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Richard Piatt Reporting A session to override Governor Walker's vetoes is a 'go' for next week. But an important question remains: Which Vetoes?
Legislative leaders say two-thirds of both the House and Senate support the override session. But it is not clear which of the Governor's nine vetoes might get overridden.
Legislative leadership is adamant tonight, saying politics is not part of the override call, but the Governor is suspicious she's being second-guessed in an election year.
Both House and Senate leaders say they'll take up the override question next Wednesday. There, a Republican caucus will vote which, if any, of the Governor's vetoes will be overturned.
Rep. Greg Curtis, House Majority Leader: “There’s 50 votes for a veto override session, but there aren’t 50 votes for any particular piece of legislation.”
Not even the most annoying veto for conservative members of the Governor's own party: A tuition tax credit bill for special-needs children, nicknamed the 'Carson Smith' bill. Lawmakers will more likely address technical questions in measures about special elections and unfair business practices.
The question is: Is this an attempt to make the Governor look bad?
Gov. Olene Walker: “I’m certain there’s been a lot of arm twisting. It’s a campaign year.”
Other lawmakers agree, failing to see the urgency in addressing these matters before next session.
Rep. Steven Mascaro, (R) Salt Lake County: “You have to wonder when the circumstances are the way they are if there’s not a political motive.”
But House and Senate Leaders say it's public policy, not politics they're interested in. That's in spite of a nine-way Republican Governor's race, which includes the House Speaker, a Senator and the Governor.
Rep. Greg Curtis, House Majority Leader: "If we were interested in making the governor look bad we could go into session, because we have the 50 votes, debate the issue, and then not do anything."
Gov. Olene Walker, "I think it would be far different if it weren't a campaign year. I don't think there would be any questions. But it is a campaign year, and that's part of the process."
But for the most part, Republican in-fighting over the Governor's race has been kept out of the public view. The override question may or may not bring glimpses of it to the surface.
