That's why Sen. Al Mansell's bill to strengthen Utah's registration requirements for political action committees is a good idea. Senate Bill 55 would oblige each of these groups to name in their public filings two officers who have primary decision-making authority. Their names, addresses, occupations and titles, together with those of all of the group's officers, would have to be included, and if they changed within one year of the time the group filed its organization papers, that new information would have to be filed.
A person who knowingly provided false or misleading information would be guilty of a third-degree felony.
The bill is a response to a political action committee called Truth in Politics that targeted Republican legislative and Salt Lake County government candidates in 2004 with mailers titled "Map of Corruption" and "Salt Lake County Hall of Shame." The group's statement of organization filed with the state elections office listed a single officer, C.L. Peacock, and a post office box. When the director of elections requested an amended filing with the address of a residence or a principal office, the amended filing listed a street address in Washington, D.C., associated with a political consultant.
A review by the attorney general's office, requested after the election by Sen. Mansell, a Sandy Republican, determined that the political committee's sparse statement of organization did not violate any Utah law. But we believe that groups and individuals who seek to influence elections by raising and spending substantial funds should not be allowed to play hide-and-seek with state election officials and the public.
Sen. Mansell's bill is a necessary attempt to correct that. However, making a violation a felony, rather than a misdemeanor, strikes us as overkill.
The bill also would provide a voluntary pledge of fair campaign practices for candidates to sign, promising not to slander other candidates, appeal to negative prejudices or use "whispering campaigns."
You could request politicians to swear the Boy Scout Oath, but that wouldn't prevent half-truths and innuendos in campaigns. Some things you just can't legislate, and probably shouldn't try.
