Lots of fanfare and a bit of work

The Utah Legislature got under way Monday amid cramped quarters, speeches, swearing-ins and a bit of work.

The 104-member, part-time Legislature meets through midnight March 2 to consider hundreds of bills and set an estimated $8.6 billion budget for fiscal 2005-2006, which starts July 1.

Not only are the quarters new — Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. and lawmakers for the next four years are housed in temporary offices and chambers behind the old Capitol building, now under renovation — but House Speaker Greg Curtis, Senate President John Valentine and Huntsman are freshman leaders, as well.

Both Curtis, R-Sandy, and Valentine, R-Orem, talked about the tight space and new faces in their addresses to their respective chambers.

In fact, the House Chambers and galleries are so cramped that the 75 House members had to be sworn in in two groups, with friends and relatives who wanted to get pictures and personally watch the ceremonies shuffling in and out of the chambers.

Huntsman wants legislators to change the corporate tax structure and pump more money into roads and buildings. Even though lawmakers and the governor have around $600 million in new ongoing and one-time surplus funds to divvy up, no general tax cuts are planned.

Valentine told his fellow senators that they face a number of challenges, including transportation, education and tax reform — in addition to dealing with their tight meeting space.

"These sessions will be crowded," Valentine said. "It will be our responsibility to help the state understand how representative government is working when this physical access is so difficult."

Still, the Senate leader said, Monday marked the start of a new era.

"It is a time for great promise and for great contrast," he said. "We have peace and we have war at the same time. We have natural disasters and the seeming end of the drought."

Curtis opened House operations by saying it's not important the lawmakers can't meet in the old spacious House and Senate chambers in the Capitol, but it is important that democracy continues for the people of Utah. Curtis pledged to work closely with citizens, the media and legislators alike. To better communicate with citizens, he's started a new Internet Web site, www.utahcitizen.com, where people can send him their concerns and Web-talk with him and his aides and interns.

The Capitol, and the temporary legislative quarters, are only symbols of Utah democracy, said Curtis.