Utah lawmakers eager to 'reform' — others

Still, hoping to get some of that gubernatorial glow, Sen. Greg Bell, R-Fruit Heights, earlier this session ran a bill that would have lowered the threshold in naming lawmakers who take lobbyists' gifts from $50 to $10. But a Senate committee refused to advance it, and Bell now says even that "small step" couldn't pass the 29-member body.

Besides the bills wanted by Huntsman, some reform bills are part of minority Democrats' better-government package. Some others are bills suggested by individual GOP lawmakers who just want to solve actual or perceived problems in state government.

For example, Rep. John Dougall, R-Highland, says HB282 (which passed a committee Tuesday) is needed because he's heard disturbing reports of some individual state workers, or groups of workers, seeking gifts or other favors from companies doing business with the state.

His bill, as amended in committee, would ban all gifts valued at more than $25 to state employees, defined as workers who are not either elected or appointed.

"You hear that a state agency may be hitting up a company" to contribute gifts or cash to agency Christmas parties and the like, Dougall said.

His bill would clearly say, both to employees and private businesses, that such actions are inappropriate, Dougall said.

Is there irony in the fact that lawmakers may ban gifts to rank-and-file workers from people who seek their good will, but not ban lobbyists' gifts to themselves?

No, said Dougall. Lawmakers are a different animal.

"We're elected, before the public all the time, with the news media gladly reporting" from lobbyist disclosure forms what legislators may be taking from those trying to influence them. "Personally, I'd be more than willing to look at banning gifts to legislators," but HB282 tries to get at a specific problem, Dougall said.

"It's a standard for state workers" who are not elected by the public every two years, not in the media's searchlight, he said.

In a new poll of 406 adults, with a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percent, Jones found:

• 80 percent favor limiting governors to two terms.

• 85 percent favor top state executives not lobbying for a year after leaving office.

• 75 percent favor lowering the threshold from $50 to $10 in naming lawmakers who take lobbyists' gifts.

• 81 percent favor banning all gifts to legislators.

• 79 percent favor prohibiting legislators from becoming lobbyists for two years after leaving office.

• 77 percent favor independent commissions overseeing legislative ethics investigations, legislative redistricting and running the State Elections Office.

• 76 percent favor banning legislators from spending their campaign funds on themselves.