And in the 2005 Legislature, lawmakers spent around $600 million (a record) in one time tax surpluses and anticipated tax revenue growth for next year. Yes, government is more fun when you have cash.

Other than spending, how has Huntsman done in his first 100 days?

Best I can tell, pretty good.

He didn't get everything he wanted out of the 2005 Legislature, but no governor does. He only vetoed two bills, and one of those the sponsor asked him to veto. It's hard to say how much he fought for some of his priorities, although he apparently did draw a line in the sand on getting a 4.5 percent increase in the Weighted Pupil Unit, the basic public-school funding formula.

He didn't get his phase-out of the corporate income tax. He didn't even get a constitutional amendment limiting governors to two terms in office. In both those cases, however, Huntsman's goals can still be met.

A constitutional amendment, even passed this year, wouldn't go on the citizen ballot until 2006, so the next Legislature can pass term limits. And he didn't want the phase-out of the corporate income tax to start until 2007, so there is still time to pass that next session, too.

True, Huntsman was criticized for firing 33 appointed economic development staffers in his first two weeks in office. But that kind of action happens all the time in the private sector when a corporation is sold and new management comes in. The governor and his top aides found out it makes news when it's done in state government, however.

Some reporters say Huntsman is not as publicly accessible as Leavitt and former Gov. Olene Walker, although Huntsman has called me back every time I've requested a personal interview. Leavitt sought the spotlight. He was calling press conferences left and right, putting out one new idea after another when he first came into office.

When Walker stepped up to the top job from her lieutenant governorship in November 2003 she was already well known. And both Leavitt and Walker would call media reporters back personally for an interview, usually within a few hours.

Huntsman clearly is taking a diplomatic approach (he was an ambassador in two Republican presidential administrations). He likes to be well prepped before talking to a reporter, his aides wanting to know what questions he may be asked.

(A few times I'd interview Leavitt without even saying what the topic was, not wishing to tip my hand.)

I found it refreshing when I'd ask Walker a question and occasionally she'd say: "I don't know, I'll have to find out." A governor who didn't have all the answers? Imagine that.

Anyway, Huntsman seems to have gotten off to a good start.

The state's economy is growing (time will tell if he can have a real impact on such a complicated system).

And Huntsman has dropped talk of campaign ideas that didn't float, like moving the main state prison from Draper to Tooele or some other rural area.

Utahns like to like their top politicians. And in his first 100 days Huntsman has mostly given citizens reasons to do just that.

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Deseret Morning News political editor Bob Bernick Jr. may be reached by e-mail at bbjr@desnews.com