At least 81 cents of every $1 donated to lawmakers in last year's election came from special interests that often have business before the Legislature, according to Deseret News analysis of disclosure data.
The amount could be even higher. Other special-interest donations might be hidden because Utah does not require individual donors to disclose their employers or occupations. So efforts by corporations to encourage workers to donate to friendly candidates can be easily missed, unless executives are well known.
Kirk Jowers, director of the University of Utah's Hinckley Institute of Politics, says Utah campaign laws — which unlike most states have no donation limits, and allow direct donations by corporations — tend to discourage lawmakers from seeking donations from regular citizens because easy, big special-interest money can supply all they need. Jowers is helping head Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.'s government ethics/political reform commission, announced last month.
"Obviously, the smaller the contributions and the more people involved, the less chance of undue influence," he said, adding that 46 of 50 states ban or restrict corporate donations.
"One reason I think it's important to look at our campaign finance laws is that because you can have unlimited individual and corporate contributions, there is less outreach to normal constituents. It's easier to get the lower-hanging fruit in big numbers than making the effort to get the $10 and $20 contributions," he said.
Jowers adds, "The federal government and most states require donors to list their occupation. I think it's an incredibly useful disclosure because it helps the press and the public to get a better idea of where the money is coming from and perhaps why."
A bill now before the Legislature introduced by Rep. Steven Mascaro, R-West Jordan, would require donors to list employers and occupations. Another bill by Rep. Kraig Powell, R-Heber City, would limit individual contributions to no more than $15,000 per gubernatorial or attorney general candidate, $500 per Senate candidate and $200 per House candidate.
The Deseret News analysis shows that of the $3.2 million that current Utah lawmakers raised from others last year, $2.6 million came from special interests.
Some groups spread their money widely.
For example, while 90 legislators faced election last year (all 75 House members, plus 15 of 29 senators), EnergySolutions donated to 73. That company, which does such things as operate a dump for low-level radioactive waste, gave to more lawmakers than any other group.
Analysis shows that 21 companies donated to at least a majority of the legislators who ran for election last year.
That led to some interesting situations. For example, Micron donated to 64 lawmakers while its subsidiary IM Flash Technologies also donated to 52. The lobbyist for both companies is Stan Lockhart, who is also chairman of the Utah Republican Party. Amid guidance by that GOP boss, the companies still donated to 11 Democratic lawmakers.
Also of interest, Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, donated to 54 GOP state lawmakers. Each of them automatically will be delegates to the State Republican Convention for the 2010 race where Bennett will seek renomination — so Bennett likely has 54 friends among delegates already.
Other groups that gave to a majority of lawmakers who ran in 2008 include: Reagan Outdoor Advertising, 66; Chevron and the Parsons, Behle & Latimer law firm, 63 each; Merit Medical, 61; Qwest, 58; Zions Bank, 55; the Utah Manufacturers Association, 54; and PacifiCorp/Rocky Mountain Power, 52.
Others include: 51 each by 1-800-CONTACTS, the Utah Homebuilders Association and the Utah Hospital PAC; 49 each by Regence Blue Cross/Blue Shield, the Utah Automobile Dealers Association and Union Pacific; 48 each by the Utah Bankers Association and the Utah Workers Compensation Fund; and 47 by the Utah Association of Realtors.
Some groups gave much more than others. Giving the most among individual corporations or groups was the Utah Association of Realtors, which donated $69,350 last year.
Other top special-interest donors include: Reagan Outdoor Advertising, $49,360; Energy Solutions, $39,850; Utah Home Builders, $37,900; and the Utah Hospital PAC, $33,400.
The Deseret News also evaluated how much money was provided by key overall industries last year.
Donations from some include: $327,000 from the health care industry; $290,000 from the finance industry (including $66,000 from banks, $38,000 from credit unions and $14,000 from payday loan companies); and $194,000 from politicians who gave to other politicians (which can pay dividends in leadership elections).
Also, the real estate industry gave at least $134,000, law firms and lawyers gave at least $128,000 and the communications industry gave $117,000.
Some industries that might not be expected to be big donors in conservative Utah also provided significant amounts.
For example, tobacco companies gave $16,600, and the beer industry gave $13,800. Gay rights groups and activists gave $61,000, while abortion rights groups donated $9,800.
E-mail: lee@desnews.com