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(Salt Lake City-AP) -- The Utah Legislature rushed to adjournment last night by finishing a seven-point-three (B)billion dollars budget and adopting a flurry of last-minute bills.
Among the final acts of lawmakers was to repeal the term limits law, approve a do-not-call list for telemarketers and tax cable and satellite television service.
Senators let the clock run out on two abortion bills. With Democrats stalling for time, the bills died without a vote at the stroke of midnight. One of the measures would have banned state funding for abortions. The other would have strengthened the state's late-term abortion law to allow the procedure only if the woman's life was in danger -- it was certain to land the state in a lawsuit.
The Senate started the day passing bills ten times faster than the House and complaining the lower chamber wasn't keeping pace. The Senate took frequent breaks and a two-hour lunch during the 18-hour day as the House found itself bogged down in debate.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
