When Sen. Greg Bell's bill, which would have lowered the reporting threshold at which lobbyists had to name legislators who took their gifts, came before a Senate committee upon which Stephenson sat, the good senator from Draper went on a nine-minute rant about how bad and evil the media was on reporting on lobbyists' gifts, and how appropriate it was that lawmakers take dinners and Jazz tickets to ease the pain of being away from hearth, home and family (even though probably 70 percent of legislators drive home most nights of the 45-day session).

I would imagine that if a state legislator or member of Congress gave a similar speech they would be laughed off their respective capitol hills.

But not here.

Democrats have gotten used to seeing their government reform bills die quiet deaths each session. On occasion, the House leadership — making a smart political move — has allowed one or two of the Democrats' bills out for floor debate. The GOP-controlled House would then pass the bill, knowing that it wouldn't even get a hearing in the Senate.

Or if it did, the Stephensons of the Senate would slap it down.

In his State of the State address, New York's Spitzer said that reform was coming to New York state government and citizens would be better off for it.

I doubt you will hear Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. calling for reform in the executive and legislative branches when he gives his State of the State later this month.

Even if he did, I doubt anything substantial would pass the 2007 Legislature — just as government reform bills have failed to pass in so many previous general sessions.

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