The problem, experts say, is that lobbyist spending fuels more spending as governments try to reinforce or maintain their advantage. And that forces competitors for the same federal dollars to spend more on their lobbying.

"It really is difficult if you're in public service to unilaterally disarm," Ashdown said. "If you're an elected official, you do what it takes."

The U.'s Lyon says the university doesn't compete with other Utah institutions for the same federal monies. For example, the U. is not trying to get the same funds or grants as Utah State University, which spent $500,000 over the last five years on D.C. lobbyists.

Some Utah governments or schools hired the same lobbying firms, in part because of the expertise of the firms in getting specific grants or federal monies.

For example, over the past five years both the U. and USU hired the Advocacy Group Inc., while the UTA, the state and USU hired Lee & Smith to do some work.

Even relatively small local governments have been spending cash on D.C. lobbyists. The report says Riverton city spent $136,600 on The Ferguson Group, a firm that handled $27 million worth of work the past five years, many of its clients local governments.

The public can view a catalog of the lobbying activities of all Utah companies and governmental entities at www.publicintegrity.org.

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E-mail: spang@desnews.com; bbjr@desnews.com