Legislature begins general session
All 75 members of the House were sworn in, along with about half of the 29 member Senate.
Until the last day of February, lawmakers will struggle with adopting a $10.6 billion state budget (the largest ever), shifting through hundreds of bills and resolutions (around 300 will ultimately become law) and argue over hundreds of millions of dollars in tax cuts for citizens.
But even with an extra $1.6 billion in one-time tax surpluses and new ongoing tax revenue this year and next, there will still be a few bills that would actually raise specialty taxes and/or fees.
Tuesday night Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. will address Utahns and lawmakers at 6:30 p.m. when he delivers his constitutionally-required State of the State address. Among other things, the governor is expected to talk about raising the ethical bar for all public servants.
In his opening remarks Monday morning to fellow House members, Speaker Greg Curtis, R-Sandy, who starts his second. two-year term as speaker, joked about his close reelection last November — winning by just 20 votes he said he was almost the "Biggest Loser," a takeoff on the TV diet reality show.
"I urge each of you to please expect opposition (in their legislative work), and if you don't get any, then you're probably not working hard enough."
In recent years there have been a few legislators who often spoke on bills from the floor — taking up time and not always providing much insight.
"While you may have something to say on every bill, please don't," Curtis pleaded.
Elder David A. Bednar, a member of The Quorum of the Twelve, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in his opening prayer asked that lawmakers remembers that they are all brothers and sisters in humanity, adding that they should use "judgment and wisdom" and cooperate with each other while preserving their own principles.
After Senate President John Valentine, R-Orem, was sworn in Monday morning by Utah Supreme Court Chief Justice Christine Durham as the leader of the upper body, he told senators they should serve as anchors for the state and for each other.
Valentine said members of the Senate should "take the long view. To make careful decisions based on the facts and merits of an issue, not short term political expediency." He said the public, too, must "pay attention and hold your elected representatives accountable for how they represent you."
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