Sen. Chris Buttars spent another short day at the Legislature, trying to weather the fallout from his racially charged comment.

The West Jordan lawmaker spent much of Friday's Senate floor time in private discussions and left early, turning over the chairman's gavel of the afternoon Senate Health and Human Services committee hearing to Sen. Allen Christensen, R-North Ogden.

"My sense is he's very distraught," Senate President John Valentine said Friday.

The regional president of the NAACP has called on Buttars to resign for a comment he made Tuesday during a heated Senate floor debate on an issue with heavy impact to Buttars' district.

One lawmaker referred to SB48 as the ugly baby bill. Buttars, during a passionate speech, picked up on the metaphor, saying, "This baby is black. It is a dark, ugly thing."

Valentine later announced there had been a breach of decorum and gave Buttars the floor. He apologized, denying racist intent.

The NAACP's Jeanetta Williams called for his resignation and the remark has caused something of a firestorm, with online comments, e-mails and letters to the editor.

Majority Leader Curtis Bramble said he spent 45 minutes with Buttars in Senate offices Friday morning talking about a range of issues.

"He was questioning, last session and during the interim, whether to run for re-election because of his health," Bramble said.

Resignation did not come up during recent conversations, said Valentine and Bramble.

"I think the case is over and done," said Sen. Lyle Hillyard, R-Logan. "He'll make his decision [about his future in the Legislature] in three weeks."

The candidate filing deadline for November's election is in mid-March.

cmckitrick@sltrib.com