Today @ 4: Sen. Hillyad in studio to talk Ethics Reform

Senator Lyle Hillyard will stop by today to discuss the ethics reform initiative, and the legislatures opposition to it. Tune in or Log in.

Also, to get your primed, another Lobbyist Legislature Love story hit the front page of the Trib this week.

Lobbyists spent more than $7,000 feeding Utah legislators in the past three months, as food once again makes up the overwhelming bulk of the money that went to wooing Utah lawmakers.

In all, about $10,000 had been reported in filings with the Lieutenant Governor’s office Tuesday, with many of the biggest-spending lobbyists yet to submit their disclosures.

The gifts to legislators include a tent, two sleeping bags and a Dutch oven given to Senate President Michael Waddoups, R-Taylorsville, by lobbyist Dave Nicponski. Waddoups used the $270 in camping equipment as prizes for a bingo game that donors played at a Western-themed Wagonmaster Fundraiser that Waddoups hosted last month at This Is The Place State Park.

“I went out and bought some camping equipment for the cause,” Nicponski said.

Other gifts reported include a University of Utah football ticket for Sen. Ross Romero, D-Salt Lake City, and a Utah State University football ticket for Rep. Jack Draxler, R-Logan.

And plenty of food.

I’m in support of the UEG initiative, mainly because I think the legislature has shown us they have no intention of implementing meaningful reform themselves (they had plenty of chances). But I don’t really care so much if lobbyists feed them. When someone tells me gifts do not equal favors, I roll my eyes. They most certainly do. But for the most part, I’m more concerned about the relationship between legislators and lobbyists as specific legislation is being drafted, and the general lack of accountability frequently displayed by a few than I am blanket “gifts” for the entire body.

Maybe I’m missing something important?