Baby steps in lobbyist reforms

Deseret Morning News editorial
Published: Saturday, March 17, 2007 12:00 a.m. MDT
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Is this progress? Or is it an insult? New lobbyist gift reforms passed during the 2007 Legislature were intended to be a first step toward fuller disclosure of lobbyists' gifts to lawmakers. Had those reforms been in place now, nearly $9 of every $10 in gifts that lobbyists gave Utah legislators during the recently concluded legislative general session would have remained anonymous from the electorate.

Expressed another way, just $927 of $46,362 in gifts given to lawmakers during general session would have been disclosed under the new law, which awaits Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.'s signature.

Yes, it's an improvement but not much of one. Seemingly, average Utahns and lawmakers would be better served by one of two options — full disclosure or an all-out ban on lobbyist gifts. Nibbling around the edges appears to serve only lawmakers and lobbyists. Lawmakers are elected to represent their constituents. The role of lobbyists, so they tell us, is to provide information to lawmakers on particular issues. That apparently has to take place over a meal, a round of golf or during a Jazz game. Lobbyists are not selflessly spending time with lawmakers to help them become better informed, however. Lobbyists have clients, and they're attempting to achieve the best outcomes for those interests.

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There's nothing new about that. And perhaps we shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth. Lawmakers are, at least, moving toward more disclosure. And that would be a good thing except for the silly limits that lawmakers have established and extraordinary lengths some lobbyists go to avoid disclosing the names of names of lawmakers to whom they have given gifts or provided meals. One lobbyist reported spending $49.95 on gift, while another reportedly spent $49.70 each on meals for two legislators. The spending limit, without having to disclose the name of the lawmaker who received the gift or meal, is $50. Either these lobbyists are smart shoppers or they have a remarkable knack for steering their lawmaker dinner guests to the thrifty early-bird specials on dinner menus.

If, as lobbyists contend, these meetings or gifts help to build relationships and better enable them to share information, what's the shame in that? Disclose it all. Sunshine is a better policy than mirky limits that preclude an accurate accounting of gift giving and gift taking. Worse, they try public confidence.

Editor's note: The Deseret Morning News, with Publisher Jim Wall as the newspaper's registered lobbyist, provided state lawmakers with $3,375 in complimentary newspapers during the Legislature's 2007 General Session.

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