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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Utah Democrats say they are sick of bills moving through the Legislature this session that intentionally flout the federal government.
Democratic members from the House and Senate gathered Tuesday to take a stand against the so-called message bills.
They say the measures, from challenging federal gun regulationto blocking government-backed health care reform, distract lawmakers from pressing issues like the 2011 budget.
Senate Minority Leader Patricia Jones says Utah can't afford to fight challenges to the bills in court or risk losing millions in federal funds.
But Democrats are a minority in both houses and some of the bills they criticized Tuesday are already on Republican Gov. Gary Herbert's desk for consideration.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
