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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- The Utah House will not attempt to override Gov. Mike Leavitt's line item vetoes of $7.8 million in cuts made to the state's current budget, effectively ending the threat of action.
House Speaker Marty Stephens, R-Farr West, said Tuesday that a tally of the 75 representatives found that only 25 wanted to pursue the matter.
It would take a two-thirds vote of the entire Legislature to undo Leavitt's funding restorations. There has been no indication from the Senate that it would support an attempted veto override.
Leavitt restored $7.8 million that had been cut as part of the effort to close the $117-million budget shortfall during last December's emergency session.
Lawmakers have until March 4 to take any action on Leavitt's restorations.
Leavitt said the cuts would have forced early parole for 400 dangerous criminals and taken 130 law enforcement officers off the street. Leavitt also restored some funding for Utah courts, saying the cuts would have abolished 30 positions and delayed justice.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
