They tell of a Utah congressional candidate owing more than $10,000 to the Internal Revenue Service, and of another spending his own money to help keep the National Center for Constitutional Studies out of bankruptcy.
They show how much the five millionaires running for Congress in Utah may be worth - and how rich or poor other candidates and incumbents are.They tell of special interests paying tens of thousands of dollars to Utah's two senators, and of such groups flying Utah's congressional delegation to sites around the world.
That fascinating reading is in the personal-financial-disclosure forms that members of Congress and any candidate who spent more than $5,000 campaigning by mid-May had to file. They were released publicly late last week.
At first glance, they look like dry, boring forms full of numbers. But then tidbits emerge, such as 2nd District Republican candidate Jerry Jensen's run-in with the IRS - which left him owing it between $10,001 and $15,000.
The candidate and the IRS
Jensen explained in an interview that he and his wife owned a clothing store at Trolley Square, named Papagallo's, which failed. Jensen said he tried to deduct some of the business losses on his personal income tax.
The IRS disallowed that later when it audited him and charged him the thousands in back tax. He said that came at the same time as pressure from the defunct store's creditors.
"Frankly, I considered paying my taxes and declaring (corporate) bankruptcy" to work out a plan to repay creditors, he said. "Instead, I paid off our creditors and worked out a payment schedule with the IRS. I make payments monthly on the amount I owe."
Another hard-luck story
Another financial story comes from fellow 2nd District Republican candidate Jim Bartleson.
Forms show the conservative National Center for Constitutional Studies - founded by W. Cleon Skousen - was, as Bartleson says, "technically bankrupt when I took it over (as president from former congressional candidate John Harmer) a couple of years ago."
He said he was offered "a substantial salary" to return to Utah from Washington and head the group. But the group's records showed it was in such poor shape that he not only soon skipped his salary but also started loaning the group money.
He said that when he recently left the center to campaign, "its balance sheet was in the black - although it still has a lot of outstanding balances, some of which are getting pretty old. They are struggling with that."
One of those old balances is a loan he made to it of between $50,001 and $100,000, disclosure forms show.
Because of the situation, Bartleson had the lowest 1991 income of any Utah congressional candidate: $0. He lived on savings that year. He adds that while his family is not wealthy, it owes nothing and therefore "we were often able to offer service without compensation."
Wayne Owens' tight picture
Jensen and Bartleson are seeking the seat now held by Rep. Wayne Owens, D-Utah, who is running for the Senate. Forms show Owens' finances are tight too.
See DISCLOSE on B2
Owens lists assets of between $125,301 and $126,301, not counting his personal home and cars - which are exempt from disclosure. He lists liabilities between $110,007 and $300,000.
So Owens' liabilities could be more than double his assets, but the broad ranges within categories on disclosure forms make it impossible to say.
Owens says, however, "I am worth more than I owe, but not by much. Public service hasn't been very financially rewarding to me - nor for that matter was my law practice before it."
Of note, forms show Owens is still paying off a loan of between $50,001 and $100,000 at Zions First National Bank. He was sued briefly three years ago for default on it, but he quickly worked out a repayment schedule.
The millionaires
On the other end of the financial spectrum are at least five millionaires running for Congress. How much is each worth?
- Republican Senate candidate Bob Bennett is worth between $1.15 million and $1.34 million or more, according to forms. He could be worth many times that because forms list his stock in the calendar-printing Franklin Institute, which he once headed, as worth "over $1 million," without an upper limit.
Recent annual reports and stock offerings by Franklin Institute show Bennett's stock would be worth $27 million if sold for the price of new stock offerings. Bennett also had an income last year between $1.3 million and $1.34 million or more - and, again, it could have been much more, but ranges make it impossible to say.
- Fellow Republican Senate candidate Joe Cannon, board chairman of Geneva Steel, has income-producing assets worth between $5.23 million and $8 million or more. Again, he could be worth many times that because of open-ended ranges on forms. His income last year was between $758,111 and $3.56 million.
- Democratic Senate candidate Doug Anderson listed income-producing assets - not counting his home or cars - between $2.22 million and $3.52 million. His income last year was between $2.83 million and $3.06 million.
- 2nd District Democratic candidate Karen Shepherd listed assets between $1.44 million and $3.58 million, mostly in stocks and similar investments. Her income last year was listed between $137,462 and $279,421.
- 2nd District Republican candidate Olene Walker listed assets between $1.56 million and $2.32 million or more. She could be worth more, because forms list her co-ownership of Country Crisp Foods with her husband as worth "over $1 million" but gives no upper limit. Her income last year was between $120,581 and $201,183.
Orton, Crouch millionaires too?
Forms suggest two others could be millionaires. 1st District Democrat Jerry Crouch listed assets between $693,015 and $1.645 million - with liabilities between $65,001 and $150,000.
Third District Rep. Bill Orton, D-Utah, is apparently the most wealthy incumbent and has assets listed between $764,013 and $1.61 million.
Is he a millionaire? "No. I am nowhere near a millionaire," Orton said. "In fact, the longer I stay here (in Congress) the further I get from it. My assets and liabilities are going the wrong direction."
Before he was elected, Orton made $250,000 a year as a tax lawyer. Last year he was paid $125,100 by the House. Extra earnings on investments made his total income between $131,331 and $140,127.
Other candidates or incumbents might also be millionaires because forms exempt them from disclosing assets that do not produce income and assets such as personal homes and cars.
The pay raise that wasn't
The Senate voted last October to give itself a raise from $102,400 annually to the $129,500 it receives now. But because it also banned accepting speech fees from outside groups, the action actually cuts the income of Sens. Jake Garn and Orrin Hatch, R-Utah.
Garn earned between $134,871 and $138,918 last year - including $23,000 he kept in speech fees. Special interests also donated $14,500 to charities of Garn's choice for giving speeches. About $14,000 in speech fees came from financial groups likely interested in his role as ranking Republican on the Senate Banking Committee.
Hatch's 1991 income was between $151,483 and $171,687, including $23,068 in speech fees. Special interests donated $69,682 to charities of his choice for speeches he gave.
About $35,000 came from health and labor groups, including $2,000 from the Smokeless Tobacco Council, likely interested in his post as ranking Republican on the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee.
Garn and Hatch have defended such "honorariums," which no longer are allowed, saying groups did not buy favors with their money but just a chance to hear their views. They said honorariums also had avoided the need for a taxpayer-funded raise.
Join Congress, see the world
While Congress has banned honorariums in the future, members of Congress still can allow special interests to pay their travel and lodging costs - often to resort areas - to give speeches.
Utah's five members of Congress took 33 such trips last year to sites ranging from Miami to London and the Middle East. However, members say such trips are rarely for fun. Garn especially points out that his trips are short, usually just long enough for him to give his speech and leave.
Members of Congress also have to list any gifts worth more than $200 they receive from outside groups. Garn's included two ski passes from the Park City resort - worth $1,065 - and a $300 pair of skis from the Young President's Organization.
Hatch's included a $217 gift pack of ski equipment from the Senators' Ski Cup, a charity event for Primary Children's Hospital, and a $205 gift pack of golf equipment from the Danny Thompson Memorial Golf Tournament.
Trivial pursuit
The forms also reveal some strange trivia. For example, who makes more money, a member of Congress or a plumber? The plumber does, if it is Parley Hellewell - a 3rd District Republican House candidate.
The bulk of his $184,747 income last year came from his plumbing business. Members of Congress make only $129,500.
Even so, 10 of the 15 non-incumbents who filed disclosure forms would increase their income if elected. Of the other five, four are millionaires - and, of course, one is a plumber.
Also, guess who gets 5 cents royalty for every cassette tape that Living Scriptures sells of "Your Family Hour" or "The Golden Plates." It's Hatch, who worked out the royalty arrangement for his share of the company's ownership when he was elected.
He was paid $4,836 in such royalties last year - which means 96,720 tapes were sold.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Incumbent senators
ORRIN HATCH (R)
Honorarium speeches:
Earned $92,750 total, kept $23,068 and had $69,682 donated to charity. About $35,000 came from health and labor groups, including $2,000 from the Smokeless Tobacco Council, probably interested in his post as ranking Republican on the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee.
Income: Between $151,483 and $171,687. Includes Senate salary of $110,728, honorariums kept of $23,068 and income on investments ranking from stocks to rental properties.
He also receives 5 cents royalty from Living Scriptures Inc. for every cassette sold of "Your Family Hour" and "The Golden Plates" from when he sold his share of the company in 1977. He received $4,836 last year.
Assets (excluding personal home and cars): Between $282,265 and $981,940.
Liabilities: None.
Gifts: $217 gift pack of ski equipment from the Senators Ski Cup and a $205 gift pack of golf equipment from the Danny Thompson Memorial Golf Tournament.
Travel: Hatch took 11 trips paid by special interests and corporations, to Los Angeles, two trips, two days total; New York, three trips, five days total; Williamsburg, Va., three days; Pittsburgh, one day; London, three days; Miami, two days; and Salt Lake City, from Washington, three days. Most were to give speeches; others were to attend seminars.
JAKE GARN (R)
Honorarium speeches: Earned $37,500 total, kept $23,000 and donated $14,500 to charity. About $14,000 came from financial groups and institutions with potential interest in his role as ranking Republican on the Senate Banking Committee.
Income: Between $134,871 and $138,918. That includes his Senate salary of $100,728, royalty from a novel he co-authored, $690; honorariums kept, $23,000; and interest from bank accounts.
Assets (not counting family home and vehicles): Between $17,0001 and $95,000.
Liabilities: None.
Gifts received: Ski passes for himself and his wife to Park City, valued at $1,065; a $300 pair of skis from the Young President's Ornganization; and a gift pack of sunglasses and miscellaneous ski items from the Senators Ski Cup, a Primary Children's Hosptial charity event he hosts.
Travel: Garn took 10 trips at the expense of special interests or companies, to Honolulu, four days; Orlando, one day each on two trips; London, three days; Armenia, five days; San Diego, one day; Sun Valley, three days; New York, one day; and Jackson Hole, one day.
Most trips were to give speeches. One to Sun Valley was to participate in a charity golf tournament. One to Armenia was to represent Utah at dedication of Huntsman Chemical facilities. Garn has stressed he stays only long enough on such trips to take care of business.
2nd Congressional district candidates
Jim Bartleson (R)
Income: None.
Assets: Between $66,003 and $165,000. That excludes personal cars and homes, but includes a loan he made of between $50,001 and $100,000 to the National Center for Constitutional Studies.
Liabilities: Between $15,001 and $50,000, a personal bank loan.
Other: Bartleson's forms show for the first time that the conservative National Center for Constitutional Stdies, founded by W. Cleon Skousen, was, as Bartleson says, "technically bankrupt when I took it over (as president from former congressional candidate John Harmer) a couple of years ago."
He said he returned from Washington to become the group's president and was offered "a substantial salary" - which he drew only one year. He said the books showed the group had so few assets that he no longer took a salary and started loaning the group money.
He said when he recently left the organization to campaign "its balance sheet was in the black - although it still has a lot of outstanding balances, some of which are getting pretty old. They are struggling with that."
Among those old balances are loans Bartleson made to it of between $50,001 and $100,000. Bartleson said he doesn't need the money immediately, so he and the group have given it a low priority.
Bartleson listed no income at all in 1991 and says he lived largely on reimbursements for expenses from the National Center for Constitutional Studies and on savings.
"While our family has never been wealthy, our financial stability allowed us to work with several non-profit organizations whose causes we felt were worthwhile. Because we did not owe money to anyone, did not buy anything on terms or contracts, we were often able to offer service without compensation."
A. Peter Crane (I)
Income: Between $30,424 and $49,514; $20,114 was for fees and salaries from a medical testing lab he runs.
Assets (excluding personal home and cars): Between 165,009 and $325,000.
Liabilities: None.
Enid Greene (R)
Income: Between $47,807 and $50,083. $47,676 of it was salary as deputy chief of staff for Gov. Norm Bangerter.
Assets: Between $288,015 and $724,004, including her home and numerous investments.
Liabilities: Between $15,001 and $50,000.
Other: She is chairwoman of the Young Republican National Federation.
H. Craig Moody (R)
Income: Between $54,023 and $67,521. $10,320 was wages as speaker of the Utah House, $36,000 was wages as owner of Moody & Associates, and the rest was from investments.
Assets (excluding personal home and cars): Between $183,008 and $445,000.
Liabilities: Between $30,002 and $100,000, for mortgages on two rental homes.
Other: He listed two clients that paid him more than $5,000 each during the year: Utah Federal Credit Union for real estate sales services and Sonntag Brothers Partnership for property management services.
Jerry Jensen (R)
Income: Jensen estimated about $90,000. He listed $28,678 on his form but said he misunderstood what types of income he was required to disclose.
Assets: None listed.
Liabilities: Between $10,001 and $15,000 owed to the Internal Revenue Service for income tax.
Jensen says the liability resulted from a Trolley Square ladies clothing store - named Papagallos - he and his wife owned, which went out of business. He deducted some of the business loss from his personal taxes, which the IRS later disallowed in an audit.
"Frankly, I considered paying my taxes and declaring (corporate) bankruptcy. Instead, I paid off our creditors and worked out a payment schedule with the IRS. I make payments monthly on the amount I owe," he said.
Other: He listed many of his legal clients, including: David Black, C. Jeffery Thompson, Lawrence Construction, Anderson Mill, Paul Wortley, Granite Mill, Wayne Lang, Kim Jensen, Boone & Kruckenburg, Richard Schanz and Philip Johnson.
William A. Robbins (D)
Income: $15,101, according to a tax return he voluntarily provided. That includes salary of $738 at PC Technical Institute and $600 at Phillips Jr. College; $9,910 in rents; and interest on investments.
Assets: Between $63,007 and $245,000.
Liabilities: None.
Karen Shepherd (D)
Income: Between $127,462 and $279,421. $41,521 was in wages as a state senator and as director of development and community relations at the University of Utah. The rest was from investments.
Assets (excluding personal home and cars): Between $1.44 million and $3.58 million. Most of the money is in stocks and similar investments.
Liabilities: Between $100,002 and $200,000 for mortgages on rental homes in Salt Lake City.
Olene Walker (R)
Income: Between $120,581 and $201,183. $54,183 was wages as the state director of community development. Much of the rest was from co-ownership with her husband of Country Crisp Foods Inc.
Assets: Between $1.56 million or more and $2.32 million or more. Estimating the top figures is difficult because forms value her joint ownership of Country Crisp merely as "over $1 million" in value.
Liabilities: Between $350,003 and $765,000, for mortgages on homes and business property.
Charlie Saulsberry (D)
His financial disclosure statement was not received by the House clerk.
3rd district
Parley Hellewell (R)
Income: $184,747; $180,547 of it - much more than a House member's salary - came from his plumbing and real estate management businesses. An additional $4,200 came from a rental home.
Assets (excluding personal home or cars): Between $50,001 and $100,000 for a rental home.
Liabilities: Between $50,004 and $130,00 for mortgages and business loans.
Bill Orton (D)
Incumbent
Honorariums: None.
Income: Between $131,331 and $140,127. Includes House salary of $125,100; fees for courses taught before entering Congress, $1,125; rent on houses owned; and interest on investments.
Assets (excluding personal cars): Between $764,013 and $1.61 million. He listed the value of his home at Sundance, which he occasionally rents out, at between $250,001 and $500,000.
Is he then a millionaire? "No, I am nowhere near a millionaire," Orton said. "In fact, the longer I stay here (in Congress), the further I get from it. My assets and liabilities are going in the wrong drection." Old forms showed he earned $250,000 a year as a tax lawyer before he came to Congress.
Liabilities: Between $150,001 and $350,000, for mortgages on his home and rental property.
Gifts: None.
Travel: Six trips paid by special interests, to Key West, Fla., four nights; Seattle, one night; Reno, two trips, one night each; Chicago, one night; and Phoenix, one day.
Richard Harrington (R)
His financial disclosure statement was not received by the House clerk.
1st district
Jerry Crouch (D)
Income: Between $70,350 and $86,845.
Assets: Between $693,015 and $1.645 million.
Liabilities: Between $65,001 and $150,000, for a mortgage and as a signer on business loans.
Clients: Forms require he disclose sources that paid him more than $5,000 in a year. He listed clients of his accounting firm that paid more than that, including: Weber County, Morgan County, Morgan City, Morgan School District, Kaysville City, Riverdale City, North Summit School District, Roy Water Subdistrict, Private industry Council, Jiffy Stop Stores, Associates of Pathology, Flint Greenhouse, The Club, Demtronics, Elephant Press, Freeway Inn, Grating Systems, Stop and Shop Market, Blaine Wadman, Wadman Corp., Blaine Wadman Corp. and Marilyn Miller.
Jim Hansen (R)
Incumbent
Honorariums: $3,500, all donated directly to charity by special interests.
Income: Between $130,704 and $143,100. Includes House salary of $125,100, between $5,001 and $15,000 in rent on a building that his campaign leases, and interest on investiments.
Assets (not including personal cars and homes): Between $18,004 and $160,000.
Liabilities: Between $15,001 and $50,000, the mortgage on his rental office building.
Gifts: None.
Travel: Hansen took five trips paid for by special interests, to Los Angeles, three days; Boston, one day; Reno, one day; and Phoenix, two trips, three days total. All were to give speeches.
Other: Hansen is secretary of the Committee on Limiting Terms - a group that wants to limit House service to six terms. He is running for a seventh term this year.
Ron Holt (D)
Income: Between $41,501 and $45,500; $38,000 was wages as a Weber State University professor and the rest was from investments.
Assets: Between $17,005 and $280,000, including his personal residence and vehicle.
Liabilities: Between $60,000 and $115,000, for his mortgage and car loan.
Bruce Anderson (R)
His financial disclosure form was not received by the House clerk.
Dub Lawrence (I)
His financial disclosure form was not received by the House clerk.
Craig Russell (D)
His financial disclosure form was not received by the House clerk.