State of the State: Huntsman urges Utahns to aspire to reach higher

Utahns "must aspire to reach higher," Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. told his constituents Tuesday in his fourth annual State of the State address, the first to be delivered in the newly remodeled Capitol.

Huntsman, who is seeking a second term this November, delivered an upbeat assessment of the state's economy while cautioning there's work ahead on securing affordable health care and improving education.

"We aren't an ordinary state, nor do we lack a sense of destiny, and our journey over the next few years will determine just how extraordinary we are," the GOP governor said. "The higher ground we seek will require something from all of us."

Huntsman, elected in 2004, reminded Utahns that boosting the state's economy was among the promises he made in his first State of the State address, delivered in Utah's territorial capital, Fillmore.

"Our economic prowess has been nationally recognized by many respected organizations," the governor said. "We no longer have one of America's top-performing economies. We have the nation's premier economy."

And despite concerns that the nation is headed for recession, Huntsman said Utah's economy can be kept strong, promising that "during times of uncertainty we will work even harder to keep it that way."

Examples of Utah's powerful economy, he said, are Procter & Gamble's recent decision to manufacture paper products in Box Elder County, Amer Sports' moving its North American headquarters to Ogden and the growth of Omniture, an Orem-based software company.

Also bolstering Utah's economy, Huntsman said, was the lowering of the state's personal income tax rate to 5 percent by the 2007 Legislature. But the governor did not address future tax cuts, something that his fellow GOP lawmakers have made it clear they want this session.

Utah's education system, he said, has been criticized by many for not keeping pace with the rapidly changing world. "They have a valid point," Huntsman said, calling for the state to be "more creative, innovative and flexible" in adapting to labor market changes.

He said Utah was 400 teachers short this year — twice as many as last year. "It is time we put educators back on a pedestal," the governor said. "To do this we must improve two things: compensation and capacity."

That means continuing record increases for education and increasing by 1,000 the number of educators being trained in Utah colleges over the next four years. Huntsman also called for year-round contracts for math and science teachers.