Corroon offers 5-point plan at Capitol for legislative ethics reform

Democratic candidate for governor Peter Corroon offered a five-point plan Monday for ethics reform that he said lawmakers should take up immediately.

"They can make this easy," Corroon, the Salt Lake County mayor, said while standing on the steps of the state Capitol on the opening day of the 2010 Legislature.

Meanwhile, GOP House leaders said that they are considering supporting a Democrat's ethics bill that would restrict the personal use of campaign funds by legislators.

Corroon said he signed the citizens initiative petition on ethics that's already pushing lawmakers to back new reforms, including a state constitutional amendment creating an independent ethics commission.

But both the initiative and the constitutional amendment require voter approval, and Corroon said Utahns shouldn't have to wait that long.

He said the GOP-dominated Legislature should pass — and Republican Gov. Gary Herbert should sign — the following list of reforms:

 Immediately set campaign contribution limits of $10,000 for statewide candidates and $5,000 for legislative candidates, and prohibit state contractors from donating.

 Immediately ban all gifts to statewide elected officials and legislators.

 Immediately end the personal use of campaign funds.

 Require lawmakers to wait two years after leaving office before becoming lobbyists.

 Create an independent ethics commission.

When it comes to his own campaign, Corroon said he'll continue to follow the existing rules, which allow unlimited campaign contributions, including those from companies that have contracts with the state.

While the mayor declined to be specific, he said there have been $50,000 contributions from state contractors, an apparent reference to Herbert. The governor collected a number of large donations at his Governor's Gala last year, which raised $1 million.

Herbert spokeswoman Angie Welling said the governor does not favor banning state contractors from giving donations. Instead, he favors instantaneous disclosure so the public can see who is giving to a candidate.

Corroon said he will begin disclosing his contributions on his campaign Web site as they come in, as Herbert has been doing for several months.