From our nation's leading news sources . Coincidentally, a bill that would close that loophole passed a House committee Monday and now goes to the House floor for debate. A monthlong study of Utah's lobbyist laws by the foundation led executive director Mike Christensen to classify the 50 states into ''restrictive,'' ''moderate'' and ''non-restrictive'' categories regarding how they control lobbying of state officials. Utah falls into the ''moderate'' category, says Christensen.
Intangible gifts are things like meals, event tickets and rounds of golf.
Christensen said it might be wise for Utah lawmakers to lower the monetary level of allowed gifts to lawmakers and state officials. Perhaps inflation will just have to drive down the real value of gifts given to lawmakers, he concludes. The foundation found that in 1996 there were 536 organization hiring 485 lobbyists. But to get a total of money spent on lawmakers, one had to tally several reports filed by each lobbyist, a rather large task. Christensen believes lawmakers should consider setting up a separate office for lobbyist and other election items.