Firms pay tab for NCSL

KEARNS — As 4,000 lawmakers from around the nation chomped on their "Vittles of the Old West" here Thursday night at the National Conference of State Legislatures' closing social, they shouldn't be thanking Utah taxpayers for the tasty tidbits.

It was Philip Morris, PacifiCorp, Zions Bank, the Beer Institute and the dozens of other private and public firms that kicked in the nearly $800,000 that the Utah Legislature raised to put on the five-day convention's social events. Most of Utah's fund-raising cash went for the Tuesday night opening social at the Capitol and Thursday's closing social at the Olympic Oval ice rink, with the hosts also paying some transportation and other entertaining bills throughout the week.

The fund raising led to the Olympic venue hosting its largest crowd since the Games came to Salt Lake City in 2002. Legislators, union members, staffers and their guests were serenaded with the sounds of the Olympics as some of America's most victorious moments were played on a big screen. Gold medalist Derek Parra led the crowd through one of the most memorable moments of his life, while other Olympic athletes signed autographs and posed for photos.

Rep. Carol Spackman Moss, D-Holladay, said the event was "so fun and full of energy." Compared to other conferences, she said this year's gathering offered members more things to do and be a part of.

Several legislators took advantage of the activities, which included a bungee aerial event in which gravity-defying leaps were taken, games and face-painting, open skating on the ice and dancing to one of Utah's local bands, Party Train.

"This one is good, but all the conferences are good," said David Drovdal, a representative from North Dakota. "This is my first time in an Olympic venue, and I still can't get over how great it was to hear the Mormon Tabernacle Choir live."

From the music selection to the transportation, the hospitality to the appropriately air-conditioned buildings, the highlights were different for everyone in attendance, and the fund raising provided an effective response.

"Every state tries to put on something spectacular so you'll go away with a good experience," said Jeannette Wallace, a representative from New Mexico.

Local fund raising may not have started out all that well, said Utah House Majority Leader Greg Curtis, co-chairman of the NCSL Planning Committee, "but it really picked up the last two weeks. We did OK."