Legislative leaders on hand for Huntsman's speech said they were pleased with what they heard, but Senate President John Valentine, R-Orem, and House Speaker Greg Curtis, R-Sandy, said there were some areas they wished the governor had spent more time talking about, such as transportation.

The governor did mention the controversial Legacy Highway project in Davis County. "Let's build it," he said, calling for promises to be kept. And, Huntsman said, the same goes for commuter rail. But the legislative leaders said they wanted more specifics.

"You can't have too many ideas out there or you can't get anything done," Huntsman said after the speech while passing out hamburgers and fries to lawmakers and other well-wishers at a local fast-food restaurant.

Human services and colleges and universities weren't singled out in the governor's address. Ron Stromberg, acting director of the Department of Human Services, said Huntsman's budget "does mention human services and speaks for itself" with a whopping $20 million increase.

But Rich Kendell, commissioner of the Utah System of Higher Education, hopes encouraging higher education and investing in research and development can become a central part of Huntsman's economic development plans. Such investments have been key in other states' economic recovery plans, he said.

"We're hopeful he will work with us on a plan that will make these things a reality," Kendell said.

When it came to the governor's discussion on ethics reform, lawmakers said they supported making changes in the executive branch but wanted to see any specific proposals aimed at legislators before commenting.

House Minority Leader Ralph Becker, D-Salt Lake, said Democrats have already advocated much of what the governor outlined over the years. "Good ideas are not for one party," Becker said.

Although there had been "some grumbling" among lawmakers about having to make the trip to Fillmore, Valentine said it was worth it. He introduced the governor's speech, carried live on television, calling Huntsman the "governor and my friend."

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Contributing: Jennifer Toomer-Cook

E-mail: lisa@desnews.com