They ask: What about education? What about health care for the poor? What about pay raises for state employees?

Republicans counter by saying they will provide new money in all of those areas, but they have singled out transportation for a big infusion. House Budget Chairman Ron Bigelow, R-West Valley City, said the decision favors long-term planning over crisis management.

"The question is do we ignore the transportation problem until it becomes so big and so bad we have no alternatives," he said.

The House Republican Caucus has voted to set aside one-fourth of the projected revenue growth for transportation projects, which is $85 million in new annual funding. Transportation planners for the state say the figure is far below the $7 billion needed in the next decade to prevent debilitating gridlock.

Democratic leaders say some new money should go to transportation projects, but $85 million is too much, especially on the heels of three years of budget cuts. They plan to offer their preliminary budget proposal sometime next week. Education, including colleges and universities, are expected to play a central roll.

Minority Leader Ralph Becker says without appropriate funding for schools "our state is not going to be competitive in this century." The House Republican's transportation funding plan is not only at odds with Democrats, but also with Republican Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.

Huntsman proposed less than half the transportation funding increase endorsed by the House GOP Caucus: $33 million.

"There will be discussions to resolve that difference," said Bigelow.