The 2005 Utah Legislature is halfway through its 45-day general session. And what do we know about the work of these 104 elected representatives, their leaders and our new governor, Jon Huntsman Jr.?

Well, we know that most of the work is yet to be done.

The governor and GOP lawmakers are still arguing over whether to spend $90 million, $70 million, $40 million or $33 million more on transportation next year.

And we know that a number of measures popular with Utahns in general are — once again — dying in the Republican-controlled House and Senate.

But before we get into that, let me first say some goodbyes. Two good Democratic lawmakers resigned during the first three weeks of this session: Sen. Paula Julander and Rep. Ty McCartney.

Julander, a retired nurse representing the Avenues, Capitol Hill and Central City areas, was first elected to the House in 1990. McCartney, a police officer representing parts of West Valley, South Salt Lake and Sugar House, was first elected to the House in 2000.

They both left their marks and were voices of reason for open government and inclusion of all Utahns in the legislative process. Julander resigned because of poor health; McCartney left to take a new job as head of Salt Lake Mayor Rocky Anderson's police oversight board.

Democratic delegates in Julander's district surprised minority party insiders by picking Scott McCoy, an openly gay man who headed the anti-Amendment 3 effort last year, to fill out the remaining two years of her term.

McCoy is in for the education of his life in the good old boy Senate.

The next three weeks, until adjournment at midnight March 2, will be packed with votes and decisions. Several hundred bills will be passed and the $8.6-billion fiscal 2005-2006 budget adopted.

The battle over transportation funding is heating up. GOP legislative leaders seem determined not to grow ongoing state programs too much, as record tax revenue increases are anticipated. Instead, they want to put more of that cash into roads and buildings.

A Deseret Morning News/KSL-TV poll by Dan Jones & Associates shows that 67 percent of Utahns are standing with Huntsman on the roads vs. other state spending argument. But no doubt some accommodation will be reached.

Speaking of polls, I always get a kick out of how part-time legislators deal with public opinion surveys on issues before them.

If the public agrees with what they want to do, they cite the statistics. If the public opposes them, they give speeches about how Utah is a republic, not a direct democracy, and they are elected to make the tough choices for citizens who really don't understand the issues like they do.