SALT LAKE CITY — The 2010 Legislative Session started off Monday with a rousing rendition in the House of “God Bless the USA,” sung by BYU men’s group, Vocal Point. Although there were smiles all around, once again, legislators face some heavy challenges.

“The budget is a huge issue,” said Sen. Dan Liljenquist, R-Bountiful. “This is probably the most difficult balancing act we’ve had in a long time.”

According to Liljenquist, “Medicaid is a disaster,” with the state’s costs growing some 20 percent per year while the budget is growing less than 3 percent. “Our budget is causing pressure for us on all sides,” he said.

The total number of people on Medicaid in Utah has swelled to nearly 200,000, said Liljenquist. Federal mandates will force the state to use funds for Medicaid which could have been used in other areas.

Also sinking the state’s budget is the pension system. “The reality of the problem is just coming to light,” said Liljenquist. “The losses from 2008 have blown a hole in the budget. We’ll need $400 million to build a way out of that hole.”

He said it will take at least 25 years to replace it. “That’s 10,000 teachers’ salaries we can’t pay for the next 25 years,” said Liljenquist. “It’s a disaster. We’ll be cleaning up for a long time.”

The state has obligations to continue paying its pension payments despite the stock market collapse.

“This is the nuclear bomb that has already gone off,” said Liljenquist. “We are not going to grow out of this thing. That’s the No. 1 message.”

Along with a failing economy comes job loss. “By nearly every measure, 2009 was a very rough year for the state of Utah,” said House Speaker, Dave Clark, R-Santa Clara, as he addressed the body. “It will be marked as Utah’s worst year of job loss in the post-World War II era. From March 2008 to March 2009, an astonishing 71,000 jobs were lost.

“Our state’s current unemployment may be sitting uncomfortably at 6.7 percent. However, the unemployment for the five states that border Utah is currently averaging close to 9.5 percent.”

Clark promised that Utahns can rest assured that the 2010 Legislature is up to the challenges. “Our budget will balance,” he said, “and we will make wise use of our saving accounts to see us through the end of the recession and beyond.”

Ethics will also be addressed this session, said Clark. “While one’s ethics should be absolute,” he said, “the ethics laws that govern politics in the state continue to evolve and adapt. Last year we passed five bills dealing in the ethics arena. The House stands ready to tackle yet another package of ethics bills, in an effort to ensure that our actions on behalf of the public are above reproach.”

Newcomer, Sen. Stuart Adams, R-Layton, who filled former Sen. Greg Bell’s seat when he became lieutenant governor, agreed it would be a challenging session.

“I’m cautiously optimistic,” he said. “You never do anything in the Legislature on your own. It takes a group of people to work together. I think we’ll work through the difficult issues and come out” on the other side.

Clark thanked the representatives for their service to the state. “You are a great example of what is right and ethical with this State Government,” he said in closing. “May God bless the citizens of this great state. Let’s now be about the people’s work. We have a lot to do and miles to go before we sleep.”

bginos@davisclipper.com