Utahns favor reform, but ...

Utahns overwhelmingly support a package of government reform bills, a new poll shows. But the bills almost assuredly will be killed in the state Legislature.

The Deseret Morning News and KSL-TV asked pollster Dan Jones & Associates to quiz Utahns on half a dozen bills now pending before the Legislature. Most are sponsored by Democrats, but Sen. Greg Bell, R-Fruit Heights, has reintroduced his bill that would demand more disclosure of gifts to legislators from lobbyists.

The poll shows that more than two-thirds of Utahns support the measures. But as in past years, such super-majority sentiments by constituents ring hollow with most legislators. The bills die, often without even a public hearing.

Jones found:

• Two-thirds of Utahns either want all lobbyists' gifts banned or favor greater disclosure of which legislators are taking them.

• Three-fourths of Utahns want legislators to be banned from becoming lobbyists for one or two years after leaving their public office.

• More than 70 percent of Utahns want some restrictions on legislators' personal use of their campaign funds. Currently, there are no restrictions. Legislators can give themselves cash from their funds.

• Nearly 70 percent want a bipartisan commission to recommend to legislators how legislative and congressional district lines are redrawn every 10 years after the federal census.

• Nearly three-fourths of Utahns want to place a $10,000 contribution limit on campaign funds raised by the state's top elective offices: governor, lieutenant governor, state treasurer and auditor. Currently there are no campaign contribution limits, and some gubernatorial candidates have received contributions of $30,000 or more from one entity.

Even with those overwhelming poll numbers, don't expect anything to be done on these issues.

"I think maybe my bills are in trouble," House Minority Leader Ralph Becker, D-Salt Lake, said this past week.

Becker is sponsoring HB178, which would ban most gifts to legislators with a few exceptions, and HB290, which would restrict the use of lawmakers' campaign funds for personal use.

HB178, has had a public hearing, has been sent out of House Rules and awaits debate on the House floor, perhaps on Monday.