Effort to help fund

pipelines runs dry

A bill that would have funneled a portion of budget surplus monies toward the proposed Bear River and Lake Powell pipeline water projects failed to clear a Senate committee on Monday.

SB39, sponsored by Sen. Lyle Hillyard, R-Logan, would have appropriated 25 percent of any surplus money left after required distributions of the funds to the Water Conservation and Development Fund.

But it failed to get out of the Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Committee, which deadlocked in a 3-3 vote. Weighing in against the measure: Sen. Michael Waddoups, R-Taylorsville, the committee's chairman, along with Salt Lake City Democrats Scott McCoy and Fred Fife.

- Joe Baird

Health problems

Bills languish during Buttars' hospital stay

The health problems of Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan, are keeping him away from the Capitol and keeping his controversial bills bottled up.

Buttars, who was once again hospitalized Monday with an undisclosed medical condition, is pushing proposals to add a disclaimer to evolution lessons and to rid high schools of gay-support clubs. His "origins of life" bill was slated for a House committee today, but chairwoman Rep. Margaret Dayton, R-Orem, announced that Buttars would not make it. The gay-support-clubs bill is awaiting its first public hearing.

Buttars isn't giving up, though. He plans to be back whenever his health allows.

- Matt Canham

Higher education

Regents-diversity bill

passes in the House

House members approved legislation Monday that would eliminate mandatory political diversity of members of the State Board of Regents, which oversees the state's universities and colleges.

House Majority Leader Jeff Alexander insists HB119 is not an attempt to shift the partisan balance on the board, but is aimed at giving the governor the widest latitude in choosing qualified people. Every Democrat voted against it, but it still passed 47-22.

- Rebecca Walsh

Adoptee rights

Birth-parents bill

is sent to Senate

A split House sent legislation to the Senate on Monday that would make it easier for adopted children to track down their birth parents.

Taylorsville Rep. Kory Holdaway's HB89 would require a mother giving up a child to sign an affidavit if she wanted an adoption agency to keep her name private. Current law presumes such records are private unless a birth parent signs an affidavit releasing their name.

- Rebecca Walsh

Bill introduced

County councils may

gain right to counsel

The Salt Lake County Council may have a state senator from Juab County to thank in its effort to hire a permanent attorney.

Introduced Monday, SB249 by Sen. Darin Peterson, R-Nephi, would allow counties with a county executive-council form of government to appoint legal counsel to represent their legislative body.

- Derek P. Jensen