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Utah House Republicans aren’t giving up their bid to create a powerful new committee to investigate state and local agencies

House Republicans aren’t letting an early and surprising defeat stop their attempt to create a powerful new oversight committee.

Hours after their own members voted against sending a bill to the floor that would create this committee, they held a news conference pitching the idea again. They pushed back against claims made by the school boards, cities, counties and the governor’s office, who all said the bill would unduly expand the authority of the legislative branch.

Instead, HB175 supporters said Friday, the bill would recognize authority the legislative branch already possesses under the Utah Constitution.

“That authority already exists, but we haven’t been using it,” said Sen.