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By John Daley
SALT LAKE CITY -- A tussle between Republicans in Utah's House and Senate promises to escalate into an end-of-the-session showdown. The issue: immigration.
The debate is over whether lawmakers should vote on each immigration proposal separately or have the various proposals brought together into one multi-dimensional bill.
In the Senate last week, Sen. Curt Bramble, R-Provo, unveiled a multi-faceted bill called SB288, which he described as "comprehensive" and said is styled after the Utah Compact. It would include enforcement provisions and a guest worker program.
Monday, House lawmakers, joined by a variety of members of the conservative 9-12 and Tea Party groups, help a press conference. They said they want an up or down vote on each bill.
"We've called this to express concern about our bills being basically taken over and wrapped into other bills, and there's a problem with that," Rep. Chris Herrod, R-Provo said. "We believe that each bill deserves to stand on its own merit."
"Senator Bramble's bill should get an up or down vote just like my bill should get an up or down vote, on their own, separate," said Rep. Steven Sandstrom, R-Orem.
"We may come to gridlock to where, really, we don't know what's going to pass," said Rep. Carl Wimmer, R-Herriman. "Today we don't know what will ultimately pass. But if I had to choose between nothing passing or a bill that rewards illegal behavior, I would choose nothing."
Senate leaders say they have no intention to "hijack" House bills, but they do prefer a comprehensive approach.
"It's not our intention to go out and scuttle their work and say it has to be a Senate bill. It doesn't. It's still percolating in the Senate. We'll see where it goes," said Senate Majority Leader Scott Jenkins, R-Plain City.
The clock is ticking. The session ends next Thursday.
E-mail: jdaley@ksl.com
