2 ethics bills pass Senate

The Senate passed two ethics bills Wednesday, including one lowering the value of reportable gifts from $50 to $25.

SB156, sponsored by Senate Majority Assistant Whip Greg Bell, R-Fruit Heights, exempts events to which the entire Legislature or even members of a committee, task force or party caucus are invited.

Bell used as an example a daylong tour of Salt Lake County arranged by local business leaders two years at a cost of $100,000. "In my book, that's just not a gift," he said, calling participating in such events part of "what we do," unlike attending Jazz games or playing golf at a lobbyists' expense.

An attempt to lower the amount of gifts that must be reported even more, to just $5, by Sen. Scott McCoy, D-Salt Lake, failed, 8-20. Senate Minority Leader Pat Jones, D-Holladay, said her preference would be an outright ban on gifts.

McCoy said he believed it was possible to lower the limit more and that "this is really what the public wants and we're here to serve them."

Bell opposed lowering the limit beyond $25. "I tried to fight this good fight for many years, Sen. McCoy, and I appreciate your sentiments. But I think this is a good bill we've got."

He said McCoy's attempt made it appear the Senate was opposed to reform. "I find my colleagues in this body to be of the highest integrity," Bell said. "I think this is real progress, real reform."

The bill passed 27-2 and now goes to the House. Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan, who voted against the bill, said senators had talked for a half-hour about how the limit would apply to various situations. "I don't know how you're going to figure it out. I believe we should vote no," Buttars said. The other no vote was cast by Sen. Margaret Dayton, R-Orem.

Questions were raised about whether events involving groups of lawmakers representing a particular geographic area would be exempted. Bell said no. "I'm just trying to eliminate games playing," he said.

A second ethics bill, SB162, passed 28-1 and now goes to the House. That bill, sponsored by Sen. John Valentine, R-Orem, spells out that leftover campaign funds cannot be used for personal expenses after a lawmaker leaves office.

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