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Richard Piatt ReportingA bill to eliminate the firing squad as an option for capital punishment is now on the Governor's desk. That's just one of the many issues progressing at the Legislature this week.
This week a bill on abortion, same sex marriage, and now the firing squad headed straight for Governor Olene Walker. And today, she says she's ready to make some hard decisions.
Governor Walker describes 'nagging concerns' about public policy when it comes to so-called "message" bills to restrict abortions and gay marriage. She promises to scrutinize tuition tax credits and parental rights bills. But she is more definite when it comes to eliminating the firing squad for executions.
Gov. Olene Walker: "At that point we need to make the death penalty as possible, and so if it passes, I will certainly sign it."
It was far easier for the Governor to head to a rally full of college students bent on Higher Education funding. Students from every Utah college and university took part in a relay race from Saint George to the State Capitol. They passed a baton from each other and on to lawmakers. They're hoping more money will be passed back for higher ed raises.
Trent Kemp, Pres., Utah Student Association: "We're having a budget crisis here in the state of Utah, but we want to make sure every student has a quality education, that's the most important thing."
Lawmakers are starting to feel the pressure to fund, not just higher education, but public education; to restore key medicaid benefits; and to give raises to all state employees. That battle will continue through the next week.
Plenty of tough issues are also on tap. One brought the Jensen family--including 12-year old Parker to the Capitol last night. House Bill 266 calls for sweeping reform of the Division of Child and Family Services by shoring up parental rights.
Darin Jensen: "I think this bill would have gone a long way to help my family and the situation that we endured this last year."
The work of refining the state's money situation now starts to heat up: There's only a week and a half left to get it done.
