Common Cause of Utah is no more, leaving only the League of Women Voters to keep an eye on state lawmakers.

Common Cause Board Chairman Tony Musci said his responsibilities as a doctor at LDS Hospital have left him with little time to lead the all-volunteer group.

"We have kind of run out of resources and run out of steam," he said. "Nobody had the time to step up and take the ball."

Common Cause is a national nonpartisan organization promoting open and accountable government. Utah's chapter organized in 1972 and has since been instrumental in creating open meeting, public record and lobbyist disclosure laws.

Those key successes took place in the early 1990s, when ethics crusaders were at their peak. Common Cause had the help of the League of Women Voters as well as Utah Legislative Watch.

Claire Geddes, who led Utah Legislative Watch, dissolved the grassroots organization a few years back and now only lobbies part time. She called Common Causes' closing "a sad, sad event."

"We have so much lobbying by the corporations. The public has less and less input every year," Geddes said. "The only leveling of the playing field was these groups."

Musci said Common Cause of Utah has faded gradually over the last decade. The national organization cut back most financial support in 1995 as it turned its focus to the federal government. Utah's chapter lost its paid director. Fundraising became difficult. Time became scarce.

Common Cause still completed projects and most recently released a report during this year's Legislative session about the amount of money lawmakers pay their families during their campaigns.

The report caused a aid the backlash had nothing to do with the group's decision to dissolve.

Sen. Greg Bell, R-Fruit Heights, said Common Cause hasn't "had a lot of heft."

The group "is viewed nationally as moderate to left so these conservative legislators haven't paid much attention," he said.

But House Minority Leader Ralph Becker said Common Cause filled an invaluable role. "I don't know if there is anyone to replace them."

Bell does agree with some of Musci's ideals though. He wants to increase disclosure through a bill that would require reporting of lobbyist gifts to lawmakers valued at $10 or more, down from the current $50 threshold.

Musci wants lawmakers to go much farther than that. His dream? Publicly financed elections. That's a long shot in a state with some of the country's least restrictive campaign finance laws.

"I'm a firm believer that you get what you pay for," he said.

mcanham@sltrib.com