And they were not just any old gifts. Anyone who knows anything about the Utah Legislature knows that an entire cooler of Fat Boy ice cream is an offer those people just can't refuse.

But there it was this week, Fat Boys just outside the Senate chamber, a gift from the ice cream maker arranged by state Agriculture Commissioner Leonard Blackham.

The treat was intended to tout "Utah's Own" program, which promotes Utah-grown products. But it probably didn't hurt the cause of the Agriculture Department, which is seeking new appropriations from the Legislature.

Eliminating the competition? Another part of Huntsman's ethics-reform efforts is his request for legislation that would limit individual contributions to gubernatorial candidates to $10,000 per donor.

Word around the legislative halls, where ethics reform are dirty words, is that the proposal should be called the Huntsman job protection act, since, as a millionaire, he doesn't need contributions from anybody else, and those politicians who do need help would be stifled.

Another suggestion is that it be called the Millionaire Politician Protection Act.

Speaking of examples: Judy Jackson was following a state truck westbound on Old Bingham Highway on Monday morning when she noticed the vehicle cruise through a school zone without slowing. The three men in the cab didn't seem to notice the children getting ready to cross the street in the crosswalk.

The license plate number was 85698EX.

Meanwhile: When Lisa Jensen dropped her son off at Oakwood Elementary School in Holladay on Monday, a Holladay City truck sped through the school zone, despite frantic waves and shouts from the crossing guards for the truck to slow down.

When Jensen called the city, an official said he would take care of it, but didn't bother to get a description of the vehicle or the license plate. Just in case the official still wants to take care of it, the vehicle was a pickup truck with license plate 81990EX.

Those funny guys: When Rep. DeMar "Bud" Bowman, R-Cedar City, was recognized on the House floor by Speaker Greg Curtis last week and began to speak, his microphone was dead. Curtis apologized, explaining he mistakenly had activated the microphone of Rep. Mel Brown, R-Coalville, one desk over.

"That's OK," said Bowman. "I don't mind sitting next to Rep. Brown when he's turned on."

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