http://thinkprogress.org/2009/02/20/buttars-loses-committee/Utah state senator to lose his committee chairmanship after homophobic diatribe.»
Earlier this week, documentary film makers released the audio portion of an interview with Utah state senator Chris Buttars (R), who called gay people “the greatest threat to America going down,” labeled homosexuality “a sexual perversion,” and compared gays to alcoholics. Today, the Salt Lake Tribune reports that Buttars’ Republican colleagues have decided to kick him out of the state senate judiciary committee:
Sources familiar with the Senate discussions, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the Senate Republican caucus decided to remove Buttars from the Senate Judiciary Committee, a panel which he currently chairs.
It is unclear how that move would affect his position on another panel, the Judicial Confirmation Committee, which he also chairs and is a member of by virtue of his position on the Judiciary Committee.
Sources say no decision is final until Buttars confers with Senate President Michael Waddoups, who defended Buttars earlier this week. “Issues that are moral for him are things he should stand up for and represent his people. That’s why they elected him. He’s doing his job,” Waddoups said.
Update:
Deseret News reports that Buttars could resign today. Waddoups will give a press conference this morning about Buttars' fate. "None of the Senate GOP leaders were willing to say what that fate might be, but did acknowledge resignation was a possibility."
Update: Waddoups officially confirmed that Butters would be removed from his committee post in a press conference.
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