Legislature begins general session

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."

The Senate opened with a prayer by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, also a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' Quorum of Twelve.

Holland gave "thanks for the rich and wonderful blessings we enjoy and for the many precious freedoms that are ours" regardless of religious creeds, race or background. He asked that "principle always rise above party."

Taxes, how much to cut, which ones to raise, will be a major issue this session.

Monday saw the formal introduction of a bill that would raise the standard "Class D" drivers' license fee by $5, from $20 to $25. Specialty driver's licenses would also go up, depending on the type of license from $2 to $10.

Yet to come is a bill that would reduce the per-gallon gas tax a bit and then impose a 6.5 percent sales tax on the purchase of motor fuel, a move that eventually will lead to higher gasoline taxes.

Rep. Bradley Daw, R-Orem, said the state Driver's License Division needs the extra $5.7 million the higher fee schedule will bring in fiscal 2008 "to keep up with the demand" on the division's work.

The standard driver's license fee has not been increased in eight years, he said, with some specialty fees, like a motorcycle license, not being raised in 18 years.

Like driver's license fees, the per-gallon gasoline tax also has not kept pace with inflation. While Utah has a $20 billion backlog in needed state road repairs and expansions, the gas tax revenue has crept along at a snail's pace.

And high gasoline prices have lead to the purchases of more fuel efficient cars, which actually slows the pace of per-gallon tax revenues.

Rep. Wayne Harper, R-West Jordan, says he plans to introduce a bill that would lower the per-gallon 24.5-cent tax by nine cents. A 6.5 percent sales tax would then be imposed on all gasoline sales, and over time that would grow with inflation of gas prices to bring in much needed cash for road construction.

Since both the driver's license fees and gasoline tax are dedicated to specific programs, they are not part of the huge $1.6 billion tax surplus lawmakers will deal with.

Still, in times of such plenty in state revenues, some legislators are saying now is not the time to raise any state fees or specialty taxes.

Also introduced Monday was a bill that would slightly tighten lawmakers' campaign fund raising. Rep. John Dougall, R-Highland, has a bill that would stop legislators and the governor from accepting any campaign contributions during a special session — such contributions during the 45-day general session — while another part of his measure wouldn't allow a legislator to actually take a cash or check contribution at the Capitol Hill Complex.

In other words, a legislator couldn't be passed some money from a lobbyist or anyone else while at the Capitol. However, the governor could still take campaign cash at his official offices. Violating the new law would be a class-A misdemeanor.