Utah Senate president opens 2010 session, urges civility and outlines budget, education and ethics priorities

Senate President Michael G. Waddoups opened the Utah Senate's organizational session in January 2010, urging members to set aside rhetoric and work together during the 45‑day session to address the state budget, education funding, ethics reform and energy and transportation issues.

Waddoups used a seashell metaphor to describe the chamber’s diversity and resilience and said the session’s work would determine the state’s direction on spending and laws. “It’s a time for the rhetoric to end. It’s a time for us to soar, for us to do the work of the state,” he said, urging senators to “buckle in” for the period of intense work.

He listed key priorities the Senate expects to address this year: balancing the budget and reviewing tax policy; pursuing ethics legislation and a citizens ethics committee via a proposed constitutional amendment; sustaining and evaluating public education funding; ensuring retirement systems remain actuarially sound; and advancing environmental and energy initiatives, including solar, wind and geothermal development. Waddoups singled out transportation projects — citing longer rebuilds on Interstate‑15 and progress on the Mountain View Corridor — as areas that will continue to require legislative attention.

Waddoups also recognized Sergeant Guy Miller as the National Guard Soldier of the Year and thanked staff and family for their support in preparing the Senate for the session. He asked senators to be civil and to “attack ideas” rather than one another as the body debates bills and budgets.

The president concluded by reminding senators they represent the citizens and families of Utah and by encouraging cooperation across parties for the coming legislative work.