Anti-Olympic forces say they are being harassed by the state for not complying with regulations governing charitable organizations, but state officials say all they want is for the group to obey the law.
The state Division of Consumer Protection denied a charitable organization application for Utahns for Responsible Public Spending, the most vocal organization opposing the state's bid for the 1998 Winter Olympics, an official said.The anti-Olympic group, after several advisory letters sent in September and October, failed to make a charitable organization application until the division threatened "legal action," said Department of Commerce Director Dave Buhler.
Only then did Steve Pace, of Utahns for Responsible Public Spending, complete a form and send it to the division, Buhler said. However, the division denied the application and asked the group to reapply.
Pace, however, said the group did not respond to the initial requests from the division because he believed Utahns for Responsible Public Spending was not a charitable organization.
Further, the State Tax Commission told Utahns for Responsible Public Spending they were in compliance with all financial disclosure laws, Pace said.
When the state threatened legal action, however, Pace said he went to great lengths to comply with the regulation.
"Apparently, the state of Utah is using its police power in the middle of the election to try to shut down the local opposition," Pace told the Deseret News.
Not so, said Bud Scruggs, Gov. Norm Bangerter's chief of staff.
"It's not a big deal to us. We're not interested in harassing them. We would simply like them to comply with the law," he said.
"This is ironic," Scruggs continued, "Pace and his group are beating their breasts about the pro-Olympic group not reporting their contributions, and they're the ones refusing to fill out our paperwork. It's the kind of hypocrisy we've come to expect from the group."
Utahns for Responsible Public Spending has raised $3,700 for its anti-Olympic campaign to urge voters to vote against the Olympics in a Nov. 7 referendum on the issue.
State law permits the attorney general's office to issue a "cease and desist" order preventing the organization from spending the money it has raised.
But Scruggs said the governor's office will not urge the attorney general to go forward with the order and said the state would permit the organization to complete registration with the Consumer Protection Division after the election.