Governor Leavitt says Utah will proceed to the US Supreme Court to settle the matter. The governor says he was encouraged to pursue the matter after hearing from the state s congressional delegation, leaders in the Utah legislature, and the state s legal counsel who feel the case has merit despite the lower court setback. Governor Leavitt finds himself a defendant in a lawsuit brought by the Utah Public Employees Association. The suit involves a controversial bill passed by the 2001 Utah Legislature that Leavitt signed into law. House Bill 179 prohibits political action committee donations from state employee paychecks.
Proponents say it's a legitimate measure to keep government from collecting political money.
The lawsuit claimants say the bill is meant to silence public employee groups. The lawsuit seeks to stop the measure from taking effect on April 29 while a judge determines whether the law is constitutional or not. Nothing will stop the governor from continuing his fundraising efforts for his own political action committee. Governor Leavitt says he will continue raising money as he normally has even though he doesn't face reelection until 2004. The governor says he will organize a nonprofit foundation that will fund public policy initiatives.