Lawmakers put the brakes on taking action Wednesday in their ongoing dispute with Gov. Gary Herbert over the special election process to replace Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah. “We could give you a bunch of different options today, but I think it’s more important we give you a plan,” House Majority Whip Francis Gibson, R-Mapleton, told the House GOP caucus, promising they’ll see something “relatively soon.” Even an attempt by Rep. Keven Stratton, R-Orem, to have the caucus vote to encourage Chaffetz to rescind his intent to resign on June 30 was shot down by Gibson, who conducted the caucus.
“Given the circumstances of where we are, he may want to say, ‘Look, I can see the problems here. I may not want to resign here,'” Stratton said, warning that the state could be at risk of not having the seat filled.
Chaffetz announced last month he was stepping down from Congress to take a position in the private sector, believed to be with Fox News. He told the Deseret News on Tuesday that his last day is still June 30.
Stratton said after the caucus he would personally ask Chaffetz to stay in office through the remainder of his two-year term that ends in 2018. He said other officials have also made similar pleas.
Full Article: Lawmakers put brakes on action against governor over special election — for now | Deseret News.