From Deseret News archives:
GOP killing Democrats' reform bills
The actions come, ironically, as those same Republicans are passing along GOP Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.'s executive branch reform bills aimed at term-limiting governors, limiting individual contributions to gubernatorial campaigns and restricting top state executives from becoming lobbyists for one year after quitting state government.
Stuck in a Senate committee is an effort by GOP Sen. Greg Bell to publicly list more lawmakers and other state officials who accept gifts from lobbyists. Bell's bill could get a Senate floor vote if Democratic Sen. Gene Davis would vote for it. But Bell, R-Fruit Heights, says he doesn't expect to get Davis' vote "and there's not enough support in the whole (Senate) to pass this anyway."
Even though Republicans are killing Democrats' legislative reform measures run as a package by House and Senate Democratic leaders Republicans might yet see another lobbyist gift bill from a party colleague.
"It's aimed at stopping some of the very expensive trips that I've heard some people have taken" and are not being reported now, Ferrin said.
Only registered lobbyists must file reports detailing how much money they spend entertaining legislators and other top state officials.
A legislator can accept an "intangible gift" like a event ticket, meal or trip from a non-lobbyist, and the gift would not be reported.
Ferrin said he doesn't know personally of any such expensive trips and has seen no wrongdoing. But, he adds, it is best to close what some see as a loophole in gift-taking by top state officials by clearly banning such gifts in the future.
Years ago it was common knowledge that some legislative leaders had taken extended trips provided by non-lobbyists. One Senate leader, while serving in a national legislative association, took a two-week trip to Alaska paid for by a big oil company that did not lobby in Utah, displaying on his office wall a large, stuffed fish he caught during part of the trip.
Wednesday, the House Rules Committee refused to let House Minority Leader Ralph Becker's legislative gift ban bill (HB144) be heard in a committee effectively killing it. Previous Becker gift-ban bills also died without a hearing.
Comments
- Utah has fewest smokers 10:04 p.m.
- 4A: Springville holds off Dixie 10:03 p.m.
- 3A: Juan Diego runs away with win 9:59 p.m.
- 4A: Thunderbirds dynasty lives on 9:39 p.m.
- Utah Utes basketball at a glance 9:34 p.m.
- BYU basketball at a glance 9:33 p.m.
- Utes face stiff test in opener 9:30 p.m.
- Cougars ready for veteran opponent 9:22 p.m.
- Historically, Utes have owned TCU 9:20 p.m.
- Unga family is making its mark 9:18 p.m.
- House passes health care bill
335 - SLC council OKs gay rights policies
318 - TCU showdown has big implications
195 - Senators want food tax restored
158 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
155 - Editorial: Mormons and gay rights
140 - Will state consider gay rights law?
137 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
131 - Letters: Strange breed in Utah
119 - TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
119
Maybe someone out there can help me understand how raising the state...
Sen. Scott Jenkins was name-checked by Jay Leno Monday night during his...
It's pretty pathetic that you have to refer to a season from 13 years ago for...
"...for the time being, [society] regards marriage as the relationship that...
Maybe so, but the Yewts do not stand a chance. The frogs are for real. BCS...
Amen brother!
Working hard on defense: Lets see give up 7-9 3s per game score few...
"The worst is over" will become known as most famous of all "famous last words."
Not a single public employee ever decided on a single element of their pay...
Yes I believe a Judge will step in and do the right thing, One of them...
If we exclude the time Palin took to go speak to the financial sharpies in...
Not this year buddy. TCU will own the Utes.



You can be the first to comment on this story.