It's troubling that there has been no public reporting of these Utah legislative trips before. One legislator told me this past session that he wants ban any gifts to Utah lawmakers over $50 — no matter where they came from.

He said he was going to introduce such a bill, as he complained about expensive trips some legislators had taken. But he never introduced the bill and it probably wouldn't have passed anyway.

Ferry says he didn't talk about the trips openly before because he could only invite a relatively small group of leaders. "If you can't invite everyone to the party, you hurt some feelings." And as a lobbyist "you want friends, not enemies" among legislators.

"I've been over there seven times now, once when I was president" of the Senate, notes Ferry. "It's an 18-hour plane ride both ways. I've seen all the monuments and memorials." The Taiwanese are wonderful people, great hosts, but the trips are wearing on all concerned, he said.

"That's one reason we do the side-trip vacation, so (the legislators and spouses) can actually relax for a bit."

Ferry says he sees no reason to stop or modify the trips, and he'll plan another two years from now for any new leaders of the Utah Legislature. He expects a number will want to go.

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Deseret Morning News political editor Bob Bernick Jr. may be reached by e-mail at bbjr@desnews.com