Senators foresee ethics changes in 2006

An ethics reform measure providing greater disclosure for lobbyists' gifts to state lawmakers may have the backing of Senate leadership next year.

Sen. Greg Bell, R-Fruit Heights, told a small forum gathering Saturday that he expects reforms will be backed by leadership during the 2006 session — support that has been lacking during other failed attempts to get reform measures through the Legislature.

"I have reason to believe that Senate leadership next year will support a bill like mine," Bell told a community forum at the downtown Salt Lake City Library.

Bell declined to elaborate on why he was so optimistic and Senate President John Valentine, R-Orem, couldn't be reached for comment Saturday.

The Davis County lawmaker and former Farmington mayor introduced a bill during the 2005 session that would have required lobbyists to disclose all gifts to lawmakers of $10 or greater. Current law calls for disclosures of lobbyists' gifts totaling $50 or more.

Lobbyists have found clever ways to funnel gifts to state legislators without disclosing the handouts. During a March golf trip to St. George, several lobbyists paid for $49.99 of state legislators' green fees with the politicians paying the remainder out of pocket. Many speculated the lobbyists stopped a penny short of $50 so they wouldn't have to disclose the gift.

Bell's legislation reducing the disclosure limit was defeated in committee just weeks earlier. Next year, if Senate leadership does get on board the measure would have a greater chance of passing or at least coming up for a vote.

At the forum, put on by Common Cause of Utah, Bell maintained most, if not all, state lawmakers are ethical and don't see the need for greater disclosure. State lawmakers are average folks with wide-ranging professions who generally want to do a good, fair job representing the public, he said.

But another forum speaker, Sen. Karen Hale, D-Salt Lake City, said even though most may be ethical there is a public perception that lawmakers are shady. Scandals at city and county levels breed mistrust of all elected officials, she said.

With growing public mistrust better ethics laws are needed to assure the public, she said.

"Yes there is a problem when you look at the public sentiment," she said. "I would like to see leadership step up to the plate."

Hale ran a reform bill that similarly died in committee this year. The legislation would have restricted lawmakers from using campaign donations for personal expenses.

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