But funding for the tours has raised problems and eyebrows before.

One year, legislators from eastern Utah were embarrassed when a fund-raising letter became public, a letter sent to big-time lobbyists asking for donations of upward of $5,000 each to pay for the tour.

And in the early tours, it was routine for one or more lobbyists to pay for legislators' tour meals directly, even though lawmakers' per diem pay from the state is supposed to pick up the costs of such meals. Buy a few meals for a legislator and that $39 is freed up to go right into the lawmaker's pocket.

If the Legislature's statewide tours are worthwhile, and I believe they are, then the state should be picking up the cost of these events, not local businessmen or lobbyists.

Taxpayers now pick up the tab for lawmakers belonging to national groups, like the National Conference of State Legislatures, as well as the cost of sending Utah legislators to meetings of these associations.

Legislative tours across the state are no less important. Get rid of the "pay to play" touring system. And hold public hearings during the tours while you are reforming the process.

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