Gov. Herbert reconsiders donation limits

Switching an earlier position, Gov. Gary Herbert said Wednesday night that he may accept state campaign contribution limits, as recommended by a special democracy commission, if the limits for gubernatorial and other statewide offices are increased above the commission's $20,000.

Herbert's support is clearly needed for the most controversial of the eight recommendations made by the Governor's Commission on Strengthening Utah's Democracy to pass in the upcoming Legislature. The commission formally presented its findings to Herbert in the Capitol.

But a number of leading GOP lawmakers have already said they don't like contribution limits at all, favoring instead "instantaneous" disclosure of campaign donations.

Herbert told commission member Randy Dryer, who had previously suggested even more restrictive donation limits, "If you and I can compromise on this," it may well be accepted by legislators.

All sides, though, agree much more work must be done in the legislative ranks before the commission's recommendations are put into law or even some semblance of the them is adopted.

Herbert had previously told the 19-member commission that he doesn't favor any campaign donation limits. And he again listed the reasons for his objections to commission members.

"My concern is not the electorate," who may find some solace, justified or not, in thinking that large donations influence officeholders' actions, Herbert said.

Rather, the governor is concerned that by limiting donations, wealthy candidates will have a superior chance of winning elections through self-donations, "shrinking the pool of those unable" to compete financially. Good but "impoverished" candidates may not be able to get their message out to voters, and thus those well qualified in experience and ideas are shut out of office, he said.

Herbert frankly talked about how the commission's "one-size-fits-all" contribution limits really don't fit all.

"I have to raise $2 million for a special election" next year, Herbert said. He must win election to serve out former Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.'s final two years of the term. And the commission's $20,000 limit in a gubernatorial race is not "proportional" to the limits put on a state House candidate ($5,000) or a state Senate candidate ($10,000).

"I have more homes to reach" in a gubernatorial campaign, 29 times more than a state Senate candidate, Herbert said.

Just this summer, Herbert held his Governor's Gala, a fundraiser where some groups and businesses gave him $50,000. He raised around $1 million in that single event, but tens of thousands of dollars given in that event wouldn't have been allowed under the $20,000 limit, a review by the Deseret News found.