From Deseret News archives:

Legislators rake in another $16,000 in treats

Published: Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008 12:00 a.m. MDT
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Utah State University paid $65 to treat Rep. Jack Draxler, R-North Logan, to a meal and the football game against the University of Utah on Sept. 13. It also spent $30 that day on a meal for a different unnamed legislator and $20 for parking that day for yet another unnamed lawmaker.

Jay Magure, a lobbyist for 1-800-CONTACTS, reported taking three legislators for golf on Aug. 1. Their names are not disclosed because he reports that it cost $49.10 each — 90 cents under the $50 threshold where their names would have been revealed.

Somewhat similarly, Utah League of Credit Unions lobbyist Lynn Kuehne reported taking three unnamed legislators to dinner on July 22 for $49.67 each — or 33 cents under the threshold where their names would be revealed.

Richard Dibblee, a registered lobbyist for the Utah Bar Association, paid $400 each for three legislators for registration fees to a bar convention in Sun Valley, Idaho. They were Sens. Ross Romero, D-Salt Lake; Mark Madsen, R-Lehi; and Greg Bell, R-Fruit Heights.

Still, such third-quarter spending was tame compared to the first quarter. Back then, lobbyists spent $68,000 that quarter on food. They gave at least $2,280 worth of Utah Jazz tickets to lawmakers. They also gave them at least $563 worth of tickets to college sports.

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Also in the first quarter, lobbyists spent more than $21,000 on various forms of entertainment for legislators, including the Utah Symphony and Opera giving lawmakers $2,040 in tickets, and the Hale Center Theater providing $2,520 in play tickets.

The latest disclosure reports come as calls for ethics reform have been gaining attention.

Reps. Steve Mascaro, R-West Jordan, and Pat Jones, D-Salt Lake, have been pushing lawmakers to sign a pledge to work for ethics reform in the next legislative session, including full disclosure of who receives lobbyist gifts. Nine other lawmakers signed the pledge at a press event last month when it was unveiled — but the Legislature has 104 members.


E-mail: lee@desnews.com

Recent comments

this article does nothing more then extend the belief that we the...

randy | Oct. 22, 2008 at 12:32 p.m.

What is really ridiculous isn't the "gifts" but instead the pay of...

Ridiculous | Oct. 13, 2008 at 5:38 p.m.

What is a Utah lobbyist (Ty McCartney for computing company...

Rob Alexander | Oct. 12, 2008 at 6:14 p.m.

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