Many words, few deeds

A lot of talk, so far not a lot of action.

With the urgency of a worn-out plow horse, the 2004 legislative session plodded to its halfway point Sunday.

And while there have been emotional debates on abortion, guns and gay marriages — with hate crimes and tuition tax credits yet to come — so far legislators and Gov. Olene Walker have had a relatively quiet time.

"Plodding is exactly right," said Senate Majority Whip John Valentine, R-Orem. "Aside from the high-profile issues that have gotten a lot of press, we have not yet dealt with the heavy substance yet."

"It is odd," adds House Assistant Majority Whip Mike Styler, "that because it's an election year, no one is willing to even talk about taxes" or a number of other "meaty" issues that affect the lives of all Utahns.

That will likely change when new tax revenue estimates are released Feb. 16 and lawmakers can get down to deciding how to spend $8 billion in the 2004-05 budget.

All of the 75 House seats and 15 of the 29 Senate seats are up for election this year. In addition, the governor's office is on the ballot — with Walker not saying if she'll seek her own term and House Speaker Marty Stephens, R-Farr West, already in the gubernatorial race.

But it's quiet in the Legislature in part because Walker and previous legislatures have — through task forces and study committees — put off some controversial decisions for another day. For example:

• Walker has formed a task force that will report in August on how the state's overall tax system should be restructured. So no major tax changes now, leaders say.

• A legislative transportation task force will suggest this fall whether to increase the gasoline tax, and by how much. No gas tax hike this session.

• The contentious fight over hazardous waste has one more year to go on a task force study, so major changes aren't anticipated until next year.

• And the bank vs. credit union fight is mostly settled, although a study is ongoing.

That means the first three weeks of the session have been relatively quiet.

And to the consternation of minority Democrats, the lull has allowed too much time for issues like abortion and gay marriage — bills that are certain to pass but which may well be tied up in the courts for years to come.