Campaign ethics bill dies in committee

A bill that would try to settle ethical questions of campaign finance spending failed in committee meeting Tuesday.

SB140 proposed a change in the election code that would help govern criteria for the personal use of campaign funds.

Bill sponsor Sen. Karen Hale, D-Salt Lake, said the denial of passage was frustrating but came as no surprise to her.

"It's unfortunate that other legislators couldn't see the importance of the bill," she said.

Hale said the purpose of the bill was not to point fingers at politicians who end up spending leftover campaign funds but to close loopholes in the election code and strengthen people's confidence in elected officials.

"People are happy to contribute," she said. "It is their way of participating in the process. They believe they are helping somebody gain an office."

Hale said people who contribute money to political campaigns expect it to be used for ethical purposes and for the duties of an elected official.

"The public expects us to raise the bar and take a step forward," she said.

Former deputy director of the state elections office, Rozan Mitchell, said the questions surrounding the distribution of unused campaign funds is not new.

"We would make general recommendations, telling them to donate monies that weren't designated," Mitchell said. "It becomes an ethical decision for the candidates themselves. You can justify using campaign funds for just about anything."

SB140 sets forth several options for officeholders to dispose of monies when they leave office or are not elected. Options include donation to a registered political party, action committee or another candidate's campaign account; the state General Fund, a tax-exempt, nonprofit entity; payment of loans; or transfer to an escrow account for the person to use in a future political campaign.

Current Utah law says campaign funds don't have to be used for campaigning. Hale says the current law lacks guidelines for personal use.

"Giving the money away is the professional and proper way to dispose of unused campaign funds," said Sandy Peck of the League of Women Voters.