February 14, 2006

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House Panel Approves Nuclear Waste Override Bill
Deseret Morning News
February 14, 2006

A bill that would allow the Legislature to override a governor's veto of nuclear waste storage — a bill Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. has said he plans to veto — moved to the House floor Monday.

Despite public comment unanimously opposed to SB70 and Huntsman's promise to veto the measure should it pass, the House Business and Labor Committee passed the bill 11-2. Supporters on the committee said the bill would return balance, and their decision was based on simple constitutional principles, not nuclear waste.

SB70 would allow the Legislature to override any gubernatorial veto of an approval for nuclear waste storage with a two-thirds majority. Currently, either the Legislature or governor can block any permits.

"This is basically 101 civics," said Rep. Stuart Adams, R-Layton. "The Constitution states that the Legislature should be able to override the governor. . . . However, what was done in the past is unconstitutional. We should be able to exert our power with an override."