No end to lobbyists' gifts?

Sometimes gifts were unusual.

Lobbyist Tasman Biesinger spent $20 to take an unnamed lawmaker go-kart racing.

Salt Lake Community College reported giving every legislator a ceramic bank filled with chocolate coins.

Tahitian Noni gave sample packs of products to legislators.

Among gifts that IHC lobbyist Alan Dayton gave were a "foam bazooka gun" and a "Shakespeare action figure and whistle."

State universities also reported giving thousands of dollars of football and basketball tickets to lawmakers and their families.

The executive branch

Even though Huntsman signed an executive order banning gifts in February 2007, about $20,000 was still spent on top officials and college advisory board members last year.

Even Huntsman reportedly received some, including a $43 gift basket from Utah Medical Association lobbyist Michelle McOmber, a $30 "holiday gift" from the University of Utah and a $40 meal from Utah State University.

Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert also received the same holiday gift basket and holiday gift, plus a $64 meal at Thanksgiving Point by its lobbyist, Jennifer Stevens, and a $55 meal at an awards banquet by the conservative Sutherland Institute.

Huntsman spokeswoman Lisa Roskelley said Huntsman's order has exemptions for perishable goods, like the fruit basket, which says those items can be shared by office employees or given to charity.

The dinners some top state officials took came as they participated in some event tied directly to the executive's official state job. "Maybe they were at a seminar and ate a lunch or dinner," she said.

"The governor attends luncheons all the time," said Roskelley. "He never eats the lunch" at the head table, "but the sponsoring entity may still list on their lobbyist report that he did and list the amount" the lunch was worth.

Other listed gifts found by the newspaper may have gone to board trustees of state universities. And since they are not full-time executive branch employees, they wouldn't fall under Huntsman's executive order.

The order says state executives should consider at all times what is in the "best interest of the public at large" and shouldn't engage in anything that could lead to "any perception of wrongdoing."

Legislative loopholes

State law bans long-lasting gifts — like golf clubs — worth over $50 to legislators. But it allows "intangible" gifts, such as event tickets, meals, travel, rounds of golf and so on.