By paul rolly

| Tribune Columnist

Rules are made to be broken, as they say, but the Utah County Republican Party would rather just find creative ways around them — for the higher good, of course.

Or, they have put a new twist on the practice of "one-stop shopping."

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It is against the law for legislators to accept political contributions during the legislative session, which means they cannot pocket any campaign cash between Jan. 23 and March 7. Several legislators running for Congress or Senate resigned just before the legislative session so they could keep raising money.

But the Utah County Republican Party has a better idea.

At its annual Lincoln Day Dinner fundraiser at the Utah Valley University ballroom Feb. 18, donors who buy tables can designate what legislative candidate they want to receive their contribution.

Traditionally, contributors’ money goes to the party, which then uses it for party expenses and to help Republican candidates. But now the contributor can give it to a legislator without directly giving to a legislator. And the donor can be confident that incumbent legislators, who have the power to pass or kill the donor’s pet projects, will know that donor was generous to them as the legislative session ensues.

The Lincoln Day invitations make it very clear, mind you, that the legislators cannot receive the contributions during the session. So those designating their contributions go to a specific favorite legislator had to have reservations with the designated contributions to the party by Jan. 22. And, says the invitation, the money will not be distributed to said legislator until after the legislative session.

Pretty slick, huh?

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Give and take » Two Republican lawmakers have introduced measures to prevent local governments from bullying poor billboard advertisers, making sure the state — or Big Brother, if you will — makes sure there is a level playing field in all the cities.

Sen. Wayne Niederhauser, R-Sandy, and Rep. Mel Brown, R-Coalville, say their bills would prohibit any city or county from enacting punitive billboard ordinances, and they would prevent local officials from banning the conversion of traditional billboards into e-signs, an action Salt Lake City is considering.

So the state will step in and prevent the cities from establishing their own ordinances.

That’s funny.

It was just last week that Senate President Michael Waddoups said there would be opposition to a proposed bill that would protect gays and lesbians from job and housing discrimination statewide. Waddoups said that should be up to local governments. Currently, 14 cities have anti-discrimination ordinances.

So the state will step in and protect the billboard companies, but not the gays and lesbians.

Guess which group gives generous campaign contributions to legislators?

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