Demos want more done about Buttars

Sen. Chris Buttars was again the focus of the Senate's attention on Monday, with both Republicans and Democrats interrupting floor time to meet in caucus about his anti-gay statements to a documentary filmmaker.

Senate Democrats — who hold just eight of the 29 Senate seats — are planning a Tuesday morning press conference to announce what further action they want taken against Buttars.

The more than two-hour long Senate majority GOP caucus was closed, but leaders said afterward that members spent that time venting their feelings about Buttars' statements, including that gays and lesbians are the greatest threat to America.

Some members were frustrated about being associated with such statements — and apparently not happy with the way the situation was handled last Friday by Senate President Michael Waddoups, R-Taylorsville.

"I think I can say to a person everyone in our caucus supports traditional marriage," said Senate Majority Assistant Whip Greg Bell, R-Fruit Heights. "Many of us feel however the tenor, the examples, some of the phrasing Sen. Buttars used in his controversial comments were intolerant and immoderate."

Bell said those senators "disagree with the element of divisiveness and the element of controversy he injected." As for an example of where he differed from Buttars' opinions, Bell said, "I don't' agree all gays have no morals whatsoever."

Buttars did not attend the media availability held after the caucus and one attendee suggested that was because "he's fuming in his office." Waddoups said the caucus didn't ask for assurances from Buttars he would refrain from making more such comments this session — and that Buttars didn't offer any, either.

This was the third Senate GOP caucus in as many days about Buttars. The Senate accomplished virtually nothing on the floor Monday before breaking for the caucus meetings.

Waddoups had little to say about Monday's caucus, letting Senate Majority Leader Sheldon Killpack, R-Syracuse, do most of the talking. Killpack said Buttars has "become more of a figurehead on these issues. We want to focus on issues, not personalities."

Killpack said the caucus heard an apology from Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper, over comments he made on a radio program Saturday. Stephenson told listeners action was taken against Buttars not because of what he said but because he'd promised GOP leaders he wouldn't talk publicly about gay issues this session.

Stephenson's comments were "his perspective and opinion," Killpack said, and not the reason for Waddoups' actions against Buttars.