Remarks may spur Buttars to resign

Sen. Chris Buttars could resign Friday as a result of the controversy surrounding anti-gay comments he made to a documentary filmmaker.

The West Jordan Republican left the Capitol Thursday afternoon after a two-hour, closed-door Senate GOP caucus where concerns were raised about an interview where he compared gay-rights activists to Muslim terrorists.

Senate President Michael Waddoups, R-Taylorsville, scheduled a 9:30 a.m. Friday news conference about Buttars' fate. None of the Senate GOP leaders were willing to say what that fate might be, but did acknowledge resignation was a possibility.

If Buttars, who was re-elected to a third four-year term last November, does not decide to leave office, Waddoups could strip him of his committee chairmanships and even his committee assignments. Buttars chairs the Senate's health and human services, judiciary and judicial confirmation committees.

Republican senators have been through this with Buttars before. Last session, he drew criticism for a remark seen by some as racist. During a floor debate, he used the word "black" to negatively describe the "baby" being split by a bill, saying, "This baby is black, I'll tell you. This is a dark and ugly thing."

Although there were calls for his resignation then, by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and others, Buttars weathered the controversy with only apologies. He later lost his chairmanship of the judicial confirmation committee after a letter he sent to a judge, complaining about a court decision, surfaced.

Buttars' colleagues are clearly not happy at the prospect of another session being disrupted. Some are already hearing from their constituents that it is time for Buttars to go.

Senate Majority Leader Sheldon Killpack, R-Syracuse, called the caucus discussion "very pointed" but respectful. And Senate Majority Whip Scott Jenkins, R-Plain City, said the discussion was "somewhat sober" and "very serious. No fun and games in there."

As for a resignation, Jenkins said, "Absolutely, you're right. He could resign like that" and snapped his fingers. But, he said, that decision "isn't for sure right now."

Killpack said he couldn't comment on whether Buttars would step down.

"I'll be very clear on the resignation. That will be a decision for Sen. Buttars," Killpack said. "He's the only person who can answer that question." He said Buttars "went home to spend the day with his family and talk about it."