Huntsman gives State of the State
Governor John Huntsman, in his address Jan. 16, outlined his plans for the state of Utah, which included a large pay increase for teachers and a radical ethics reform for the governance.
His address was broadcast from the Salt Lake Air Base due to construction at the state Capitol. It is the last State of the State address to be broadcast outside of the Capitol, for the construction should be completed in November.
He took the opportunity to salute the fallen soldiers who had flown from the base in Utah to fight the war on terror. One of the soldiers Huntsman acknowledged was Staff Sgt. James Cawley, the first Utahn to lose his life in Iraq.
Educational funding was one major focus for Huntsman’s speech after the gratitude he expressed on behalf of the state of Utah and moved to the frontline on the war against ignorance.
The budget calls for an 18.2 percent increase in new educational funding and $25 million specially set aside for a one-time bonus divide among the educators.
This is a pay increase of more than 9 percent, the largest in the state’s history.
One major reform to Utah education policy was for early education, with $7.5 million of the budget offered to extended day kindergarten at all district, charter and Title I schools.
Not only will kindergarteners be at school longer, soon all students will have more direct contact with teachers, for the ratio of student to teacher is dropping to 20 students per adult.
Huntsman encouraged education from 5-year-olds to college degrees and moved right along to describe the economy of Utah.
In 2006 the first World Trade Center was established in Utah. This represents the banner of economic growth that is being seen throughout the state, with many businesses choosing to relocate or expand their headquarters or operation centers.
Economic growth and increased education were the two of the positive fronts for the governor to advance on. It was then the speech turned to almost chastising.
“It’s irony that we live in a country that mandates insurances for our cars but not our children’s health,” Huntsman said. He then proposed $4 million to help lift the cap and provide healthcare to 14,000 uninsured children.
But the improvement of life was not merely fiscal. He then addressed the tragedy of the methamphetamine epidemic and its hold on Utah.
Ethics was the final topic that was addressed in real depth. The recent scandals in Congress must have struck a resonating cord for Huntsman, who proposed the legislature no longer accept gifts from lobbyist.
The executive order also limits the legislator who retires from civil service and is asked to wait before lobbying. This will be known as a cooling-off period, and it will be two years before state employees can lobby.
Huntsman’s 22-minute address concluded simply when he said, “May God bless the people of the sovereign state of Utah, and may God bless America.”
-skjohnson@cc.usu.edu