From Deseret News archives:

Lobbyists report dinners, entertainment for mostly anonymous legislators

Published: Thursday, July 10, 2008 6:12 p.m. MDT
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Lobbyist Brian Allen, whose clients include the Utah Transit Authority, reported giving $100 in campaign maps and information for the failed school board campaign of Teresa Curtis, wife of House Speaker Greg Curtis, R-Sandy.

There were a number of lawmakers who accepted meals and tickets above the $50 limit.

Rep. Lynn Hemingway, D-Salt Lake, and Sen. Brent Goodfellow, D-West Valley, played golf and had both breakfast and lunch at the Wasatch Mountain Golf Course in Midway courtesy of Qwest lobbyist Eric Isom, who picked up the nearly $180 tab for the pair.

Rep. Todd Kiser, R-Sandy, also hit the links, with Kennecott lobbyist Gina Crezee paying $115 for Kiser to participate in the Utah Mining Association Golf Tournament, a fundraiser held at the Riverbend Golf Course in Riverton.

Seven lawmakers — including two Democrats — took Jazz tickets worth $960 from Stan Lockhart, the head of the Utah Republican Party and a registered lobbyist for his employer, Micron Technology and IM Flash.

Salt Lake Democratic Sens. Ross Romero and Scott McCoy got basketball tickets, as did Republican Sens. Howard Stephenson of Draper and Pete Knudson of Brigham City and Republican Reps. Kerry Gibson of Ogden, Paul Ray of Clearfield, and Lorie Fowlke of Orem.

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Several legislative leaders and, in some cases, their family members, took tickets to a National Conference of State Legislatures forum in Washington, D.C. from lobbyist Steve Proper, who represents Comcast and the Utah Cable and Telecommunications Association.

Proper paid for more than $1,300 in tickets for a list of lawmakers that included House Majority Leader Dave Clark, R-Santa Clara; House Assistant Majority Whip Brad Dee, R-Ogden; House Speaker Curtis; and Senate Assistant Majority Whip Killpack.

Kelly Patterson, director of Brigham Young University's Center for the Study of Elections and Democracy said the state's disclosure requirements make it hard for voters to find out who's attempting to influence their representatives.

"The disclosure system isn't as transparent as it could be," Patterson said. "This is largely a process that is carried out outside the scrutiny of the public. And if you can get what you want by not going public, why go public."


E-mail: lisa@desnews.com

Recent comments

Only the ignorant will call a meal a bribe. A bribe is a quid pro...

Commoner | July 10, 2008 at 11:06 p.m.

To Shelly:

Actually, if your legislator isn't getting lobbied, and...

Dave | July 10, 2008 at 10:15 p.m.

Generally a good article. But Kelly Patterson of BYU doesn't make...

Shelly | July 10, 2008 at 6:31 p.m.

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