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Utah Legislature to call veto override session — extending battle with Gov. Gary Herbert over separation of powers

After polling their rank and file, legislative leaders said Wednesday that they have enough support to call themselves into a veto override session — extending a yearlong turf war with Utah Gov. Gary Herbert over whether he is grabbing too much control.

In that yet-to-be-scheduled session, legislators aim to overturn two Herbert vetoes that he says encroach too far into the dominion of his executive branch. But both passed by veto-proof majorities.

SB171 — which passed 20-3 in the House and 61-8 in the Senate — would allow lawmakers to intervene in court to defend the laws they pass, not having to depend on the state attorney general’s office to do so.