Huntsman is stingy with his vetoes

After a legislative session that featured relatively little head-butting between the legislative and executive branches, Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. continued the feelings of goodwill by executing only one significant veto Tuesday.

Citing concerns that it "significantly chills" communications between parents and teachers, Huntsman vetoed HB42, commonly known as the "Ritalin bill." That bill would have codified in state law prohibitions against teachers requiring students to take medication for behavior problems as a condition of remaining in class. Huntsman vetoed one other bill, HB279, although only at the request of the bill's sponsor.

He also used his budgetary line-item veto for three items in SB3, the supplemental appropriations bill, to remove duplicate funding for a Children's Justice Center in Cedar City and to ensure that road construction projects in Utah County were funded.

Huntsman signed the other 368 bills, including 13 Tuesday, which was the final day for him to either sign or veto bills. Among those signed on the last day was a bill allowing midwives to be licensed, a child welfare bill that expands parental rights and a resolution authorizing the construction of a landfill on school trust lands in Tooele County.

Unlike other first-year governors, Huntsman mostly steered clear of angering legislators with his vetoes and risking an override as a freshman executive. By contrast, former Gov. Olene Walker came under fire last year for her veto of a bill providing tuition vouchers for some disabled students, while former Gov. Mike Leavitt incited the rage of school personnel and sparked a walkout after vetoing a school funding bill during his first term in 1993.

As for HB42, Huntsman said it had too many restrictions regarding what could be discussed, and he was primarily concerned that teachers would not give parents necessary information about their children because of the law. He also was worried about a portion of the bill that allowed parents to review, in advance, mental health tests administered by school personnel.

"Ultimately, decisions concerning a child's behavior and solutions for any problems should be made by that child's parents or guardians," Huntsman wrote in a letter to legislative leaders. "In making decisions about child's behavior, however, parents and guardians should have unhindered access to input from teachers."

HB42 was sponsored by Rep. Mike Morley, R-Spanish Fork, who could not be reached for comment Tuesday. Supporters of the bill, however, expressed outrage at the governor's veto.