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Utah Lawmakers Vote For Session To Override Herbert's Vetoes

Speaker Greg Hughes, who mentioned that Legislature needs to strengthen its powers.
house.utah.gov
Speaker Greg Hughes, who mentioned that Legislature needs to strengthen its powers.

Utah lawmakers will call themselves into a special session to override Gov. Gary Herbert's vetoes of two bills the governor said went too far in expanding the Legislature's powers.

Legislative leaders announced Wednesday that more than two-thirds of the House and Senate favor an override.

Herbert in March vetoed a bill that would force the attorney general to release legal opinions requested by lawmakers and another bill allowing lawmakers to defend state laws challenged in court, a role that currently belongs to the attorney general.

Republican House Speaker Greg Hughes told The Salt Lake Tribune that the Legislature needs to strengthen its powers because it serves part-time and is treated differently from Utah's executive and judiciary branches.

Lawmakers have not set a date for the session. It's required by Utah's Constitution to begin by May 7.