Retiring politicos can leave with cash

Previous bills on restrictions to campaign account expenses — and current talk about putting some limits on such spending — all include exceptions for donating campaign money to a bona fide charity. So it is likely that charitable giving will still be allowed under any new law restricting campaign account spending.

Curtis could not be reached for comment on this story. However, he has previously said that he would not take any of his campaign cash himself, but may give to other candidates, his party or to charity.

And he may seek higher office down the road. Curtis' nearly $400,000 (in PAC and campaign cash) would be a good jump-start for a campaign for governor, Congress or attorney general.

Other high-profile legislators have also raised a lot of cash for a political rainy day. For example, former House Speaker Marty Stephens raised several hundred thousand dollars while he was speaker and spent a chunk of it on his failed 2004 run for governor. And current Rep. Kevin Garn, R-Layton, kept about $45,000 in his Utah House account even after he lost a run for the U.S. House in 2002, and spent that money when he ran successfully for his Utah House seat again in 2006.

Eastman was one of the few retiring members who would comment on plans for his leftover money — about $22,000. He said he plans to give about half to charity, most of the rest to other politicians and maybe some for himself. "But I don't plan to be buying any plasma TVs for myself," he joked.

He said he does not favor restricting how campaign accounts can be used. "You elect honorable people, and they will use it in honorable ways," he said.

Eastman added that while he raised more than he needed in his last election, much of what is left over will go to "several Senate friends and other candidates who are deserving" and have similar political goals as he does.

While Eastman dislikes campaign-fund restrictions, he does support banning all gifts from lobbyists — another controversial political money issue.

Of note, exactly how much money retiring members have is often unknown. If they are not active candidates, they do not need to file disclosure forms — showing how much they are raising and how they have been spending it — until January, or just after they officially leave office.

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