Lobbyists' favorite tool was food

When it comes to lobbying legislators, power lunches and dinner dates are the preferred methods for discussing an issue.

The vast majority of the almost $50,000 spent by lobbyists on lawmakers during the Utah Legislature's 2006 general session went to food, ranging from $8 lunches to $40 dinners for individual legislators. Organizations also spent hundreds of dollars — and in some cases, thousands of dollars — to host meals for legislative caucuses or receptions for the entire Legislature.

According to lobbyist disclosures, which were due Monday, very few lobbyists spent more than $1,000 — and many who did used the money to finance events or product samples which were distributed to all legislators. For example, the biggest spender during the session was the Utah Beverage Association, which spent $10,966 on a Jan. 16 reception, which is an annual event for legislators.

In much shorter supply from lobbyists this year were big-ticket items, such as Utah Jazz tickets and rounds of golf, even at the discounted prices of $49.99 — the limit at which the specific recipient of the gift can remain anonymous. A dozen legislators did, however, attend at least one Jazz game on a lobbyist's dime. Tickets to watch Utah State University basketball games were given to three northern Utah legislators.

Following the 2005 session, a number of legislators played rounds of golf — and most of them covered any green-fee costs above the $49.99 benchmark to avoid identification. The golf primarily was played in Utah's Dixie, which has been gripped by a cold spell since the 2006 session ended March 1. That may have discouraged most golf outings this year.

Those receiving the Jazz tickets included members of leadership, including Senate Majority Leader Peter Knudson, R-Brigham City, Senate Minority Leader Mike Dmitrich, D-Price, Senate Minority Whip Gene Davis, D-Salt Lake, and House Majority Whip Steve Urquhart, R-St. George. The tickets primarily were provided by Workers Compensation Fund and lobbyist Blaze Wharton, a former legislator.

Dmitrich, Rep. Dave Clark, R-St. George, and Sen. Curt Bramble, R-Provo, each attended three games with tickets provided by lobbyists. Urquhart, Davis and Sen. Bill Hickman, R-St. George, each attended two Jazz games. The others attended one each.

As with previous sessions, attempts to amend the lobbyist disclosure laws failed to pass this year. House Majority Leader Jeff Alexander, R-Provo, passed a bill out of the House which would have required any recipient of a non-food gift over $10 to be identified, but the bill stalled in the Senate.

The spending is down significantly from previous years, when lobbyists spent more than $100,000 during the legislative sessions. With more than 100 reports received by the State Elections Office on Monday, it is doubtful the spending will jump enough to bring it up to those previous highs.

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E-mail: jloftin@desnews.com