SALT LAKE CITY -- Governor Gary Herbert has vetoed a bill that would have renamed a portion of I-15 after former House Speaker Becky Lockhart.
The governor said he did not do it in response to the protests by some veterans groups, but at the request of the late-Speaker's family.
"This afternoon, I received a phone call from Stan Lockhart who requested I veto the bill and I have opted to honor his wishes. While I am disappointed by the controversy that seemed to diminish the Legislature’s recognition of Speaker Lockhart, I am committed to working with lawmakers and the Lockhart family to find an appropriate memorial to honor the memory of this historic leader," the governor said in a statement.
The legislature voted unanimously to pass House Bill 385, which would have renamed a chunk of freeway from Lehi to Spanish Fork in honor of Lockhart, the first woman Speaker of the House in Utah, who died earlier this year from an extremely rare neurodegenerative brain disorder. But I-15 is already named Veterans Memorial Highway, and some groups led demonstrations saying they felt it was disrespectful.
HB385 wasn't the only bill the governor vetoed on Wednesday:
|
Bill Number |
Bill Name |
Bill Sponsor |
|
Educator Licensing Amendments |
Coleman, K. |
|
|
Memorial Highway Designation |
Stratton, K. |
|
|
Corporate Franchise and Income Tax Amendments |
Stephenson, H. |
|
|
Trax Crossing Bars Operations Amendments |
Jenkins, S. |
|
|
Motion Picture Incentive Amendments |
Bramble, C. |
|
|
*SB3 |
Appropriations Adjustments |
Hillyard, L. |
He signed these remaining bills into law:
|
Annexation Amendments |
Westwood, J. |
|
|
Public Safety Retirement for Dispatchers |
Powell, K. |
|
|
Procurement Changes |
Stratton, K. |
|
|
Mountainous Planning District Amendments |
Dee, B. |
|
|
Natural Gas Vehicle Amendments |
Handy, S. |
|
|
New Fiscal Year Supplemental Appropriations Act |
Hillyard, L. |
|
|
Impeachment Amendments |
Adams, J.S. |
The governor also allowed some bills to become law without his signature, including one that gives executive branch members a pay raise beginning in 2017.
|
Bill Number |
Bill Name |
Bill Sponsor |
|
Executive Office Compensation |
Wilson, B. |
|
|
Tax Commissioners' Compensation |
Weiler, T. |
|
|
Public School Dropout Recovery |
Osmond, A. |
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