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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- As promised, Governor Jon Huntsman has vetoed a bill that would have allowed the Legislature to overrule his disapproval of radioactive waste sites.
He said the measure would weaken the governor's authority to protect Utah's image and environment and health and safety of its residents,
Current law requires both legislative and gubernatorial approval of waste sites. Senate Bill 70 was said sponsoring Senator Howard Stephenson, president of the business-backed Utah Taxpayers Association, to be a means of restoring the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches.
Stephenson drafted the bill after Huntsman said he would veto the expansion of the waste sites owned by Envirocare -- now known as EnergySolutions -- in the desert 80 miles west of Salt Lake City.
The bill passed both the House and Senate by healthy margins, but only the Senate secured enough votes to override a Huntsman veto.
The Legislature could try for an override tomorrow, but would need a two-thirds vote of both Houses to do so.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
