This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2004, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Gov. Olene Walker is joining a growing number of Utah politicians troubled by a proposed constitutional amendment defining marriage.

Although Utah's governor said Thursday she believes in the traditional definition of marriage, she thinks Amendment 3, aimed at reinforcing the state's ban on gay marriage, goes beyond that and will muddy the Utah Constitution.

"From studying constitutional law and the Constitution, I believe that constitutions are best that give simple principles and the specifics are left to statutes," Walker said at her monthly KUED-TV news conference. "I would prefer a simpler approach."

Other politicians also have misgivings about the amendment lawmakers placed on the ballot in the final hour of the 2004 Legislature. Three candidates for attorney general - including incumbent Republican Mark Shurtleff - and Scott Matheson Jr., the Democrats' nominee to replace Walker, all say the amendment crosses a constitutional line.

Part 1 of Amendment 3 defines marriage as the union between a man and a woman. Part 2 would block the state from granting any other relationship status or rights "the same or substantially equivalent" to marriage. Critics say the second clause will block hospital visitation, joint bank accounts, protective orders and inheritance rights for already existing Utah families with unmarried heterosexual or gay parents.

Walker said Thursday she will leave the legal analysis to the lawyers, and the governor refused to say how she will vote. But Walker said she believes lawmakers should have taken the amendment to the State Constitutional Revision Commission for review before putting it in front of voters. Walker is a former legislator and member of the commission.

"We tend to put a lot of unnecessary things in our Constitution and we end up changing them," Walker said.

When KUED host Ken Verdoia asked Walker off-camera if legislators had used a sledgehammer when a hammer would do, Walker said, "You find that's often the case with the Utah Legislature."

Amendment sponsor Chris Buttars, a Republican state senator from West Jordan, says the amendment is simple and straightforward and that Part 2 is necessary to back up Part 1. But he says opposition groups such as the Don't Amend Alliance have confused the public - and other politicians - with legal arguments.

"Confusion is what they're after," said Buttars. "It's two sentences. It's clear. It will protect legal marriage. It's written great."

But Don't Amend Alliance Director Scott McCoy says Buttars' word on the amendment isn't good enough.

"Yet another person is questioning whether this is the right approach," McCoy said. "No one doubts that Gov. Walker is an intelligent voice of moderation in this state. Her conservative credentials cannot be doubted. Even she recognizes this amendment has problems." Also at Thursday's news conference:

* The governor said she still plans to publish a tax reform plan originally slated for release this month. Walker said difficulties getting accurate information have slowed her task force.

* Walker reported success from a three-day trade mission to Veracruz, Mexico, earlier this week. Tourism leaders and officials from Sorensen Labs and West Valley City joined the governor in trying to open additional business channels between Mexico and Utah. Walker said she also talked with Mexican foreign-relations leaders about illegal immigration.

* And the governor said she plans to call the Legislature into a special session in September to deal with overcrowding at Utah's prisons and eliminate state income tax deductions from the paychecks of Utah National Guard members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.