Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Highlights Wednesday at the Utah Legislature:
VOTE SWITCHING: The House refused 38-36 to bring back a measure repealing cheaper in-state college tuition for some children of illegal immigrants.
The refusal came a day after the repeal failed on a 37-37 vote, with Rep. Keith Grover, R-Provo, absent. Grover, a co-sponsor of Rep. Glenn Donnelson's measure, was back in his seat Wednesday to give his support.
But several other representatives on both sides switched their votes and when the dust settled, Donnelson, R-North Ogden, was short the support he needed.
That could change. The House could vote anytime before the session ends March 3 to bring back Donnelson's bill for a floor vote. The bill would take away a benefit the Legislature granted five years ago to illegal immigrants who aren't born here but graduate from a Utah high school.
----
IMMIGRANT ROUNDUP: Rep. Glenn Donnelson, R-North Ogden, is turning up the heat on illegal immigrants in other ways.
His bill letting state and local police arrest illegal immigrants, normally a federal function, was approved 6-3 Wednesday by a House law enforcement committee. That bill now goes to the full House for a vote.
And Donnelson has a so-called boxcar bill refusing any government benefits to "aliens unlawfully present" in Utah. He rushed to file it by a deadline Friday before he could prepare any text for it. For now it's known as a "bill numbered by title without any substance."
Donnelson has two other immigrant bills. One would require Utah businesses to verify the citizenship of new hires. The second would yank driving "privilege" cards from non-U.S. residents in Utah.
---- ICE CREAM AND ETHICS: Democrats unveiled a package of ethics bills that have repeatedly met defeat in the Legislature, where majority Republicans say they can't be bought for any price.
"I do not think it is appropriate for legislators to receive front-row, $500 seats to a Jazz game," House Minority Leader Ralph Becker, D-Salt Lake City, said of a favorite perk from lobbyists.
Becker and other Democrats showcased bills to ban gifts; prohibit personal use of campaign accounts; set up an independent redistricting commission, and jam the "revolving door" of legislators-turned-lobbyists with a one-year cooling-off period before any retiring state elected official could pick up a license to lobby.
The Democrats spoke just a few paces from a cooler full of Fat Boy ice cream bars, courtesy of the Bountiful company and available for the taking.
Becker said his bill would exempt freebies worth less than $5 and that "we are not talking about ice cream," rather items of "substantial value."
---- DUCKING VOTES: House Speaker Greg Curtis reminded his colleagues Wednesday of a long-standing House rule: representatives on the floor must do their job and vote.
Curtis said one member was overheard Tuesday saying he was refusing to vote on a piece of legislation.
"That's not an option," Curtis lectured representatives. "You ran for election, you're here -- you vote."
---- ABORTION BAN: A Utah House committee voted to ban abortion --- setting the stage for a costly legal battle if the bill clears the Legislature and is signed into law.
A House committee approved the bill yesterday in a 6-to-2 vote. The bill would trigger a ban if the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a 1973 decision that legalized abortion. However, the bill was subsequently turned into a prohibition, no matter what happens at the court.
If the bill becomes law --- Attorney General Mark Shurtleff says defending it would cost at least $1 million. He says the bill is likely unconstitutional. However, if the Legislature passes it --- then it's his duty to defend it.
The measure now heads to the full House for consideration.
------------ Information from: Deseret Morning News, http://www.deseretnews.com
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
