Donors: Big firms are generous to incumbents

Such special-interest dominance in political giving is not healthy, said Jowers, but it is a fact of life here. Such cash influence in the Utah Legislature limits "perspectives" — both who is being listened to and what issues rise to the top.

"It can have a huge impact on what bills are even available to be heard, much less on what is finally passed," Jowers said.

A look at the race between Senate Majority Leader Curt Bramble, R-Provo, and his two in-party challengers — Jacqueline F. deGaston and James O'Neal — shows an example of the disparity in money and sources.

Bramble reported raising $23,150 so far this cycle, with $22,950 coming from special interests (99 percent). O'Neal reported raising $50 total, all of which he gave to himself. And deGaston reported raising no money.

Among top donors to Bramble were: Utah Soccer, $2,500 (Bramble gave support to state assistance for a new Real Salt Lake Stadium in Sandy); Tosh, Inc. (parent company of payday lender Check City), $2,000; the Utah Consumer Lending Association (representing payday lenders), $1,000; Altria (parent company of tobacco company Philip Morris), $1,000; and Regence Blue Cross and Blue Shield, $1,000.

Some of Bramble's spending was interesting. It included paying $1,000 for cuff links as gifts in the Senate (which may not hurt his chances for re-election to Senate leadership); $155 on Senate staff gifts; $3,100 for a trip to Paris in February as part of Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.'s economic development effort; and $1,351 to attend a health care convention in Washington in March.

Generous givers

Some special interests gave to virtually all of the incumbents seeking re-election in Utah County. EnergySolutions donated to 13 of the 14 GOP incumbents (all but Rep. John Dougall, R-American Fork). Injury law firm Robert J. Debry & Associates gave to eight; the Utah House Republican Election Committee (a legislative leaders' PAC raising money mostly from special interests) gave to seven; Siegfried & Jensen gave to six, for example.

The pro-voucher Parents for Choice in Education was offering significant help to four pro-voucher incumbents facing challenges — and was the single-largest donor overall to Utah County incumbents among special interests at $5,044 total.

Reps. Craig Frank, R-Pleasant Grove; Keith Grover, R-Provo; Christopher Herrod, R-Provo; and Kenneth Sumsion, R-Lehi, reported receiving "in-kind" help from the group, including phone-bank calls.

Expenses reported by incumbents were not always so election oriented.

For example, Sumsion spent $38 for a High Occupancy Toll lane pass to let him drive in the car-pool lane on the freeway by himself. Frank spent $239 on "Capitol office furniture." Grover spent $300 in "dues" to the Legislature's "Third House," which buys special gifts and snacks.