Upon graduating from Utah State University he was employed at Amoco Oil Company from 1967 to 1976 as a Retail Sales Manager.
[3] Buttars sponsored legislation against gay straight alliances in public schools, introduced a resolution urging companies to have their employees say "Merry Christmas" rather than "Happy Holidays" to customers,[4] as well as an Intelligent Design Bill.
Buttars sponsored legislation to fund drug treatment programs, supported raising the minimum wage and assisting child crime victims.
The bill would allow instructors to teach students that evolution is a controversial theory and counter it with the pseudoscience of Creationism, using the term "Divine Design.
"[7] The New York Times called the bill "Anti-Darwin" and critics have pointed to Buttars' words "Divine Design" as evidence for its religious undertone.
[8][9] In an interview with radio hosts Tom Grover & Ryan Yonk, Buttars said that he "[doesn't] know of an example where the minority is being jeopardized by legislative action."
"[11] Buttars apologized for a remark on the State Senate floor,[12] saying, "I got a little carried away, and I made a comment that I think a lot of people could take as racist.
Less than six months after Buttars' re-election, he was recorded saying of the ACLU, "bless their black little hearts," in an interview with documentary maker and former KTVX ABC 4 reporter Reed Cowan.
"[15][16] Buttars criticized the domestic partnership executive order signed by Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson.
[20] On February 20, 2009, Buttars was removed as chairman and member of the Utah State Senate Judicial Standing Committee because of these remarks.