Reid stops in Utah during 'red state tour'

The country's most powerful Democrat was in Utah Wednesday as part of a "red state tour" to raise money and pitch his party's pledge to clean up Washington, D.C.

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., was joined by Utah's only Democratic member of Congress, Rep. Jim Matheson, at a press conference where several lobbyist reforms were proposed.

"I believe we have a message that sells all over the country," Reid said, calling for an end to what he described as a Republican "culture of corruption" in both Congress and the White House.

He said there should be a total ban on gift-giving by lobbyists, including trips, as well as more stringent reporting requirements and criminal sanctions rather than the "slap-your-hand penalties we have now" for violators.

"We believe there should be a bright light shining on lobbying" and on members of Congress, Reid said. "We're going to change things a lot." He also briefly mentioned health care for all Americans and national security as issues supported by Democrats.

It's a message the Senate leader is delivering this week in five so-called red states that backed President Bush in the last election — Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho and Nebraska. Next month, a similar tour of Southern states is planned.

Reid's effort comes as the nation's capital is reeling from the scandal surrounding lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Abramoff is cooperating with a federal investigation into his dealings with members of Congress, including former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas.

Although Reid received money from Native American tribes represented by Abramoff, the Senate leader said that not only has he never met the fallen lobbyist, "he's not given me a penny."

The contributions from Native American tribes, Reid said, were made to him because he is a member of the Senate's Indian affairs committee and has done more to help Nevada's tribes than any other member of that state's congressional delegation — ever.

"I'm proud of that," Reid said, noting he has not returned the donations because hasn't done anything wrong.

Reid insisted Wednesday that only Republicans are enmeshed in the Abramoff scandal. "There is not a single Democrat that's involved," he said, dismissing reports that he, too, may be a target of the ongoing investigation.

Earlier Wednesday, Reid spoke at a luncheon fund-raiser for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee held at the Salt Lake Country Club. About 45 people attended the event, which was closed to the press.