The base is shrinking not only because legislators keep giving special-interest sales tax breaks — the panel recommends half a dozen more sales tax breaks in its work — but the basic Utah, national and world economies are changing.

More and more, Utahns are spending their money on tax-exempt services — from hair cuts to lawn care to accounting, legal and financial. But mostly, Utahns are spending money on health care, nearly all of which is exempt from the state sales tax.

It was clear from the start of the task force that members were not going to recommend the sales tax be put on health care, doctor visits, tests, therapy and so on.

But in a quick vote one day they also tabled all talk of extending the sales tax to any other services, like attorney and accounting services. Several members said it would be such a bother for non-taxed services to start charging the sales tax, so little money coming from them, that it wasn't worth it.

Yet overall the task force did good work. They may not have achieved some of their early goals — like making the tax system more simple, more fair overall. But their recommendations in a number of areas are substantial.

A flat-rate income tax, even with a few credits; taking big steps to remove the food tax; and moving down the road of not taxing businesses inputs and giving Utah corporations tax incentives to grow here — all are ideas worthy of legislative action.

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Some Utah House Republicans are a bit shame-faced this week over their leadership's idea of hosting the annual pre-Legislature fund-raiser using the "speed date" approach. Lobbyists and others would contribute to the fund-raiser and then get five minutes with legislators of their choice — kind of like a parent-teacher conference on amphetamines.

A few are saying: "What, paying for direct access? How unseemly."

Hello? What do you think all other legislative fund-raisers — Republican and Democratic — have been?

Republicans have gone bowling, played golf; Democrats have had dinners and done other activities. They are all basically the same — pay a few hundred bucks and you get to hobnob with legislators.

While "speed dating" lobbying/fund raising may be a bit odd, I find it refreshingly honest. Pay money and you get face time — that's what all political fund-raisers are about.

Former Gov. Mike Leavitt held a "cowboy" weekend down at his family's ranch in Loa and charged, I'm not kidding, $10,000 to attend. Not only would you get to go fishing, shooting and horseback riding with the governor, Leavitt would invite Western GOP governors and/or GOP gubernatorial nominees to the three-day event — kind of a regional get-to-know-ya. Now that was an expensive date.

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Deseret Morning News political editor Bob Bernick Jr. may be reached by e-mail at bbjr@desnews.com