Campaign-finance limits considered

Invited to update a legislative interim committee Wednesday on the work of a governor's commission on democracy, political pundit Kirk Jowers instead found himself on the hot seat when he broached a topic that triggered a litany of questions — campaign-finance reform.

Jowers, director of the University of Utah's Hinckley Institute of Politics and chairman of the Governor's Commission on Strengthening Utah's Democracy, presented an outline of a proposal under consideration by the commission to put limits on political contributions by individuals, businesses and political groups.

"At the moment, a corporation can give an unlimited amount to candidates," Jowers told the Government Operations and Political Subdivisions interim committee. "We have one of the most wide-open campaign-finance systems in the country."

Jowers was peppered with questions about how a reformed finance system would work and whether contribution limits would give an unintentional boost to wealthy candidates.

"Does this, in fact, disadvantage the challenger that's unknown and doesn't have his own money?" asked Rep. Ron Bigelow, R-West Valley.

Jowers said when limits are placed on campaign contributions, it actually has the opposite effect, tending to level the playing field between candidates with a range of personal wealth.

"A reasonable contribution limit helps the candidate you're discussing," Jowers said.

Rep. Janice Fisher, D-West Valley, disagreed with the idea of applying contribution limits to political-action committees and labor unions, but she did not respond when Jowers asked if she preferred limiting individuals and businesses but allowing unlimited donations from PACs and unions.

One of the tasks of the governor's commission, created by former Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., is to address the issue of declining voter turnout in the state. In the 2008 general election, Utah was second-to-last in the country for voter turnout. Jowers told the committee that a campaign-finance system that is perceived as out-of-control by constituents has a chilling effect on voter involvement.

"There's a very definite impact on citizens when they see $100,000 go from one entity to one candidate," he said. "At some point, people begin to not participate."

Jowers said there was a "huge body of literature" showing that campaign-finance limits have a positive impact on voters and can eliminate negative perceptions about influence peddling.

The democracy commission approved a preliminary version of the campaign-finance proposal last week but will likely make further changes and review it again at a Sept. 24 meeting. Proposals from the commission are submitted to Gov. Gary Herbert, who can opt to move ideas on to the Legislature.

e-mail: araymond@desnews.com