Utah Legislators Override Gov. Gary Herbert's veto of HB 328- returning 5 day work week

In a special session Utah Legislators override Gov. Gary Herbert's veto of two bills including 
HB328, requiring state offices to reopen on Fridays, meaning state workers will no
longer enjoy four day work weeks.  The other override was on SB229, earmarking 30 percent of future sales tax revenues for roads.   KSL

"Huntsman predicted it would save the state $3 million a year because of reduced energy consumption and janitorial service, although the actual savings were much smaller — just under $1 million, according to a legislative audit."   Robert Gehrke,Salt Lake Tribune May 7, 2011      Salt Lake Tribune

                         “The only issue here was that the Legislature failed to pay for it,” 
                          Herbert said. “There was no funding for this bill. But there is a 
                        $790,000 price tag for turning on the lights and opening the doors 
                         an additional day.”  

                       The governor’s office had called it the move back to a five-day workweek an

                       “unfunded mandate” and compared it to the decision by the 

                        Legislature to slash budgets at the state liquor stores and then act 

                        surprised when stores had to close.  Robert Gehrke,Salt Lake Tribune May 7, 2011 

The main message of this legislative session is that the Legislature and the Governor

were NOT on the same page.  Governor Herbert vetoing not only ONE bill but FOUR

bills passed by the legislature shows his concern with the 2011 legislature.  The legislature

coming back to override the vetoes of two of the vetoed bills further deepens the divide 

between the 2011 legislature and the Governor.

Historically, it is rare for a Utah Governor to veto a bill passed by the legislature, especially a bill

that passed with a veto proof margin.  It is even more rare for a legislature to go into special

session to override even one vetoed bill, let alone two vetoed bills.

This is  just the third time in 15 years the Legislature has overridden a governor’s veto, according to Robert Gehrke in a Salt Lake Tribune story.  Legislature Paves over Governor . . .

Stay tuned to see the number of challengers Governor Herbert may face in 2012.

Deseret News