Attorney proposes campaign finance rules

A citizen initiative, a special legislative ethics study committee and now a governor's commission — all are dealing with campaign finance and legislative ethics this summer.

Next week the Governor's Commission on Strengthening Utah's Democracy will consider at least one proposal on limiting campaign contributions in Utah.

While most other states have some limits, Utah lawmakers have steadfastly refused to institute them. Except for labor unions (which are barred from making direct donations), in state elections a candidate can accept any amount of money from anyone.

Over time that's led to some interesting facts. For example, many legislators get 60 percent or more of their campaign money from special-interest groups that have business before the Legislature, and every election a few lawmakers get all — every last dime — of their funds from special interests.

Local attorney Randy Dryer, a member of the governor's commission, says it's time for Utah to join the rest of the nation and place reasonable limits on political donations.

Dryer's proposal, to be debated in a Thursday commission meeting in the state Capitol, appears to hit the major concerns — dollar limits on individual, PAC, business and union contributions; limits on how much an entity can give in total in one election; keeping political parties neutral in primary contests; and limiting the amount of money a state contractor can give to state politicians.

Dryer said Friday that he favors both greater online, immediate disclosure of campaign donations and limits, for both are needed to dispel the unfortunate perception by the public of candidates and officeholders: "That money is playing a corrupting influence" in Utah politics. "People see that they can't, or won't, contribute $100,000 to a candidate and so believe that 'I don't matter,' " that special interests rule the day, said Dryer.

Even if the commission ultimately recommends some kind of campaign contribution limits, it's not clear the Legislature would pass such a law.

Through statements made as part of the Legislature's own Ethics Interim Study Committee and by GOP leaders (several of whom sit on the Ethics Committee and on the governor's commission), it is clear leaders prefer donation disclosure rather than limits.

"Full and immediate disclosure eliminates the need for government regulation," said House Majority Leader Kevin Garn, R-Layton. And for the most part, Republicans don't like government regulation, he said.