Guv reflects on legislative session

Reflecting on the things he was able to achieve during the recently completed 2009 legislative session, Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. described it Thursday as nothing more than what he was hired to do.

"I'm paid to make things happen," Huntsman said at his first monthly press conference since the session ended last week. He told reporters he was happy with what lawmakers accomplished and excited about the possibilities he sees in the state's future.

"This is about as fine a session as I've been involved in," Huntsman said. "In terms of making the most of the time allotted, in terms of progress on real issues that will matter to people … and in terms of dealing realistically with a budget shortfall."

Huntsman, who is beginning his second and final term as governor, said he is optimistic about the state's economic outlook after this year's one-time infusion of federal stimulus money is spent, pointing to untapped rainy day funds, bonding possibilities and a handful of still-to-be-considered revenue enhancements, including the tobacco tax.

"As far as I'm concerned, we are going into the next year or two with all options open and available," Huntsman said. "I feel very good about where we sit."

Huntsman disagreed with some members of the Legislature who are urging him to turn down more than $60 million in federal unemployment funds being offered to the state, but said he understands some of their concerns about getting locked into long-term spending commitments. He said he hopes to bring citizens, business leaders and labor representatives together for an interim session this summer to work those concerns out and determine which course of action will be best for the state.

"We need to look at it thoughtfully and meticulously and see how real people are impacted by doing it or not doing it," Huntsman said.

Huntsman also laid out some of his priorities for nearly $87 million in unallocated federal stimulus funds coming to the state. He said the largest chunk of those funds, some $33 million, will go to the Utah Science Technology and Research initiative to attract the talent and "brainpower" needed to build the state's "industries of tomorrow."

The state's motion picture incentive fund is slated to get about $15 million, which Huntsman said "really brings Utah into the top tier of states" competing for big-budget movie and television productions.

The Homerun housing grant program, which provides $6,000 to couples and individuals to help with the purchase of a home, will get $10 million. Huntsman said potential homebuyers are "sitting on the sidelines," and the grants, combined with similar $8,000 federal incentives, would get them into the housing market and generate 8,500 new jobs in the state.

E-MAIL: dservatius@desnews.com