Curtis may back off on bill that disturbs Huntsman

Maybe then, he said, the news media wouldn't have tried to "drive a wedge" between legislators and Huntsman over the issue. In fact, the media were roundly criticized for their reporting of the subject by committee Republicans before members voted along party lines — the three Democrats on the committee voting no — to advance HB97 to House floor debate.

After the committee vote, Huntsman chief of staff Jason Chaffetz told the Associated Press that "We're were very surprised (GOP lawmakers) are going to slam this through. I don't think the public understands or wants this dramatic power shift to happen."

At the committee hearing, Mower wondered out loud why, so early in a new administration, there would be a rush to change the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches of government.

HB97 would have not only "a profound impact" on this Legislature but into the future as well, Mower said. It seems the bill is "greased to go," he added.

In the committee, and later at a noon House GOP caucus, Republican after Republican said objections to the bill were overplayed, unrealistic.

"It just makes sense," said Rep. Dave Cox, R-Lehi, to have what are known as continuing resolutions — keeping the current year's spending into next fiscal year — if the Legislature and governor can't agree on a budget. Otherwise, Curtis said, state government would have to shut down completely.

Valentine said later: "We've talked in terms of long-term policy, and that the long-term policy ought to be that we don't have the government in a crisis where there's no money."

That's especially important, he said, because the Legislature only meets part time and cannot call itself back into session.

But others say what may seem like a small change to some — the heart of Curtis' bill is only a couple of lines — in the real political world the budget battle between the branches of government could shift permanently.

"It would be a major, major change," providing the Legislature with a real political club in setting budgets, House Minority Leader Ralph Becker, D-Salt Lake, said earlier this week.

"It's a slippery slope," Mower said Thursday, which could lead to years of continuing resolutions, "and a stagnant budget" that's not allowed to provide more spending.

But, said Rep. Gordon Snow, R-Roosevelt, didn't Huntsman run a campaign promising change?

"Yes, change within the exiting framework," Mower responded. He added that throughout the campaign, even in meetings with GOP legislative leadership before and after he took office, not once did anyone talk about this approach.

"This could have been vetted early on" in discussions between legislative leaders and the governor, Mower said after the committee's vote. "What if you had an intransigent Legislature that refused to do anything. You could never have a budget" compromise that would adequately fund state programs, he added.

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