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Give Governor Huntsman credit for being sensitive to the times and scaling back this year's inauguration. Monday's very brief ceremony on the Capitol steps was refreshingly simple, and really quite meaningful.
Whereas past inaugural events typically filled the Capitol rotunda, and included orchestras and choirs and long speeches, this one got quickly to the business of swearing in the state's newly elected officers for the next four years. Even the second-term governor's inaugural address was brief and to the point. The entire event lasted about 30 minutes.
It set a tone, in KSL's view, for what lies ahead as Utah, the nation and the world come to grips with an economic crisis that is intensifying. After years of plenty and unprecedented growth in the private sector as well as government spending, everyone is feeling the pinch. With the state's coffers being drained, keeping budgets in check will be especially challenging for every department in state government, as well as the legislature during the upcoming session.
Yet Governor Huntsman's message was generally upbeat and filled with optimism. "Our people are truly resilient and so is our economy," he said. "We will prevail, we always have."
It is a message KSL appreciates and believes.
