Sen. Daniel Thatcher said Friday that he feels good about the chances for his hate crimes legislation to pass the House, but acknowledged that his “flippant" comments before the House Law Enforcement Committee could weaken support for the yearslong effort to fix what prosecutors say is a toothless and ineffective state statute.
The committee voted 8-2 to recommend SB103 after a sometimes heated discussion, during which two representatives scolded Thatcher, R-West Valley City, for implying the House panel members were less qualified to consider the legislation than their Senate counterparts.
“It was the kind of flippant comment that I make when I’m talking to friends privately,” Thatcher said after the hearing.