Reader comments
Meals, golf among lobbyists' gifts

Jazz rule | 12:23 a.m. July 11, 2008

This is the reason the economy in Utah is still humming along. Its the good work of these legislators using local products. Who cares who's money they are using this is good for Utah.

Molly | 12:40 a.m. July 11, 2008

Normally, this would bother me. But knowing that these gifts do not influence legislators' actions makes me fee better.

Same Story.... | 2:51 a.m. July 11, 2008

....Different Reporter. What, the Deseret News is running this same story on a weekly basis now? YAWN.

Comments continue below

Bob G | 5:25 a.m. July 11, 2008

Are our legislators so poor that they need welfare assistance from lobbyist? They can't buy their own lunches or provide for their own lifes needs at their own expense? We all, the lobbyists, the legislators, the people, know that these gifts and freebies serve a purpose other than kindness. Utah has got to inact laws to eliminate any and all gifts from any lobbyist, business and friends(?) or organized organizatioin to legislators. The laws should eliminate and close all campaign accounts within 30 days after an election and not reopended until 120 days before an election so money and gifts cannot be hidden in these accounts. Any leftover funds in these accounts should be turned in to the state to be placed in to the general funds the taxpayers donate to on their tax forms. All funds from the taxpayer funded account should be distributed equally to all candidates so we have an equal and fair distribution. These campaign and lobbyist laws should be put to public vote so the legislators cannot determine and vote on their own greedy laws. Our Welfare legislators and lobbyists need restrictions on their actions with accountability and criminal actions as bribary.

Utah Resident | 6:00 a.m. July 11, 2008

Joe Demma's comment "We encourage full transparency" is laughable...

Your comment should be "we discourage bribes by lobbyists".

Most members of our legislature and state government lack honesty and good character!

$15 hamburger | 7:17 a.m. July 11, 2008

If a $15 hamburger or 18 holes on a local golf course influence votes, Utah legislators are cheap. They should hold out for much more. Its takes thousands to even get the attention of a member of Congress.

No Transparency | 8:01 a.m. July 11, 2008

There is a reason why the bulk of "donations" are under $50 that is specifically it doesn't need to be reported to the public.

While I understand that there is some considerations for the logistics of reporting every penny even so I think that there should be full disclosure. In fact recently there have been bills that would require full disclosure that have been defeated by the very people that would use it.

If they have nothing to hide then why not require full disclosure. This will help make politicians be accountable for their actions as well as help prevent corruption. Corruption is the downfall of any governing body.

rgilbert | 8:38 a.m. July 11, 2008

Lobbyists fulfill an important role in Utah and other governments. They inform legislators about issues that can become quite complex. Legislators don't have time to research every proposed bill and issue - they depend on others to help them understand the issue.

Where it gets interesting for the legislator, and this happens frequently, is when he is getting lobbied from both sides of the issue. It is a good thing; it is democracy in action.

Hope we don't get too excited when a lunch or breakfast becomes part of the education process. Particularly when we know who is paying for it.

Jazz Fan Slapper | 9:11 a.m. July 11, 2008

The newspaper could set an example in honesty and disclosure by revealing the political leanings of its reporters. Also, it could reveal how much advertising revenue it gets and from who so we can draw our conclusions as to whether the news is edited to protect big advertisers.

Right... | 9:41 a.m. July 11, 2008

I'm glad so many of you are put at ease by the information in this article. Jazz rule, you are a complete idiot. And Molly, I'd like to know how you are assured that gifts don't influence legislators? If there is nothing dirty about accepting gifts, then no one should be worried about full disclosure, right? Wrong!

Corruption strikes again | 9:48 a.m. July 11, 2008

Until it is 100% illegal to accept gifts, money, deals, jobs, etc., the system you have in place will be a corrupt one.

Still laughing | 9:53 a.m. July 11, 2008

Sometimes you gotta wonder, what are the lobbyists thinking? Does Stan Lockhart really think he's going to win Scott McCoy over to the dark side by offering him Jazz tickets. I say good for McCoy, getting to go to a jazz game for free. Why not play the Republicans for their cash. That way they won't have if for smearing Dems in the election season.

Mahershalalhashbaz | 9:51 a.m. July 11, 2008

I don't care if we pass laws to stop gifts to legislators. It seems to me it makes it easier to know if your representative is crooked. If he accepts bribes, he's crooked. Vote him out. It's that simple. It should be very easy for anyone running against one of these buffoons to beat them by using this single issue. Hmmm, maybe I'll even run in a year or two. They'll say, these gifts don't affect my voting, and we'll say, these gifts do affect my voting!

T_H_R_O | 5:18 p.m. July 11, 2008

I don't know if Jazz tickets would be considered a gift, per se, given that one would be bombarded by noise and surrounded by obnoxious bozos in the stands, all whilst watching a sub-Lakers product on the floor.

Anonymous | 7:46 p.m. July 11, 2008

What you do not realize is that we have multiple Lobbyists for the same organization, usually the Drug Companies, giving the $50 per person amount! So much for the "transparency"... and they still do not have to let you know who received the $150+ per day! Nor do they have to disclose what Bill they were trying to affect, although occasionally it will accidentally end up in a report. (I have seen it only once)
They have done everything possible to assure that we do NOT get to Vote on any facet of their rules regarding Allowable Gifts. Our only choice is to make certain none of our Legislators stay in office for more than two terms! Vote them out! They have to be complicit in the corrupt behavior of their fellow Legislators or they would be fighting to get the Rules changed!

tired of reading this | 7:19 p.m. July 12, 2008

My spouse represented two counties and recorded 9000 uncompensated miles in one year attending meetings and learning about the problems and pluses of the state. Who should he have billed for this? Find something else to beat to death. News people too, it is frankly stupid to complain over the less than $50 spent spending on time with 104 people over a period of one year taking personal time to learn both sides of the issues in the state.

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