I would adopt the federal regulations banning financial contributions from businesses and corporations, and place some maximum contribution limits as the federal regulations do. However, the contribution limits would not have to be identical. Those changes, I think, would be reasonable. If I were king, however, I would require public financing of all campaigns for state and federal office. I’d leave city and county offices out of that requirement.
Ginger Dahlquist on
March 5, 2009 8:22 am
The thing with lobbist being form legislators is that they have special pass privileges to go into the back rooms that other lobbist do not. I’ve been told that it is because they have earned it. Is it not true that once a person is not elected they become a citizen again? Why is it that people think they are special for every. Does it have something to do with how people are raised in Utah? Lobbist should whether paid or unpaid should be treated the same at the capitol. All people should have access to Utah’s elected members. Why is it that in order to hold a special “Day” at the capitol an organization must pay for the elected representatives lunch, dinner or snack. Why is it that even when the organization pays or the lunch, dinner or snack the elected officals do not attend. More distressing to me is that legislators receive a daily per diem and still get the money plus a free meal. Lobbying seems to be a great job for former officials because they have the in.
Now what would I do. First on the per diem, if an elected official attends the event they pay for it. Since meals at the capitol are catered by the capitol cafeteria maybe something could be worked out. Or at worst the representative write a check to pay for their meal. That way an organization such as a non profit is not paying for elected members that do not want to attend.
Next, made the rules of lobbying fair to all. If a person was once a member of the legislature have them follow the same rules as ordinary citizens. We might see some of our elected officials not think it as such a coveted job if they have to play by the same rules.
I believe that lobbyist are needed, but rules need to be clear and concise and not the well you get this and you get that.
Gaylan Stewart on
March 5, 2009 5:13 pm
In the Utah legislature you don’t need as many lobbyists as one might think, because many of the best have a special seat on the floor. The only thing that makes sense to me is to have legislators and the governor report donations and whatever before they deposit money and within several days with other goodies (tickets, meals etc.) and report that on the internet in near real time. We in Utah have a meaningless input on the federal level. Local governments should have their own system.
Lola Barrett on
March 30, 2009 1:35 pm
No special considerations for lobbyists. They should not be on the floor or have a seat on the floor during the session. I have no problem with a one page flyer to explain a position being handed out by lobbyists or citizens to all.
Ban gifts entirely. They buy time to persuade and in many cases buy votes.
If gifts are allowed, no loopholes, everything for every amount should be reported. No bundling.
Why elected representatives feel they are entitled and should be free to accept meals, gifts, trips etc. is beyond me. They seem kind of arrogant to me. They are there to do a job and they get a per diem for meals, lodging, etc. and great health insurance. They should pay for their own Jazz tickets, meals, trips,etc.
Lobbyists are not working for the people, they are working for business and special interests and our elected representatives should be working for the people as their number one priority.
Former legislators should not be allowed to lobby for 3 years for anything! It perpetuates the good old boy network. Former legislators should not be allowed on the floor during a session either.
If elected officials want to accept meals their per diem for meals should be eliminated.
Transparency in every action.
Rob Sanders on
April 17, 2009 12:13 am
I’d like see a law that bans campaign contributions outside of the area you represent. Energy Solutions donated to over 70% of Utah legislators. Does their campaign money out weigh my voice to my representative? By taking money from organizations outside of the area they represent they are representing more than the local citizens. Why would a state representative from St George take money from a organization in SLC County?
If a foreign country contributed to Obama’s or McCain’s campaigns the media would be in a frenzy, outsiders should not influence decisions in areas they do not exist or have residence.
Rob Sanders on
April 17, 2009 12:22 am
One more point, if we are a democracy why don’t we ask the people what they want and actually follow through with it. In business there is segregation of duties. The guy signing the checks doesn’t write the amount. The guys creating the laws shouldn’t be checking for corruption. That’s one hand washing the other.
John L. Ries on
August 22, 2009 10:51 am
I’m not familiar enough with Utah lobbying law to be specific, but I think there are some general principles that should be adopted:
1. Corporations (for profit or not), trade associations, and trade unions should be completely barred from contributing to political campaigns, either directly or indirectly, from sponsoring organizations that do, and from giving gifts to elected officials. Likewise, paid lobbyists should be prohibited from contributing either time or money to election campaigns involving the institutions they lobby, from giving gifts to the officials they contact on behalf of their clients/employers, and from delivering money contributed by others. Individuals should, of course, be completely free to do any of the above, provided that any gifts to officials are modest and all of this is done openly.
2. Money spent on lobbying and other political activities (to include public advocacy) should not be deductible as a business expense, except possibly by independent lobbyists themselves (and much as I respect Frank Pignanelli, I’m rather dubious as to the public benefit of “hired gun” lobbying). I’m all for participation in the political process, but I think people should do it on their own time, not that of their employers.
3. Amend the rules of both legislative houses to require members to report any meetings with lobbyists by either themselves or their staffers, and the subject matter of such meetings. Likewise, members should be required to attribute any language appearing in the measures they introduce that they didn’t write, in much the same way that schools require the writers of academic papers to do so.
All of these are modest proposals and the devil is in the details, but I think the commissioners are capable of doing what is necessary to make them realistic.
I would adopt the federal regulations banning financial contributions from businesses and corporations, and place some maximum contribution limits as the federal regulations do. However, the contribution limits would not have to be identical. Those changes, I think, would be reasonable. If I were king, however, I would require public financing of all campaigns for state and federal office. I’d leave city and county offices out of that requirement.
The thing with lobbist being form legislators is that they have special pass privileges to go into the back rooms that other lobbist do not. I’ve been told that it is because they have earned it. Is it not true that once a person is not elected they become a citizen again? Why is it that people think they are special for every. Does it have something to do with how people are raised in Utah? Lobbist should whether paid or unpaid should be treated the same at the capitol. All people should have access to Utah’s elected members. Why is it that in order to hold a special “Day” at the capitol an organization must pay for the elected representatives lunch, dinner or snack. Why is it that even when the organization pays or the lunch, dinner or snack the elected officals do not attend. More distressing to me is that legislators receive a daily per diem and still get the money plus a free meal. Lobbying seems to be a great job for former officials because they have the in.
Now what would I do. First on the per diem, if an elected official attends the event they pay for it. Since meals at the capitol are catered by the capitol cafeteria maybe something could be worked out. Or at worst the representative write a check to pay for their meal. That way an organization such as a non profit is not paying for elected members that do not want to attend.
Next, made the rules of lobbying fair to all. If a person was once a member of the legislature have them follow the same rules as ordinary citizens. We might see some of our elected officials not think it as such a coveted job if they have to play by the same rules.
I believe that lobbyist are needed, but rules need to be clear and concise and not the well you get this and you get that.
In the Utah legislature you don’t need as many lobbyists as one might think, because many of the best have a special seat on the floor. The only thing that makes sense to me is to have legislators and the governor report donations and whatever before they deposit money and within several days with other goodies (tickets, meals etc.) and report that on the internet in near real time. We in Utah have a meaningless input on the federal level. Local governments should have their own system.
No special considerations for lobbyists. They should not be on the floor or have a seat on the floor during the session. I have no problem with a one page flyer to explain a position being handed out by lobbyists or citizens to all.
Ban gifts entirely. They buy time to persuade and in many cases buy votes.
If gifts are allowed, no loopholes, everything for every amount should be reported. No bundling.
Why elected representatives feel they are entitled and should be free to accept meals, gifts, trips etc. is beyond me. They seem kind of arrogant to me. They are there to do a job and they get a per diem for meals, lodging, etc. and great health insurance. They should pay for their own Jazz tickets, meals, trips,etc.
Lobbyists are not working for the people, they are working for business and special interests and our elected representatives should be working for the people as their number one priority.
Former legislators should not be allowed to lobby for 3 years for anything! It perpetuates the good old boy network. Former legislators should not be allowed on the floor during a session either.
If elected officials want to accept meals their per diem for meals should be eliminated.
Transparency in every action.
I’d like see a law that bans campaign contributions outside of the area you represent. Energy Solutions donated to over 70% of Utah legislators. Does their campaign money out weigh my voice to my representative? By taking money from organizations outside of the area they represent they are representing more than the local citizens. Why would a state representative from St George take money from a organization in SLC County?
If a foreign country contributed to Obama’s or McCain’s campaigns the media would be in a frenzy, outsiders should not influence decisions in areas they do not exist or have residence.
One more point, if we are a democracy why don’t we ask the people what they want and actually follow through with it. In business there is segregation of duties. The guy signing the checks doesn’t write the amount. The guys creating the laws shouldn’t be checking for corruption. That’s one hand washing the other.
I’m not familiar enough with Utah lobbying law to be specific, but I think there are some general principles that should be adopted:
1. Corporations (for profit or not), trade associations, and trade unions should be completely barred from contributing to political campaigns, either directly or indirectly, from sponsoring organizations that do, and from giving gifts to elected officials. Likewise, paid lobbyists should be prohibited from contributing either time or money to election campaigns involving the institutions they lobby, from giving gifts to the officials they contact on behalf of their clients/employers, and from delivering money contributed by others. Individuals should, of course, be completely free to do any of the above, provided that any gifts to officials are modest and all of this is done openly.
2. Money spent on lobbying and other political activities (to include public advocacy) should not be deductible as a business expense, except possibly by independent lobbyists themselves (and much as I respect Frank Pignanelli, I’m rather dubious as to the public benefit of “hired gun” lobbying). I’m all for participation in the political process, but I think people should do it on their own time, not that of their employers.
3. Amend the rules of both legislative houses to require members to report any meetings with lobbyists by either themselves or their staffers, and the subject matter of such meetings. Likewise, members should be required to attribute any language appearing in the measures they introduce that they didn’t write, in much the same way that schools require the writers of academic papers to do so.
All of these are modest proposals and the devil is in the details, but I think the commissioners are capable of doing what is necessary to make them realistic.