The taxpayers group has named its political fund-raising arm TAXPAC. In its announcement press release, Jerman writes: "Are you tired of state and local elected officials claiming to be fiscally conservative at election time, while the rest of the time the last thing on their minds is the taxpayer? So are we!"

For fiscal year 2006-07, the Legislature, dominated 3-1 by Republicans, voted for a 17.6 percent increase over last year's spending in the state's two main funds: the Uniform School Fund and the General Fund.

It was record spending. And Stephenson voted in favor of every spending bill during the 2006 Legislature. He also voted for the major tax-cutting bills, also passed this year.

Jerman said, "The legislators themselves, much less the public, didn't know how much spending was happening during the session. We found out five minutes after the session ended (at midnight March 1) that spending was up by 17 percent."

The main budget bill passed the final night of the Legislature.

"It was just another example of how the whole appropriations process needs to be reformed," Jerman said.

Still, saying no to spending on programs when money is available can be tough.

Stephenson also voted in favor of USTAR, a new research and business development effort started at the University of Utah and Utah State University. USTAR is one of the largest ever new state programs. It is costing $50 million this year, with another $110 million general obligation bond to be paid off by taxpayers over six years.

With bond interest included, it's $173 million in new spending. USTAR was one of GOP Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.'s main economic-development proposals in the 2006 Legislature, backed by most lawmakers.

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E-mail: bbjr@desnews.com