State computer can't handle full disclosure
While it is designed to enhance campaign finance disclosure, on Monday it left legislators steamed, the lieutenant governor's office apologizing and the news media unable to do much analysis of new disclosures due at 5 p.m.
For example, a feature of the program that was supposed to tally how much a candidate received in contributions was often off by tens of thousands of dollars for each candidate, according to Deseret News comparison of those sums and original forms.
Ditto for totals about how much candidates spent. Ditto for how much political action committees spent, too, or corporations.
"Obviously, we have a bug of some sort," said Mark Thomas, office administrator for Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert, which oversees campaign finance disclosures.
Herbert's office was working on a fix to the computer code, but problems left the Deseret News and other organizations unable at least on Monday to trust the summaries for a quick analysis of how much was raised and spent by various groups during the 2008 election.
As the House GOP caucus griped about the foul-up, Rep. Mike Noel, R-Kanab, perhaps only half-joking yelled, "Cut their budget."
Rep. Julie Fisher, R-Fruit Heights, said, "I've spent hours on this (lieutenant governor) site. Finally, I had to file a paper copy. They told me to fax it, but then their fax didn't work twice. This is the biggest run-around I've gone through. We're part-time legislators. They should have worked this out, gotten all these errors out beforehand."
Rep. Brad Dee, R-Washington Terrace, said, "I had to file a paper copy, too. They tell me this won't be fixed for a couple of weeks."
Thomas said the new system had been rushed into service, in part, because the old system could not handle changes required in reporting that were mandated by recent changes in law.
"Our old system would not run anymore, with all the changes in the law. We had to push this one out, and had to push it out without all the testing we would have liked," he said. "Again, I apologize."
He noted that forms from most lawmakers, PACs, corporations and political issue committees were either available online or on paper forms in the lieutenant governor's office. But features that tabulate things such as how much they spent for the year individually, or as a group, were not working.
Recent comments
Acutally, Herbert has at least two jobs. Remember how he sat on the...
There will be a slight delay | Jan. 18, 2009 at 7:10 p.m.
How convenient and the timing was just right.
Heckofa job Herbert!
Heckofa Job | Jan. 13, 2009 at 3:38 p.m.
Poor programing isn't a bug. It is poor work.
dbf | Jan. 13, 2009 at 3:26 p.m.
- Fort Hood victims' funerals Saturday 9:18 a.m.
- Rep. bashes Dems over health care 9:09 a.m.
- Former China ambassador Lilley dies 9:08 a.m.
- Google concedes on digital book deal 9:00 a.m.
- New Zealand reaches World Cup 8:57 a.m.
- New Milwaukee archdiocese leader 8:56 a.m.
- 3A: Hurricane 24, Park City 19 2:29 a.m.
- GameDay back in the MWC 2:19 a.m.
- Westminster campus briefs 1:49 a.m.
- SUU campus briefs 1:48 a.m.
- Williams leaves, won't play tonight
- Unga family is making its mark
- Attack meant to kill apostle
- Trial begins in toddler death
- ESPN suddenly loves MWC
- Man killed during 3rd I-15 crash
- Study: Divorce likely when wife ill
- Short-handed Jazz fly past Sixers
- Can BYU root for (ick) Utah Utes?
- Selfishness to blame for Jazz woes?
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
348 - Editorial: Mormons and gay rights
199 - Senators want food tax restored
162 - Will state consider gay rights law?
145 - Letters: Strange breed in Utah
129 - Utes remain silent about BCS
120 - S.L. vote pending on gay protections
113 - Celtics crush Jazz
103 - Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
102 - Hatch empathizes with Muslims
88
If you are looking for a bird on the cheap, the following specials from...
How do you handle kids and contests? Our oldest daughter, 7, is of the...
True. It's not terribly funny and if it has any effect on society, it won't...
What else would you expect to find in a book called "The Founders on Religion"?
Ok not to be rude here, but check the stats, Hinds isnt first in yards and...
t-hinds = best player in utah
Anonymous: Was that English? I though conservatives believed if you are in...
Wow! Glad the Lord kept you safe. Separate comment: That was a horrible...
I have never been to a Utah high school game before as I am not from the...
It would behoove the above commenters to recall that religion, including our...
Only 8000 attendance? BYU had 16,000+ tonight. What is wrong with Ute fans?...
ian you are the 3A MVP If you win next week so just do it that would be nice....
