Take Eagle Mountain. A decade ago, the town on the west side of Utah Lake didn't exist. In January, the town of 2,157 as of the last census, hired a lobbyist to try to attract federal dollars. Riverton, Syracuse, Park City and Holladay have also hired lobbyists.
In 1998, just 15 publicly funded entities in Utah had Washington lobbyists on the payroll; today the number has doubled.
But spending local taxpayer dollars lobbying federal officials for federal tax dollars, while increasingly common, is frowned upon by some who argue the congressional delegations should be the ones protecting the interests of their constituents.
"If you want any money from Washington, your elected officials aren't going to get it. You've got to hire" a lobbyist, said Keith Ashdown, vice president of the group Taxpayers for Common Sense. "It does raise questions about why we elect these guys if cities, towns, municipalities are paying hired guns to bring home the bacon."
Last month, the Utah Taxpayer Association challenged Utah's largest cities and counties over spending $624,000 a year to lobby state lawmakers. State Sen. Scott Jenkins said he would sponsor legislation prohibiting cities and counties from having paid lobbyists at the state Capitol. But the federal budget process dwarfs anything at the state level. Congress works year-round dividing up hundreds of billions of dollars in a mind-boggling maze of requests, hearings, amendments and conference reports.
Local officials say they need professional guides to help them wind through the labyrinth. That's where the lobbyists come in.
Since 1998, Utah's cities, counties and other publicly-funded entities have spent more than $10 million on Washington lobbyists. That includes nearly $1.7 million reported by the Utah Transit Authority, $1.2 million by the Utah Department of Transportation and nearly $900,000 spent by Sandy City.
Water districts, which are paid for by user fees and taxes, were included in the Tribune analysis. State-run universities, the biggest spenders, were not included in the tally because only part of their money comes from taxpayers. They also receive millions in grants and private donations.
"A lot of cities that use lobbyists see results, so probably the word spreads," said Michael Kennedy, a lobbyist with Lee & Smith, a firm with deep Utah roots and numerous Beehive State clients.
"If you go into court for a trial, you have the right to represent yourself, but it's probably pretty smart to get a lawyer who knows the game," Kennedy said. "Cities can [lobby] by themselves, but they're smart to get someone like a lobbyist who knows what to say, when to say it and has the relationships."
An explosion in municipal lobbying is taking place nationwide. In 1999, municipalities spent $42.7 million on federal lobbyists. In 2004, it was $79.9 million, according to figures compiled by PoliticalMoneyline.org.
It's impossible to pinpoint a precise figure because spending is rounded off and reports don't specify amounts under $10,000, but the range spent by Utah entities in 2004 was between $1.8 million and $2 million.
"It's sort of a black hole. It doesn't get any better," said Ashdown. "The more you have to pay, the more others have to pay; the more others have to pay, the more you have to pay."
For years, Salt Lake City has been represented by Leonard Simon of Simon & Co., at a cost of $58,000 this year. It's worth the money, said D.J. Baxter, a senior adviser to Mayor Rocky Anderson, saving the city at least one and maybe two employees the city would have to hire to do the work itself.
"The benefits are also quite quantifiable," Baxter said. "We've been able to bring tens of millions of dollars to the city for improving city programs from the Police Department to the Fire Department to the transit system."
Recently, the city has received federal funding for a downtown transit hub, an after-school youth program, realignment of the 900 South rail line, renovations at Pioneer Park and an anti-methamphetamine initiative.
"As long as we're receiving more money in the door than we're spending on lobbying, then it seems like we're coming out ahead; we're doing well by the taxpayers," Baxter said.
Sandy City in 2000 hired Bill Simmons - a former aide to retired Rep. Jim Hansen - and Arthur Silverman of Dutko Worldwide Inc., a major Washington lobbying firm. Last year, Sandy paid them $195,000, the most spent by a Utah city.
Sandy Deputy Mayor John Hiskey said the City Council feels it's "bringing a solid return for the community."
In the past year, Sandy has received $13.5 million for construction of 1300 East, $1 million for a transit center, $1 million for flood restoration in Dimple Dell Park and $1 million for drinking-water improvements.
The biggest spenders in the state are its public universities. Utah State University spent $310,000 in 2004 on federal lobbyists. The University of Utah spent $320,000 last year, but broke ties with its longtime representatives and hired a partnership of three D.C. firms.
Sen. Bob Bennett, the only Utahn on the Appropriations Committee, said there is a place for lobbyists.
"A good lobbyist - emphasis on the word good - plays an important and useful role in representing a university, city or other clients with elected officials," he said.
Bennett, who started his career in Washington as a lobbyist for JC Penney Co., said the most important asset for a lobbyist is integrity.
"There are as many good lobbyists in Washington as there are bad," Bennett said. "We encounter both."
"There are as many good lobbyists in Washington as there are bad."
