politically challenging.
Caucus-selected leadership was recorded for the session and approved by the Senate: Carrie G. Peterson as majority leader and Lane Beatty as majority whip; Ellen Money as minority leader and Paul Fordham as minority whip. The chamber also confirmed committee assignments and staff appointments, and named Chuck Peterson chairman of the Rules Committee. The president appointed committees to read and revise the Senate journal and to notify the House and the governor that the Senate was organized.
On procedural matters the Senate moved to suspend the reading of full bill titles on first reading and the consent calendars (with individual senators able to request full readings). That suspension of the rule carried by voice vote. Senators also adopted a temporary set of rules for the day and arranged committee and calendar work for the coming weeks; the day’s schedule included a rules committee meeting and a 6:30 p.m. joint session for the governor’s message.
The organization of leadership and the adoption of interim procedures set the chamber’s calendar and committee structure for the 45‑day session, leaving policy debates and final votes on the calendar for later days.
