From Deseret News archives:
Money talks on the Hill
Group assails extent of special-interest funding of Utah campaigns
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But public financing of state races a suggested solution to the special-interest money in Utah was not specifically mentioned by Huntsman. Despite several phone calls to his staff, Huntsman didn't respond to the newspaper's request for an interview on the subject.
"A quick look at the . . . top contributing industries show that it's not Mr. Smith that's going to Salt Lake City, it's Utah's bankers, realtors and lobbyists."
Derek Cressman, director of the California-based group, added in an interview, "The percentages of contributions coming from special interests (to Utah legislators) and from outside of their districts, were egregious. I was shocked when I looked at the charts."
The Morning News found that special interests provided $4 of every $5 raised by legislators in their last campaigns. Also, 12 of every 13 legislators collected at least half their campaign money from special interests, and most received far more than that. In fact, 19 of the state's 104 lawmakers (one in five) received every cent from special interests.
Also, only one legislator received a majority of his money from residents of his own district.
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