Though backers of the bill to repeal and replace Utah’s death penalty include some influential conservative Republican lawmakers and the compelling voice of Sharon Wright Weeks, the sister and aunt of Ron Lafferty’s victims, two of the Utah House’s most powerful legislative leaders say they’re not supportive of doing away with it.
Lawmakers wasted no time prioritizing legislation to clamp down on local COVID-19 orders, with a joint resolution already filed to terminate the Salt Lake County mask mandate. Senate President Stuart Adams told reporters the Senate could move to vote on the resolution as soon as Tuesday afternoon.
Limiting COVID-19’s spread is not on the priority list for leaders of the Republican-controlled Utah Legislature, even as the omicron surge is overwhelming hospitals and testing. Lawmakers are prioritizing water, housing, education and tax cuts.