The Pew Center on the States Government Performance Project has again named Utah as the best state in terms of how state governments manage information, people, money and infrastructure. Our enviable position is not an accident, but rather something Republican-led government has worked diligently to achieve.
Republicans have led this state for the past two decades and have worked hard to put into practice wise operating procedures and fiscal policies. The media are usually quick to point out the perceived quirks and follies of the Republican-led Utah Legislature and other elected officials. To these naysayers, I point to the two decades of successful government recognized nationally as the best.
Utah has the top economy in the country. We are more than holding our own against an economic downturn that has besieged the rest of the nation. While other states are dealing with large budget shortfalls, we have $500 million more in 2008 revenue projections than the record-breaking fiscal year of 2007.
We are a world-class business environment and are consistently listed as one of the best places to do business in the country. The state holds a highly coveted AAA bond rating. What has led to this position? Progressive fiscal leadership delivered by Republicans.
In times of plenty, the Legislature has strategically cut taxes to provide tax relief to citizens and to businesses. We have provided $405 million in tax relief during the past two years because we haven't forgotten whose money this is. We have funded programs like Utah Science and Technology Research initiative to spin off successful research from our universities creating business opportunities.
In the past 12 months, 30 new, exciting, cutting-edge businesses have launched as a result of the USTAR initiative.
These projects have strengthened and diversified our economy. These policies are not something Republican leadership put together haphazardly. No, these policies have been crafted with the express purpose of building an economy with strength in many sectors and that provides a strong economic backbone for our state.
We have implemented our economic policies with the long-term goal of achieving a return on our investment. As the Pew Center is quick to note, our economic policies have been successful because they have been communicated across all levels of government. The governor, Legislature, county commissioners, mayors and city councils are all using the same economic playbook.
We all want the same good things for our communities and state. We are all using innovative, yet fiscally responsible, policies to attract economic opportunities to Utah.
Republican leadership is not just committed to investments or successful management in business or economic opportunities. We are taking this same proven model and applying it to public education as well. There are many that are quick to point out that we are not spending as much on public education as other states.
Though we have the youngest state in the nation and face funding challenges other states do not have, we've invested more than $1 billion in new public education funding in the past three years. This is a 40 percent increase; no other state has been able to match a funding increase in public education of this magnitude. We invest in our children because they will be the ones that continue our state's tradition of excellence. Investing in our children is the best kind of long-term investment.
We have real challenges in our future that will take the best efforts of all of us. But I know who I can count on to deliver on the challenges: Republicans.
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* REP. DAVID CLARK, R-Santa Clara, is the majority leader of the Utah House.
