Herbert to post donation tab in '10

Saying he's not ready to change his mind on opposing campaign donation limits, Gov. Gary Herbert told his democracy commission Thursday that he will "instantly" disclose his campaign donations next year when he seeks election to the state's highest post.

"It may be a logistical challenge" to get donations up on the Internet quickly, Herbert told the Governor's Commission on Strengthening Democracy, meeting at the Marriott Library at University of Utah. Herbert later defined "instantly" as at least within 48 or 72 hours, if not quicker.

The governor told the 19-member commission that in nearly 20 years in public office he's not changed his position on campaign donation limits — he's against them.

(The commission voted 10-7 several weeks ago to recommend some limits on state races, like for governor and the Legislature.)

Herbert said campaigns are costly, and getting one's ideas adequately played in the political marketplace is difficult, at best.

Limiting how much a candidate can raise from any one source is not the way to go; rather, it's better to have quick disclosure and then let voters see who is giving to whom and whether they think that is appropriate, said Herbert.

Herbert's views generally reflect that of a number of Utah Republicans, including most of the GOP commissioners, who voted against the campaign donation limit.

"I do believe there is a free-speech issue" in limiting donations, said Herbert, although federal courts have ruled time and again that donations to federal candidates can be limited, and in fact are.

Limiting donations gives more power to incumbents, said Herbert, who ran for governor in 2004 before quitting the race to accept Jon Huntsman Jr.'s invitation to become his lieutenant governor running mate.

Not necessarily referring to Huntsman, Herbert said donation limits give political "entitlement" to candidates who have "wealth and a celebrity name." (Huntsman certainly had both.)

Herbert's offer on instant disclosure is substantial, considering Utah's current campaign disclosure law.

As reported by the Deseret News last year when Huntsman was running for re-election, there are different disclosure requirements between candidates and political action committees.

While Huntsman's campaign properly reported donations in the spring of 2008, Huntsman was basically funding his early campaign with huge dollar transfers from his PAC. And PACs don't report during election years until mid-summer, and so who was really giving to Huntsman's campaign for the first six months was not clear.

Herbert went to some length to promise commissioners that even on campaign donation limits he'll keep an open mind on commission recommendations and is willing to change his stands if convinced "by logic and reason."