On the heels of a campaign season rocked by allegations of bribery and influence-peddling, Utah lawmakers are crafting a bevy of bills to address campaign-finance reform, lobbyist gifts and the Legislature's rarely used ethics investigations.

While several ideas are being discussed, no one knows which ones will survive the vigorous debate anticipated on Capitol Hill.

"There are at least 14 areas being looked at by senators right now," said newly elected Senate President Mike Waddoups, R-Taylorsville. "I can't say we have a position yet, but we know we need to do something."

While the House historically has been more eager to pass such reforms, Speaker-in-waiting Dave Clark, R-Santa Clara, said his members have yet to solidify a particular posture.

"There's still a lot of ground to be plowed," Clark said. "But I'm optimistic that we can make some very positive and significant changes."

Due to constituent concerns, Rep. Steve Mascaro, R-West Jordan, launched a bill to prevent the personal pocketing of campaign funds when an elected official leaves office. He also wants to ban gifts above $10 and tweak the lieutenant governor's online reporting of campaign funds to be more user-friendly and transparent.

Incoming House Majority Whip Brad Dee, R-Washington Terrace, has slotted bills for pending campaign-finance reforms that require further research and discussion.

"We're looking at caps and the frequency of reporting," Dee said.

Campaign-donation caps are on the table but, Clark cautioned, there are two sides to that coin.

"Public office should not just be for those that can self-fund," Clark said. "But we also should be trying to limit the influence of any single individual or ideology on the process."

Clark said he would support a reasonable minimum on acceptable gifts, while banning everything else.

"The intent is not to ban breast-cancer-awareness pins or gifts from schoolchildren," Clark said.

As far as meals, the Santa Clara Republican argues the public is OK with lawmakers eating lunch at a function where they have been invited to speak. But the close associations with lobbyists over a meal convey a different appearance.

"It's the one on ones the public worries about," Clark said. "I'm more than happy to buy my own hamburger."

Sen. Karen Morgan, D-Salt Lake City, supports a total ban on gifts.

"It's long overdue," Morgan said. "There's no good reason why a legislator should take a gift from a lobbyist. It gives the perception they can be bought."

Having served on the House ethics panel that met three times this year, Rep. Carol Spackman Moss, D-Holladay, favors an independent commission.

"If you heard all the evidence and were not personally acquainted with the lawmaker, you could be a lot more objective," said Moss, the new assistant minority whip. "Everyone on the committee came out hoping we'd never have to do it again."

cmckitrick@sltrib.com

Tribune reporter Robert Gehrke contributed to this story.