Members of Trial-lawyers Representing Utah's Environment (TRUE) said Thursday they will ask the Senate Ethics Committee to look into a possible conflict of interest involving Stephenson, whose SB70 would change current law to give lawmakers override power when a governor rejects a hazardous or radioactive waste-site proposal.

The Draper Republican is president of and a registered lobbyist for the Utah Taxpayers Association. If passed, his bill would eliminate an obstacle for a member of the association, Envirocare of Utah, a company that had hoped to get approval for expanding its low-level radioactive waste landfill before Gov. Jon Huntsman announced his objections in November.

Envirocare cannot go through with the expansion without approval of the Legislature and the governor.

Attorney Jim McConkie, representing TRUE, said the Senate Ethics Committee should find out how much money Envirocare contributes to the Taxpayers Association.

Given the scandal now gripping disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff in Washington, the public is wary of too-cozy relations - and too much money - between lawmakers and lobbyists, he said.

"We're concerned it is spilling down into the state," McConkie said.

Stephenson said neither his trade group nor Envirocare, which is one of 2,000 association members, requested SB70. He added that the company contributes 0.5 percent of the association's budget.

The senator restated that the bill is intended to correct an "inappropriate" and "dangerous" power imbalance that could set an unconstitutional precedent.

"The Legislature has a constitutional prerogative to override vetoes of the governor," he said.

The lawyers group does not have the power to initiate an ethics investigation on its own. It will need three senators to write letters requesting the inquiry.

fahys@sltrib.com