Utah lawmakers opt against override session

Utah lawmakers will not convene a special veto override session on Wednesday.

Instead, the Utah House's 56 GOP lawmakers will huddle that day to decide if they want an election-year fight with fellow Republican Gov. Olene Walker.

House Speaker Marty Stephens, who is running against Walker for the governor's office, could have called for an override session. The Weber County Republican has 50 votes — the two-thirds required — for such a session. And senators have already pledged at least 20 votes — two-thirds of that body — to override Walker, so they would be on board for a special session.

But there are only 48 House votes to override any one of Walker's vetoes of six bills and five budget line items. And as the May 8 state GOP convention nears, Stephens is facing a lot of political heat no matter what he decides.

So Stephens and other House leaders announced Friday they would meet with their caucus next Wednesday — during a regular interim legislative study day — to decide if there are really enough votes to override any of Walker's vetoes.

"I guess they have to get in a room and work this out," said Walker spokeswoman Amanda Convington when asked about speculation that some wayward House Republicans will be pressured to oppose Walker.

It's unclear if an e-mail that Walker sent to reporters earlier Friday had an impact on the House leaders' decision.

Walker said: "The poll numbers (of House and Senate members on whether to call a veto override session) seem fuzzy. I am concerned there has been behind-the-scenes arm-twisting to get the numbers for an override.

"These efforts have been more about politics than good law. Utahns should be concerned. After studying the issues, most will agree with me that any changes to the bills I vetoed will take careful, thoughtful study."

House Majority Leader Greg Curtis, R-Sandy, said it is Walker, not Stephens or other GOP lawmakers, who is playing politics this election year.

"Contrary to the governor's statement today (to the media), there has been no politicking going on," Curtis said. "Legislators have said they want a veto override session, and we, as leaders, have simply been trying to determine if there is a consensus item."