Outsiders fund Utah incumbents' campaigns

Utahns may elect their members of Congress. But someone else is paying the bills for their campaigns this year.

In the case of incumbents, it is outsiders — 87 cents of every dollar they have raised this two-year cycle has come from outside of Utah.

In the case of their challengers, their money is coming largely from their own pockets — 69 cents of every dollar they raised, according to Deseret News analysis of Federal Election Commission data for the current election cycle through the end of March.

Is the situation healthy or does it mean that members of Congress from Utah could be too beholden to someone besides Utah voters for their jobs?

"Political scientists have for years studied any connection between donations (from Political Action Committees) and voting," said Kelly Patterson, a Brigham Young University political science professor.

He believes that connection is at best weak and is only a factor if a congressional member's vote in favor of a special-interest position is seen as harmful to his or her core constituency.

Federal campaign finance "is a tough issue," said Patterson.

The Founding Fathers wanted U.S. House members to run every two years, so they would be close to their voting constituency, Patterson said. But the cost of elections is now so high, that means U.S. House members are constantly raising campaign money and working on the next election.

"It is just a fact that it is easier to raise money in the big chunks from PACs. And the only congressmen who get in trouble with their constituencies are those who, over time, don't pay attention to folks at home," Patterson said.

Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, known for his fundraising prowess, said he historically raises a greater percent of his campaign cash from Utahns than do others in the congressional delegation. But Matheson doesn't apologize from getting a lot of PAC money, as well.

"You get a lot of D.C. addresses on groups that give to me," said Matheson. "But in many of those cases these are PACs that represent groups in Utah — like firefighters, teachers, auto dealers — and their Utah members then advocate with the national (PACs) to donate to me. I raise money from a wide range of people, and that is good."