Rechanneling gifts: Legislators shift cash donations

Of note, Reagan Outdoor Advertising donated to 69 of the 104 legislators; the Realtors donated to 53; Wal-Mart donated to 32; Pfizer pharmaceuticals donated to 30; Check City donated to 26; and Altria (a tobacco company) donated to 24, as did Qwest.

Personal uses

Many Utah legislators have found creative ways to use those campaign donations.

Rep. Jack Draxler, R-North Logan, gave himself $6,300 in cash from campaign funds for what he simply listed as "income." Draxler said he earns "substantially more" each day as a self-employed appraiser than he does as a legislator. That $6,300 is actually reimbursement for lost wages during his legislative work, he said.

Some legislators don't have Draxler's problem, since their employers keep them on full salary during the 45-day session and monthly interim study days.

Five members put thousands of dollars back into their own wallets as they repaid themselves for loans to earlier campaigns. That included Sen. Wayne Niederhauser, R-Sandy, $30,500; Rep. Lorie Fowlke, R-Orem, $4,500; Rep. Steve Mascaro, R-West Jordan, $2,500; Rep. Carl Wimmer, R-Herriman, $1,200; and Julie Fisher, R-Fruit Heights, $100.

Wimmer also paid his wife, Sherry, $1,000 for "campaign/delegate organization work."

Five legislators spent a combined $1,980 on new clothes for themselves or their spouses.

Rep. Curt Oda, R-Clearfield, for example, reported spending $364 at Nordstrom to buy his wife, Nancy, a dress for a swearing-in ceremony; part of a $101 expense went to buy her a dress for a ball; $177 at Macy's was for a suit for her; $211 at New York Lerner went for "event clothes" for his wife; and $21 at Forever Young was to buy her some Western boots. Oda spent $21 at Ream's to buy himself some Western boots.

Wimmer reported spending $528 at Mr. Mac for suits. Rep. Neal Hendrickson, D-West Valley, spent $75 at Kohl's for a sports coat. Rep. Eric Hutchings, R-Kearns, spent $365 at Men's Wearhouse for suits and shirts and wrote that it was a "50-50 match with personal funds." Sen. Mark Madsen, R-Lehi, spent $37 for a Utah Valley University shirt.

Cleaning up

Dry cleaning was also a popular item for some lawmakers, who spent $455 combined. For example, Hendrickson spent $111 on it during the year; Rep. Paul Ray, R-Clearfield, spent $103; Rep. Steve Urquhart, R-St. George, spent $81; Rep. Mike Noel, R-Kanab, spent $68; Rep. Bud Bowman, R-Cedar City, spent $60; and Oda spent $32.

Buttars reported spending $2,500 in "repairs for car." Similarly, Mascaro reported spending $814 for "auto expenses" at car repair shops or dealerships.