But not Utah's five-person congressional delegation. Two weeks ago, Sens. Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennett, both R-Utah, and Reps. Chris Cannon and Rob Bishop, both R-Utah, and Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, all sent UDOT executive director John Njord a nicely worded letter saying there is nothing wrong with local governments seeking, nor Congress earmarking, specific projects for the local entities.

"Although there is no requirement to do so, we made every effort to ensure that the vast majority of the locally significant projects and corresponding funding included (in the new, huge federal transportation funding bill) were included in (UDOT's own prioritized building program).

"Therefore, we believe these projects represent a good mix of transportation priorities from across the state," the delegation wrote.

Likewise, Lincoln Shurtz, legislative analyst for the Utah League of Cities and Towns, says the state shouldn't be trying to silence local officials' voices in Congress — whether they come from the officials themselves or through paid lobbyists — because doing so may cost Utah some federal cash.

"The assumption that Utah gets a lump sum of money for "earmarking" — and that the money will come to Utah whether or not (local officials) get it earmarked (for their special project) — is not valid," said Shurtz.

Rather, if local entities and/or the state don't get the money earmarked for this or that specific project, the money may not come to the state at all but go to other states, said Shurtz.

The Legislature several years ago passed a law that said state departments can't spend any money hiring outside, or contract, lobbyists. Top state department executives must lobby the Legislature themselves or they can hire a state employee to do such work.

Dougall said while it may be wise for local officials to follow that lead — and not hire contract lobbyists to lobby legislators, but rather do it themselves — his bill won't go there.

"This bill does not deal with local officials paying someone to lobby us — the Legislature," said Dougall.

The Taxpayers Association's study found that the largest 30 cities and counties will spend, all together, $624,000 this year on contract lobbyists to lobby Utah lawmakers.

In addition, each city pays dues to the Utah League of Cities and Towns (based on population) and each county pays dues to the Utah Association of Counties. Since those groups also have professional people lobbying the Legislature, the Taxpayers Association includes those dues in its overall lobbying spending.

All told, more than $2.5 million a year is spent lobbying the Legislature, Congress and in league and association dues, the study shows.

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E-mail: bbjr@desnews.com