Lobbyist gift reform is trifling

Even if newly passed reforms had been in place, nearly $9 of every $10 in gifts that lobbyists gave Utah legislators during this year's general session would have remained anonymous from voters.

That is actually an improvement over current law, but a tiny one. Present rules did not force disclosure of recipients for at least $46,362 worth of gifts listed in lobbyist reports this week. Reform would have improved disclosure on only $927 worth of that amount.

Legislators said in debate this year that a bill, SB246, by Sen. Sheldon Killpack, R-Syracuse, which is awaiting signature by Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., would be a first step toward fuller disclosure on gifts. But it turns out to be only a small one.

Its changes would include requiring disclosure of who receives tickets to any sporting event, no matter the value, and any "tangible gift" worth more than $10. But the bill does not require disclosing meals, snacks or entertainment worth less than $50 (also the current law's reporting threshold).

Legislators refused, as they have for 20 years, to ban all lobbyist gifts.

Forms filed this week by lobbyists show they gave lawmakers at least $52,315 in freebies during this year's session, which ended Feb. 28.

Only 11 percent of that amount in gifts came with a legislator's name attached, because the gift cost more than $50.

With the reforms in Killpack's bill, lobbyists would have had to reveal legislators' names in about 13 percent of all gifts, a Deseret Morning News analysis shows.

Longtime legislator Sen. Mike Dmitrich, D-Price, accepted the most identifiable gifts — $2,425 worth. Dmitrich, who is the Senate minority leader, was followed by Senate Minority Whip Gene Davis, D-Salt Lake, with $969.

Dmitrich said that $1,000 listed for two Utah Jazz tickets for him actually went to a raffle for legislative staffers "who work 12- to 14-hour days during the session for little pay." Lobbyist Spencer Stokes provided the two tickets — $500 each — which were won by a legislative printing employee. In addition, Stokes provided one $500 Jazz ticket to Dmitrich, another $500 ticket to Sen. Brent Goodfellow, D-West Valley.

Stokes ended up providing the most gifts to legislators, $5,981 all told, the newspaper found. (When adding in gifts he also gave to legislative staffers and executive branch officials, he gave a total of $7,222.) He is registered to lobby for numerous clients, including America First Credit Union, EnergySolutions and the Utah League of Credit Unions.