PACs helping Utah senators give to friends

In fact, 36 donors to Hatch's PAC had also given maximum-possible donations to at least one candidate who also received money from Hatch. And 24 donors to Bennett's PAC did the same.

Hatch and Bennett say the money they receive, however, is not earmarked by donors for any other specific candidates. The senators say they choose who will receive the money and say their PACs are not pass-through funnels for others.

For example, Christensen said, "Sen. Bennett does not monitor the actions of other PACs or donors and was not aware of any additional contributions. Therefore, it is not a coordinated end run."

Hansen said money given to Hatch "comes from people who believe in him, and with no strings attached. He would not accept it if it had strings attached."

Both Hatch and Bennett say they choose to whom they will give the PAC money based on need, who requests it and how much it may help Republicans regain a majority.

Watchdog groups have also complained that while money from a leadership PAC cannot be used legally to directly benefit the politician who sponsors it, it may do so indirectly by such things as helping pay for travel (to PAC events) that may also help them campaign or do other political work at the same time.

For example, Rep. John Doolittle, R-Calif., came under fire for having his PAC pay his wife more than $140,000 as a consultant, and for spending at least $40,000 on gifts to friends and supporters from such stores as Saks Fifth Avenue and Tiffany & Co.

Bennett's Snow PAC reported spending about $8,000 this year on travel-related expenses. It also listed some other interesting expenses such as more than $300 for ski rentals, and $242 for snowmobile rental. Its reports did not say for whom such spending was made.

But Christensen said, "They are only for the senator and staff during PAC fund-raisers. The senator in the past has hosted a variety of fund-raisers that include golf, fishing and skiing activities. Although the senator is not a golfer or skier, he has been known to fly fish."

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E-mail: lee@desnews.com