4th seat for Utah not on agenda

WASHINGTON — House Republican leaders decided Tuesday not to consider a bill that would add a fourth House seat for Utah, but Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. and other supporters will continue to push for the bill until the last minute of the session.

Tuesday's news was no shock as the dwindling congressional schedule was sure to be an obstacle for the legislation. While it is unlikely the House agenda would change before Congress adjourns on Friday, supporters have a "never say never" attitude. The bill most likely will be reintroduced next year and start over in the new session of Congress that starts in January.

The bill would create an additional seat for Utah, which most likely would go to a Republican, as a way to balance out a House vote for the District of Columbia, whose seat likely would go to a Democrat. The district has no vote in Congress, and Utah did not get an additional seat after the 2000 Census but is likely to get one in 2010.

Huntsman spokesman Mike Mower said the governor will continue to call on lawmakers to pass the bill until Congress adjourns.

"There's still a couple of days left this week and a new decision could be reached," Mower said. "However, if it isn't added to the agenda at this time, we anticipate it will be reintroduced at the start of next session."

Tuesday's decision, he said, doesn't mean the issue won't be addressed.

"We've had a temporary setback this week, but we hope and expect that this important legislation will eventually pass," Mower said.

Huntsman, who spent Tuesday in Phoenix at a National Governors' Association conference, will quickly sign the legislation passed Monday during a special session of the Utah Legislature, Mower said.

The Legislature approved a new four-district map to satisfy Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wisc., who disagreed with the at-large position created for Utah in the original version of the bill. Sensenbrenner heads the House Judiciary Committee, which would have needed to sign off on the bill before it would go to the House floor.

"Though it's not over until we recess sine die, if we don't get a vote scheduled this year, I am certainly going to work to get a vote early next year," said Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah. "It is hard news that we can't get a fourth seat vote this week. A lot of people worked hard on this and I commend Utah's Legislature for doing a remarkable job to come up with a map."