This notion that the law-making process is a dirty and tainted business bothers me. None of my 103 colleagues at the State Capitol will say they serve in the Legislature for the pay, gifts or the chance to dine with lobbyists.
Instead, they arrived at the Legislature because of a sense of duty, obligation and responsibility. We all sacrifice to serve in the Legislature. For some the financial sacrifice is great. For all of us the sacrifice of our time is significant. It's time we could spend with our families or in other pursuits. We make the sacrifice willingly, but feel wounded when the public at large thinks our service is tainted.
Recent scandals at the federal level require us to re-examine our code of ethics at the state level to ensure we remain above reproach.
Our governor took impressive steps this year with lobbying and gift reform in the executive branch. This year, the Utah House passed a bill that changes and clarifies legislative regulations on lobbyists and gifts. We hope our friends in the Senate will join us in passing it. This bill would require lobbyists to disclose all gifts over $5 except for meals, which remain at the $50 disclosure level. These changes are similar to the governor's.
We've also streamlined reporting by requiring quarterly statements from lobbyists. The current reporting system is cumbersome and has difficult-to-remember filing deadlines, resulting in many accidental filing problems.
Methods vary from state to state on how to ensure a vote is not influenced by a gift. The House believes that disclosure is the best way to ensure legislators and lobbyists execute their distinct functions in an ethical manner. Any legislator who accepts gifts above the disclosure limits must be prepared to justify those gifts to his/her constituents at election time.
Lobbyists are a diverse group. They include those people hired by corporations, but also public advocates, heads of government programs and those backing various social causes. A fact-finding trip to study transportation systems is no less an opportunity to lobby a legislator than is a round of golf. Both should be disclosed if they are paid for by someone other than the legislator.
Various groups have opined that a $50 disclosure limit for meals is too high. Many people vie for the time and attention of legislators, mostly during the 45-day general session. Legislators' days and nights are packed with many requests for their time. Often this leaves only meal times when events and meetings can be scheduled.
It's true that legislators are often lobbied during meals. However, there are many meal-related functions where lobbying doesn't take place, including an award banquet or speaking engagement that provides a meal. Some legislators are often invited to multiple engagements in a single evening. Lowering the meal threshold would limit the time and opportunities for the public to engage legislators. I believe the $50 meal limit is sufficient to guarantee ethics are protected while allowing legislators to fulfill their many responsibilities.
Citizens deserve transparency and disclosure when legislators act in their name. I believe this bill provides the proper balance of transparency and disclosure that is due the people of Utah.
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* DAVE CLARK, R-Santa Clara, is the House majority leader.
