And legislation to improve disclosure of lobbyist gifts apparently casts aspersions on legislative integrity. House members voted Thursday to lower the dollar limit for reportable gifts from $50 to $5 on most lobbyist freebies.

But they weren't happy about it.

Democratic Holladay Rep. Pat Jones tried to substitute her own outright gift ban. Her bill would provide exceptions for purely social gifts like wedding presents and floral arrangements.

"Why do we need gifts in the first place? There's no public purpose served by receiving such gifts," she said. "If gifts are outlawed, lobbyists won't offer them and legislators won't be tempted to take them."

But House Republicans questioned Jones' exceptions and quashed her attempt to replace Alexander's bill with her own.

Salt Lake City Democratic Rep. Ralph Becker then attempted to lower the top limit from $50 to $20. That failed too.

Taylorsville Republican Rep. Jim Dunnigan then tried unsuccessfully to raise the lower limit from $5 to $15. He said $5 was too little. "We can drive ourselves crazy with this," Dunnigan said.

Lehi Republican Rep. Dave Cox said all the amendments and the original bill itself were unnecessary. "I have not seen a problem up here in this state at all," Cox said.

In the end, House Majority Leader Jeff Alexander's HB 101 passed on to the Senate in essentially its original form.

- Rebecca Walsh

LOBBYING

REFORM