Nationally, the study said payday lenders made $8 million in donations to state-level candidates from 1996 to 2006. It said the industry grew from as little as $8 billion in loan volume in 2000 to an estimated $28 billion in 2005, with more than 22,000 payday loan outlets now.

Payday loans are usually made in amounts between $100 and $1,000 for two weeks or until the customer's next payday. In Utah, a 2005 Morning News series found such lenders charged a median of $20 per $100 loaned for two weeks, which is 521 percent annual interest even if the fees charged may not be exceedingly high amounts themselves initially.

Still, borrowers often cannot repay the loan after the initial two weeks and can become mired in high-interest debt as they extend loans or take out more to make ends meet. The industry, however, says the fees it charges may be less than what customers would pay to reconnect turned-off utilities or to cover check overdraft fees. They say such loans help people who have no credit in emergencies.

The Morning News found in 2005 that Utah has more payday loan stores than 7-Elevens, McDonald's, Burger Kings and Subway stores — combined.

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E-mail: lee@desnews.com