House Majority Leader Jeff Alexander, R-Provo, introduced House Bill 291, which would scrap five spots on the Capitol Preservation Board now controlled by Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.
It could be another strike at the new Republican governor from GOP lawmakers who want to shift the fulcrum in the balance of power. House Speaker Greg Curtis, R-Sandy, already has proposed a bill that would strip some of the governor's budget control. And both the House and Senate Republicans have publicly opposed him on transportation funding.
The governor would still have a seat on the board, but the lieutenant governor and four other appointees would lose membership in the panel that is overseeing Capitol reconstruction and will decide how to use the refurbished space.
Alexander says the board is too large and includes members who have no direct stake in its decisions.
The Capitol Preservation Board now has 15 members, including an engineer, a state archivist, and an architect.
Alexander wants to pare it down to nine members, with six coming from the Legislature. The governor, chief justice of the Supreme Court and the Attorney General would be the other three.
"I want to keep it near to the Legislature, because we control budgets," Alexander said, noting later it would help lawmakers ensure there are no wasted funds.
The Governor's Office didn't speak against the bill during the hearing, but Huntsman spokeswoman Tammy Kikuchi said that the office has "reservations" about the way the board would be structured under Alexander's proposal.
"We need more executive branch involvement than this board provides for," Kikuchi said.
Alexander said he is not trying to trump the governor and is now considering an amendment that would remove the chief justice and insert the lieutenant governor.
Alexander also got a committee endorsement on House Bill 250, which would designate the Capitol Complex's West Building and part of the underground parking garage as under legislative authority.
He said the move was necessary to ensure the Legislature can control its own space and not have to seek out Capitol Preservation Board approval to make minor changes.
The board would maintain control of the exterior of the building.
