Perhaps the most direct way legislators can benefit personally from campaign funds is to pocket leftover amounts as they leave office. Many do. Spotty reporting by former members makes it unclear exactly how many do so and how much they take.

The Deseret Morning News attempted to review final disclosure forms for 22 legislators who left office last year. It found that only six of them have so far filed final forms that properly zeroed out their campaign funds, showing how all money was spent.

Another seven filed reports labeled as "final," but they did not zero out all funds as required by law. They did not show how tens of thousands of unspent money was to be used. Nine others had filed no forms. Legislators need not file final forms, but they then must file annual disclosure forms instead until campaign accounts are closed.

Five of the six who filed appropriate final forms put at least some leftover money into their own pockets or the pockets of relatives.

Besides the $13,741 Adams gave himself and his wife, former Rep. Peggy Wallace, R-West Jordan, gave herself $5,872 for "reimbursement" and "close out campaign account." Former Rep. David Cox, R-Lehi, gave more than $3,200 to his wife for "secretarial duties." Former Rep. David Hogue, R-Riverton, gave himself nearly $2,300 in "partial loan reimburse- ments." Former Sen. Karen Hale, D-Salt Lake, gave herself a $500 "reimbursement."

Only former Sen. Patrice Arent, D-Murray, closed out her accounts much like members of Congress would, by giving leftover amounts to other political campaigns. She split a total of $2,300 among 22 different local campaigns.

The seven who filed "final" reports without zeroing accounts have a combined $147,600 left to spend. Among the higher amounts is $66,823 in the account of former Rep. Jeff Alexander, R-Provo; $20,695 for former Rep. James Ferrin, R-Orem; and $18,997 for former Rep. Susan Lawrence, R-Salt Lake.

Amounts left over in accounts for those who did not file any reports is not known, obviously because they failed to file those reports.

Joseph Dumma, chief of staff to Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert, said informal letters have been sent to all former legislators who have failed to file proper final forms.

He said if they do not respond in a reasonable time, another formal letter will be sent giving them 14 days to provide data or they will be referred to the attorney general for a Class-B misdemeanor. Also, they are told that until accounts are zeroed out, they must file disclosure forms annually about how much money they have and how it is spent.

"We try not to be punitive, but reasonable. Most don't understand the complexities of reporting. We make them aware they have missed the deadline," Dumma said. "We don't care what they spend their money on per se, but they have to disclose it."

Of note, recent Deseret Morning News analyses have shown that the vast bulk of campaign funds — including amounts that make their way into retired lawmakers' pockets — come from special interests with business before the Legislature. Very little comes from regular constituents.

An analysis last year found that more than 95 percent of contributions to current legislators in their last campaigns came from special interests or their own pockets. A similar 2004 analysis found that special interests provided 80 percent that year.

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