When The Tribune took the time to cross-check campaign contribution disclosure forms filed by corporations and state politicians, and announced the findings, it was doing the lieutenant governor's job.
The investigative report uncovered nine cases of companies failing to file disclosure reports, a clear violation of state campaign contribution laws, which require corporations to report donations totaling more than $750 in a calendar year.
In 2007, nine firms failed to report a combined $13,000 in contributions, primarily made to Republican legislative leaders, including Utah Senate President John Valentine, Senate Majority Whip Dan Eastman, Senate Assistant Majority Whip Sheldon Killpack, Utah House Speaker Greg Curtis and House Majority Leader Dave Clark.
These lawmakers have a commanding role in setting the legislative agenda, enabling them to shepherd along laws that would benefit businesses, or stymie ones the corporations don't like. And these political power brokers can redistribute funds to fellow Republicans who are at risk of losing an election, helping the business-friendly GOP maintain its substantial majority in the state House and Senate.
We're not implying that it's a pay-to-play system. That can't be proven, or ruled out. But it's essential that reports are filed in a timely and consistent fashion so voters can access the data, and draw their own conclusions. And it's just as essential that the lieutenant governor's office, the guardian of Utah's election laws, cross-reference the reports and force corporations to comply. No company has ever been charged in Utah for a disclosure law violation.
Some companies, including one - Utah Tire Recyclers Inc. - that admits to donating without filing for the past 15 years, say they were unaware of the reporting requirements.
Others say state officials need to do a better job of informing businesses of the disclosure statute. But ignorance is no defense for breaking the law.
There's also no excuse for failing to cross-check the reports of political candidates and their corporate contributors to verify the accuracy of disclosure reports, a simple procedure that any sixth grader could accomplish. Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert should make his staff balance the books.
