Utah needs tighter controls on campaign funding

Since there are no donation limits in Utah state races, a governor or legislator can solicit and accept any size of campaign cash.

Donations of $20,000, $30,000 or more from one individual or PAC have come into the governor's races — which now cost several million dollars. Even in off-election years, when they are not running for office, senators and representatives get routine donations of $1,000 or more from single groups or businesses.

Combine such giving with lobbyist spending on legislators — which tops $100,000 a year for the 104 part-time lawmakers as a whole — and you can see that money is playing an ever greater part in our state's public business.

Legislators make campaign and lobbyist laws. And since the lawmakers all won under the current system of campaign cash collections, and some legislators like the perks that come with gift-taking, there is little or no incentive to change the system.

Since legislators can do anything with their campaign cash, even give it to themselves, at what point does a $100,000 or $200,000 war chest become too much of an enticement?

A legislator may have no intention of taking any, or much, of his campaign money personally. But unforeseen medical costs for a loved one, a business bankruptcy or even a lengthy and costly lawsuit could prove too great a need.

Overall, Utah still has a legislative elective system that is reasonable and manageable. But actions should be taken now to limit campaign contributions and limit how campaign accounts can be used, all with an eye toward keeping the temptation of huge campaign cash under control.

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