Reader comments
Rechanneling gifts: Legislators shift cash donations
27 comments | Read story
Confuzzed | 1:51 a.m. Jan. 22, 2008
Uh, "rechanneling?" Is that German? But, seriously folks, gifts are
the grease that make the machine hum. Oh, and hum it does. Oh baby.
Mike Sawyer | 4:18 a.m. Jan. 22, 2008
Thanks so much for this report.
I would love to write an op-ed about my appreciation for Utah via the Church of the LDS for low tobacco addiction and deaths vs. our southern protestant churches.
Fatherless by tobacco at age 11.
With compassion,
Mike Sawyer
Birmingham, Alabama
I would love to write an op-ed about my appreciation for Utah via the Church of the LDS for low tobacco addiction and deaths vs. our southern protestant churches.
Fatherless by tobacco at age 11.
With compassion,
Mike Sawyer
Birmingham, Alabama
Mahershalalhashbaz | 5:55 a.m. Jan. 22, 2008
Politicians say recieving money and gifts doesn't influence them? Well
let's show them it influences us and vote them out of office.
Comments continue below
russ | 6:24 a.m. Jan. 22, 2008
So Mr. Valentine gets all that money in an off-year cycle? The only conclusion
I can reach is: Mr. Valentine must truly be someone's sweetheart. No?
Who was it that said, "We have the best legislature that money can buy"? Well, Utah certainly is not for sale: it has already been sold.
Oh how sad. How utterly sad.
Who was it that said, "We have the best legislature that money can buy"? Well, Utah certainly is not for sale: it has already been sold.
Oh how sad. How utterly sad.
Anonymous | 6:25 a.m. Jan. 22, 2008
Yawn. My legislator is not rich. If he didn't accept campaign
contributions, he wouldn't be able to afford to run for office. I certainly
don't want the wealthy to be the only people who can run for office. The
"check" on all legislators is disclosure -- obviously that is working.
I like my legislator, he does a great job, but I cannot figure out why he or
anyone else would subject themselves to such misery . . . oh yeah, civic duty.
Anonymous | 6:49 a.m. Jan. 22, 2008
The system is about as corrupt as it could possibly be.
Jim F | 7:28 a.m. Jan. 22, 2008
It is clearly unethical and the legislators know it. The more "gifts"
they are willing to receive the more they are willing to lean toward voting for
what the person giving the "gift" wants. "Gifts" will
always have some strings attached. You can bet that if they don't vote for
what the lobbyists want they probably won't receive the gifts the next
time. Just follow the money.
Mine | 7:34 a.m. Jan. 22, 2008
Amazing that the reddest states have the most wide open laws regarding gifts.
Darn near all of the big dollar legislators have an R after their names.
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm This is disgusting.
Anonymous | 8:53 a.m. Jan. 22, 2008
The out-in-the-open gifts are just the tip of the iceberg.
We will NEVER know what our legislators have accepted under the table will we?
Until it is 100% illegal to accept one penny - the system we have will be a corrupt one.
We will NEVER know what our legislators have accepted under the table will we?
Until it is 100% illegal to accept one penny - the system we have will be a corrupt one.
Ethics, schmethics | 8:53 a.m. Jan. 22, 2008
I worked as a journalist for 21 years in Utah and other states. One of my early
mentors emphasized that his reporters must "accept nothing of value"
from any news contact or potential news contact. He did away with the free
season tickets from ski resorts and prohibited any staff member from accepting
gifts of any value from such sources.
His policies were sound and effective. Even if, as some reporters and photographers argued, "we can't be bought," the anti-payola policy kept us above reproach.
Today's excellent Deseret Morning News report emphasizes the need for Utahns to demand legislators who will likewise "avoid the appearance of evil." If that doesn't happen, the electorate is responsible to find and vote for people who will shun graft rather that embrace it.
His policies were sound and effective. Even if, as some reporters and photographers argued, "we can't be bought," the anti-payola policy kept us above reproach.
Today's excellent Deseret Morning News report emphasizes the need for Utahns to demand legislators who will likewise "avoid the appearance of evil." If that doesn't happen, the electorate is responsible to find and vote for people who will shun graft rather that embrace it.
Anonymous | 9:41 a.m. Jan. 22, 2008
Has anyone of you ever considered running for office? If you would like to
reform this corrupt system, this would probably be the best way for you to go.
I am quite sure that you could gain enough interest from friends, community,
family and supporters that they would be willing to cover the expenses of
running for office. So, don't worry you don't have to be wealthy, and
you don't have to accept money from lobbyists, you just need enough money
to solicit supporters for money. It should be easy enough. You you want to
make a change---do it yourself.
yorktown | 9:53 a.m. Jan. 22, 2008
The legislature should follow the lead of the executive branch in Utah and ban
ALL GIFTS. Period. Why is bribery wrong in every other field except for law
making?
Anonymous | 9:57 a.m. Jan. 22, 2008
You say: "It would be impossible to run for office without lobbyist
donations because I could not, financially, compete against my Rep. who recieves
those donations unless we put a cap of spending on a campaign" So, I say:
"Then you would have to spend your entire campaign soliciting supporters
for contributions while your 'wealthy' running mate has his own cash
to spend and can get directly to the issues portion of the campaign."
Then, you say: "we should make it mandatory that everyone in this state
pays into a pot where all candidates draws equal amounts from." I say
"socialism." So what's the best solution? We already know who
the money is coming from and where it is going. Maybe we should just base our
votes on that, for now, until you think of another marvelous idea.
MadMax | 10:02 a.m. Jan. 22, 2008
Utah politics is a passive agressive cult. While we see 'sweetness and
light' on the surface from the 'brethern' underneath we have the
philosophy of 'an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth' carried to
the ultimate. (See the unfriendiness toward the education establishment.)
Those who are willing to 'play the game' are rewarded. (See banks,
IHC and RLS soccer.)
Only when Utah voters are willing to balance our legislature with lawmakers from at least one more party besides the republicans will we see any meaningful change. That is unfortunate as I do not support national policies of many left leaning dems. Politics is a dirty and ugly business. I can understand why most honest folks do not wish to become participants.
God bless us to survive this annual circus that is the legislature.
Only when Utah voters are willing to balance our legislature with lawmakers from at least one more party besides the republicans will we see any meaningful change. That is unfortunate as I do not support national policies of many left leaning dems. Politics is a dirty and ugly business. I can understand why most honest folks do not wish to become participants.
God bless us to survive this annual circus that is the legislature.
a cock-eyed realist | 10:13 a.m. Jan. 22, 2008
There is an unholy marriage between our governmental and corporate behemoths
that controls our airways, educates our children and runs every facet of our
lives.
All we really can do is declare our personal independence and move on.
All we really can do is declare our personal independence and move on.
Cliff | 10:47 a.m. Jan. 22, 2008
Go, go Bobby go! Don't let up, or they will think this to will pass. The
press need to keep this under the lights, so the citizens of this state have an
opportunity to adjust their voting patterns to make it go away.
cliff
cliff
It Will Never Change | 11:09 a.m. Jan. 22, 2008
I guess I'm just a pessimist but this will never change. They can pass the
laws that allow themselves to get gifts.
Funny, the legislature put some stringent limits on state employees (who are public servants just like legislators) when it comes to this sort of thing but somehow exempted themselves. How does that make sense? I wrote my Representative and Senator about this and, as expected, neither responded. They must have been too busy having lunches with some lobbyist with money - you know, the real people they represent.
Funny, the legislature put some stringent limits on state employees (who are public servants just like legislators) when it comes to this sort of thing but somehow exempted themselves. How does that make sense? I wrote my Representative and Senator about this and, as expected, neither responded. They must have been too busy having lunches with some lobbyist with money - you know, the real people they represent.
expects too much | 12:18 p.m. Jan. 22, 2008
What people forget is they are assuming law-of-the-land people will monitor (or
change the gift-receiving laws) of the other law-of-the-land people.
I think John Q. Public expects too much from the legal system.
I think John Q. Public expects too much from the legal system.
Anonymous | 1:51 p.m. Jan. 22, 2008
The annual article that uses sensationalized headlines and stats to sell
newspapers.
Jeffrey | 3:38 p.m. Jan. 22, 2008
Reading these comments makes me wonder, "how many of these comments are by
the named legislators or their families?"
They seem suspicious to me, is all.
They seem suspicious to me, is all.
Annoyed | 4:01 p.m. Jan. 22, 2008
For a parking ticket? COME ON Paying a fine for breaking the law ought to be
off limits, if he had a wreckless driving or DUI fine would we allow that as
well? I understand that it takes money to run for office and you have legitamate
expenses, but paying a fine? You ought to be ashamed
fr1nk | 4:12 p.m. Jan. 22, 2008
If your legislator will not refuse to accept gifts, vote them out.
an angry citizen | 5:03 p.m. Jan. 22, 2008
This is a dishonest thing to do. I say the people who are elected should go to
jail for taking these gifts and they are not to be trusted in any matters. They
have proven their their unfitness for office. No votes for you from me.
vern | 7:01 p.m. Jan. 22, 2008
Lobbyist(bribers)controll policy making from the frederal level on down to the
smallest hamlet,township and village.rep.trent lott from the great state of
mississippi recently announced that he was not seeking reelection.his own words
and reason being he wants to become a lobbyist.he knows where the money is.
THROW THE BUMS OUT! ! ! !
Fake Name | 11:10 p.m. Jan. 22, 2008
I am a part-time lobbyist and what the DesNews doesn't realize is that
there is no law that will stop lobbying. You can ban gifts, lunches, Jazz
tickets and even campaign donations, but I will still be here because the stakes
are high and special interests need professionals who know the system inside and
out. In fact, California's "tough" lobby reform laws only grew
the industry.
Advocate | 2:05 p.m. Jan. 23, 2008
Legislators DO NOT have to accept gifts. They can return checks uncashed, send
gifts back, refuse lunch invitations, and stay home instead of taking a golf
vacation with a lobbyist.
Regarding access to legislators, try being community advocate/citizen lobbyists. We lobby legislators as best we can during regular business hours - floor time. Having no money to spend on legislators we cannot compete during lunch or after hours when they are out at a business lunch or special dinner given by those with big bank accounts.
Money does buy access. We could make presentations to ALL caucus lunches each session and have in-depth conversations after hours with the legislator of our choice if we had money for meals, transportation and gift items.
Until all gifts are banned, including those under $50, regular people trying to make a difference will have an uphill battle on an uneven playing field.
Regarding access to legislators, try being community advocate/citizen lobbyists. We lobby legislators as best we can during regular business hours - floor time. Having no money to spend on legislators we cannot compete during lunch or after hours when they are out at a business lunch or special dinner given by those with big bank accounts.
Money does buy access. We could make presentations to ALL caucus lunches each session and have in-depth conversations after hours with the legislator of our choice if we had money for meals, transportation and gift items.
Until all gifts are banned, including those under $50, regular people trying to make a difference will have an uphill battle on an uneven playing field.
parag ranjan mandal | 6:29 a.m. March 17, 2008
i want to get personal cash donation.please help me.
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