Gov. Herbert to Utah Legislature: Forget special session

Gov. Gary Herbert says he has all the legal power needed to call and set procedures for a special election to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz — and will not bend to pleas from the Legislature to call it into a special session to write such rules.

He also said he's not concerned that House Speaker Greg Hughes, R-Draper, and others say they may sue him for breaking election laws if he speeds or alters normal processes in any way without lawmakers' approval.

"I don't worry about it," Herbert said at his monthly KUED news conference. "If we have conflicts, disputes and disagreements, the courts can clarify that. And I suspect in this case it would be a very timely, expedited process."

Under Utah law, the governor has sole authority to call a special session of the Legislature, with the one exception of a veto-override session.

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