Rechanneling gifts: Legislators shift cash donations

Analysis shows that about 98 percent of the $848,000 in campaign money donated to legislators during the nonelection 2007 year came from special interests such as corporations, lobbyists and political action committees.

Only 2 percent came from either candidates themselves or constituents living within their district boundaries, the newspaper found.

Special-interest money to campaigns amounted to about $827,000, or about $8,000 per member on average for the 104 part-time legislators.

Raising the most in the off-year from special interests was Senate President John Valentine, R-Orem, $78,641, followed closely by Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan, with $75,900. On the other extreme, five members raised no money from special interests, but four of these were just appointed to the Legislature to fill vacancies. (A chart showing totals for all members is at deseretnews.com.)

Among special interests, the health-care industry donated the most, $153,000. That is about $1 of every $5 that special interests gave, or $1,470 per lawmaker, on average. That came as lawmakers are discussing how to reform health care, and possible tax credits and subsidies to help more Utahns obtain health insurance.

The finance industry donated at least $140,700 (about $1,353 per lawmaker, on average). Of note, $30,200 of that came from "payday lenders." Lawmakers are discussing stronger oversight for such lenders, which charge on average more than 500 percent annual interest for short-term loans they give to people with poor credit.

The payday loan industry donated more than banks ($25,831) or credit unions ($14,589). Banks and credit unions usually donate the most among financial institutions, as for-profit banks have been battling the nonprofit credit unions over taxes and regulatory issues for years.

Other large donors

Other large donors among special interests include politicians and political parties, $85,600; construction/real estate, $76,700; advertising companies, $37,250; communications, $26,000; waste industry, $17,100; and utility companies, $14,300.

Interestingly, in Utah, with its heavy population of LDS Church members who do not smoke or drink, tobacco companies donated $11,800 and the beer industry $10,700. Also, gay rights groups and activists donated $6,400.

Among individual donors who gave the most were the Utah Association of Realtors, $37,360; Reagan Outdoor Advertising, $34,500; Wal-Mart, $27,200; Molina Healthcare, $25,000; Utah Home Builders, $24,200; the Utah Republican Party, $17,300; EnergySolutions, $17,100; Check City, $13,450; Select Health, $13,350; and Merit Medical, $13,100.