And Democrats don't like the fact that Republicans don't plan to even discuss in the 2009 Legislature establishment of an independent ethics complaint committee, outside of the Legislature itself.

"We will keep pushing for the reforms we believe the people want," said House Minority Leader David Litvack, D-Salt Lake.

Indeed, some moderate House Republicans say while the leaders' ethics reform packet is a good start, more should be done.

Rep. Kay McIff, R-Richfield, a retired state judge, said he will introduce his own bill (not part of the leaders' packet) that aims to restrict the influence of money both in legislative campaigns and especially in leadership races.

For example, newly installed House Speaker David Clark, R-Santa Clara, gave more than $57,000 from his personal campaign account to GOP House candidates this year, in part hoping that such donations would lead to caucus votes for him for speaker. It ended up that he ran unopposed for the speakership.

McIff believes such donations — often received from special interests who not only want the leader re-elected in his district, but elected into a House leadership position — have "grown greatly" in recent years and are just one troubling fact of Utah legislative practice.

Meanwhile, GOP Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. says sometime this month he anticipates naming his own, independent government reform commission, which will look at a whole spectrum of political/money issues.

Not only does Huntsman favor some kind of independent ethics complaint process, he also wants to look into an independent redistricting commission (also not on the House GOP leaders' list) and review how political parties pick their candidate nominees.

Here are the reform proposals in the House GOP leaders' four bills:

• Legislators couldn't accept a ticket (valued at more than $10) to any art, recreational or sporting event. Gone would be the days of legislators taking hundreds of dollars worth of Utah Jazz tickets from lobbyists.

• Legislators who accepted a meal valued at more than $15 would have their names reported along with the cost of the meal. However, the cost of meals under $15 wouldn't be reported at all by lobbyists.

• There would be a one year "revolving door" wait before a state elected official could become a lobbyist.

• Retired state elected officers couldn't spend campaign money on themselves, but could give it to a nonprofit (like a church or charity), another candidate, a PAC or the state.

• Candidates for state office would have to report contributions online within five days of collecting cash or a check.

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E-mail: bbjr@desnews.com