And they moved to kill it quickly.

The Senate Rules Committee sent the bill to the Revenue and Taxation Committee. SJR5 is now in the control of Sen. Curt Bramble, R-Provo, and will most likely remain there.

"I think it is a way to slap the president," Bramble complained during the Rules Committee meeting. He called it "bullshit" and a "crass partisan political move."

Sen. Gene Davis, D-Salt Lake City, who first requested a public hearing on the torture resolution, lashed back at Bramble. He pointed out the original anti-torture amendment in the U.S. Congress came from Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain. That amendment received the support of 90 out of 100 senators. The Bush administration originally fought against McCain's measure, but ultimately caved.

Sen. Scott McCoy, D-Salt Lake City, who is sponsoring SJR5, said his resolution deserves to be heard.

"It is important for us as a people to stand up and stand together to oppose a practice that is so offensive to what we hold to be true," he said. "The idea that in 2006 the United States of America is torturing people is absolutely abhorrent to our notions of civil liberties, human rights and our Judeo-Christian values."

mcanham@sltrib.com