Fattman Again Postpones Police Bill Debate
For the second day in a row, Republican Sen. Ryan Fattman put a hold on a sweeping police reform bill Democratic leaders are working to pass, forcing the Senate into the weekend without having voted on a major priority that they’re aiming to get done this month. Fattman, a Sutton Republican, has said that the lack of a public hearing on the bill and the limited time given to members to review the legislation and its amendments have made it unfair to press forward. The bill was introduced by leaders on Monday, and senators proposed 145 amendments. The move by Fattman to lay the bill on the table again Friday pushes off debate until at least the next formal session. Senate leaders did not immediately say when that would be. “We all want to get to yes. We’re just not there yet.
It’s not ready for prime time. Hopefully we get there,” Fattman said. Fattman said there have also been Democrats encouraging of his efforts to buy more time to review the bill. Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr had said earlier on his way into session that the 17 hours from when Fattman made his motion to delay debate on Thursday and the start of the 10 a.m. session on Friday had been productive. But he could not say with certainty that someone would not again try to delay debate.
