While some citizen groups have grown frustrated with the Legislature over government reform,
House Republican leaders say hold on - you may get some of what you want without having to gather all those signatures.When Marty Stephens was elected Republican majority leader last year, he said that he wanted to look at legislative reform, maybe do something about it.
"I think you will see real changes, at least in the House, on a number of items this (coming 1994) session," Stephens predicts. The problem, of course, is that to pass a law takes the agreement of the Senate, whose members have served longer on average than those in the House and "bring a different perspective" to reform legislation, Stephens admits.
Stephens, from Farr West in Davis County, agrees with some legislators that the media have given them a bad rap. Some of the criticism may be their own fault, not paying attention to what has gone on in public concerning conflict of interest, lobbying, etc. Still a backlash has built up.
For example, Stephens says some of his colleagues actually want to repeal the lobbyist disclosure act, saying there is no undue influence, no bribery taking place, and that making lobbyists report gifts and spending on legislators just gives the media more ammunition to shoot at lawmakers.
Stephens says his efforts weren't influenced by the possibility of citizen initiative petitions. He knew of only Merrill Cook's before being informed by the Deseret News of other possible actions. Stephens' reforms don't include term limitation, so Cook's actions are outside of his proposals.
Stephens wants to look at four areas, and had legislative staffers study how those issues are dealt with in other Western states:
- House and Senate rules committees. By law, the rules committees in the House and Senate are secret. Rules "sifts" bills, holding and killing those that legislative leaders don't favor. Committee members can be removed for talking publicly about what goes on in the meetings. `Our research shows Utah is the only Western state that closes it rules or sifting committees," says Stephens.
- Lobbyist disclosure. Before 1991, lobbyists didn't report any gifts given to or entertainment expenses made on lawmakers. Now they must report total expenses on lawmakers but don't list a lawmaker's name along with a gift unless more than $100 was spent on the lawmaker over a 24-hour period. At the $100 level "we are one of the highest (limits) among the states." "Most have a $25 or $50 limit and then (legislators') names are listed. Other states have a zero limit; a lobbyist reports the lawmaker's name when anything is given."
- Salaries of university presidents and faculty members. Those are confidential statistics now in Utah. "We're the only state that keeps those secret."
- Open meetings. Utah has an Open Meetings Act; however, a number of people believe that some officials, especially in local government, don't understand it and sometimes violate it. There's no penalties for violating the law. "There are many different kinds of open meetings laws around the West, many different ways to deal with it."
Says Stephens: "I believe, at least on the House side, that some action will be taken on all these issues next session. I think we'll do something about opening the House Rules Committee. I can't speak for the Senate."
"You notice I didn't mention campaign finance reform. I don't know a good solution to that. I don't want to go willy-nilly with anything, just to pass something. You've got to protect people of modest means and their ability to get elected to the Legislature. You have to be very careful, or you'll allow wealth to become the dictating factor in who gets elected."
Stephens believes that the Deseret News poll and other polls "obviously show the public has a perception that there is undue influence wielded by lobbyists in this state. In my opinion, that is not the case. But because the public perception is there, some reforms need to be made. One of the most important things is that the public have confidence in what Legislature is doing."
Generally, lobbyists provide a valuable service to the state, says Stephens. "I'm not sure that point is portrayed very much." As part-time legislators, most of whom hold down full-time jobs as well, lawmakers can't be expected to become experts on all the issues on their own. "Lobbyists bring a lot of valuable information which can sometimes save the state millions of dollars."
Because Utah has been free of legislative scandal compared with other states, "it's natural" that some legislative leaders think additional reform is unnecessary. "We are one of the best financially managed states in the nation, a good place to live and work. So some say why change if everything is going so well? It doesn't hurt to look at processes from time to time. I know that some people who have been up there (in the Legislature) a long time will resist change, but this will be a healthy dialogue. I think we need to open up government as best we can. I'm willing to take the lead."