Bob: this would've been a much more interesting article if you had asked Mr. Rogers how much money he makes. It sounds like a good clean job that requires nothing but hard work until you realize a guy like that is making close to a million dollars or more per year for his efforts. And most of why he is where he is comes from milking relationships he formed while a legislator.

Given that, I would've loved to see you write about why Utah should have a law restricting legislators from walking right over to being a lobbyist. The whole system stinks. Seriously, you missed the boat by not asking or sharing the incredible amount of cash these powerful lobbyists get paid. It's obscene.

Lobbyist and legislators should not be allowed to discuss any legislation or laws as part of a free lunch. Citizens are met with difficulty to give any opinions or input to our legislators while all lobbyist have to do is offer a free lunch. It should be against the law for lobbyist to consult with legislators in secret meetings outside of the legislators office. Lobbyist should be required to meet with legislators in their offices during office hours. These bribary gifts are not taken serious enough and used as meetings to pursuade a legislators decisions. How would a legislator like it if a citizen walks up to a legislator at any time and confront him with thier opinions? A citizen would probably get arrested and thrown in jail. Citizens have just as much right to meet with legislators as do lobbyists offering a free lunch. A legislator can eat only so many times a day so why should it be reserved for lobbyist on the prowl to bribe? It's not only the meals involved, it's the discussions of legislation, laws, and government contracts which is more critical. It all amounts to closed door secret meetings that put legislators at risk.

Sorry I can't post a comment, after reading this article, I have to go take a shower.

Lobbyists spoils--all that money doesn't always get Mr. Rogers what he wants. Have you ever been at the legislature when Paul has lost?

Jazz players also make obscene salaries, many people make obscene income. Mr. Rogers plays an important role for his clients; he informs legislators regarding issues they usually know little about. Private citizens are free to do the same and some do and are just as successful as highly paid lobbyists.

Many legislators are happy to just meet lobbyists in their capitol offices--especially now that they finally have offices--where no meal is involved. But legislators have regular jobs; they don't hang out at the capitol much, going there to meet people would require taking time off from work to drive there. Before work or lunch are often the only time they have to listen to constituents and lobbyists.

I think Bob's written previously regarding the fact that legislators should have a "cooling off" period before they can start lobbying.

Was there something wrong with my comment that you decided not to post it? Paul Rogers IS about as low a person as you can go. he truly feels that if he gives a donation to a legislator, he has bought their vote. He smiles, he acts all sweet and soft spoken, but he is one of the worst of the worst.

Paul is the father of a good friend, and puts a good name on being a lobbyist. He does earn a good living but I also know he works hard and is gone from home most of the time during legislative periods. As in all professions, we can walk a fine line between crooked and honest and lobbying is no different. From what I know about Paul, it appears he's doing good. The law makers are the ones that make the final decision and communicating with a lobbyist is just one way to get a better view from just one of the many sides of an issue.

Long past time to do away with lobbyist. They buy votes when the regular citizen can't. Company stockholders should get paid for the amount that is spent for lobbyist at their expense or let the company president use his own money
.
Get rid of the lobbyist!

The problem is that we can't all afford to hire a lobbyist to defend our interests. Do you have a hired gun who walks the state legislature and defends your interests? Neither do I. The problem with the whole concept is that it ensures that only the interests of certain collective groups are regularly presented to legislators.
Your bank is represented, are you? Your doctor is represented, are you? Your kids teachers are represented, are you?
Your legislator is elected to represent your interests, when was the last time you sat down to lunch with her/him to discuss what those interests are?
Of course most legislators would be happy to meet with one of their constituents, but most of us don't have the time between all our other commitments to set up an appointment, compose our concerns, meet, etc.
If only I could afford to hire Paul...

How can you blame a lobbyist that is out trying to make a living by "informing" legislators.

The problem is that the legislators are the ones that will let something like this happen. Make no mistake everyone of them that accepts a gift makes sure it is under the $50 mark so that they don't have to disclose their name associated with it. That is the dirty part of all of this.

I say that there should be full disclosure and there will be no questions as to where the money is going.

I can't think of anything worse than to have to take some of our elected reps to lunch. What a colossal waste of time and money.

Any of us can be a lobbyist. If you want to be treated royally by your elected legislator, go pay (excuse the pun) a visit to him. He or she will love to hear from you and listen to your position. Or, if you can't do the visit, a phone call can be effective.

Same is true if you are in Washington DC. Schedule an appointment and our Senators and Representatives and staff will go out of their way to accomodate you.

The legislative process has been called a "war without bullets." Each issue that rises to the state or national level has two or more sides, and often very high stakes for the parties involved. All weapons are employed: grassroots activities, lobbyists, media contacts, personal contacts. The pressure on any one legislator can be pretty high.

If you want to have a voice, use your own. Build your own coalition of friends that feel the same way and go see a legislator. But let's stop complaining about lobbyists and campaign contributions. With Utah's laws, we know who they are and how much is being contributed.

Everyone is a lobbyist. The PTA mom. That banker or credit union employee. The public school teacher. The commuter. The neighbor down the street. The community activist. The retiree. Etc. They are all lobbyist.

Until it is illegal to accept one red cent from lobbyists and special interests the system you have in place will be a corrupt one.

To: The Other Bob. I have tried to meet with my state senator, and representative. The senator returned my call once, but then didn't agree with my position, and I was reduced to catching him in the hallways of the capitol I always tried to be very polite and non-confrontational. My representative only returned my calls once, and getting an appointment with either was impossible. My senator was a democrat and so that may have been the problem, since my issue was not a democrat issue.

Other Bob, I found that in my senate and house district that they were uninterested, and actually could care less. In my experience I have found them too arrogant to be able to listen with an open mind.

I can't get a face to face meeting with ANY of my legislators to discuss an issue that effects the safety of children BUT these DESPOTS are buying their influence on a daily basis.

Being a lobbyist is NOT an honorable profession.

The notion that you have to PAY TO PLAY is disgraceful!

Take a shower, indeed. I have a personal experience with Paul Rogers the uber-lobbyist. Some years ago (under Leavitt), I was an agency head and had the privelege of being lobbied by Paul. Shortly after that I heard (this is a small town, after all) what he told his client about our meeting -- bald lies. WHen the truth wouldn't have hurt him or his client at all. Making him look good, me bad, of course. I assume that's the way he still works.

There are ways to improve your relationship and standing with a legislator, or for that matter, anyone. Find one you like and ask if you can help with an issue or help with his political campaign. Be pleasantly persistent.

I cannot relate with your experience of not being able to get an appointment. My experience has been just the opposite. And it is the kiss of death for an elected official to 'care less'. Good luck.

Stewart: try offering to buy him lunch. Not to defend legislators, but they do have full time jobs in addition to their families and in a lot of cases charity work. If you gave them a reason to take time out of their incredibly busy lives, maybe they would be more willing to listen to what you have to say.

When the revolution comes, it will be people like Paul Rogers that will be dragged through the streets first.

Our legislators are the most corrupt, arrogant people in any legislature anywhere in the U.S. And their arrogance and corruption is fed directly by lobbyists like Paul Rogers, one of the worst. Utah legislators needs ETHICS REFROM, including a ban on corporate donations (just like the federal law now does), an INDEPENDENT ethics commission, and an INDEPENDENT re-apportionment commission. But instead of cleaning up their smarmy, corrupt practices, Republican leadership like Greg Curtis, Greg Hughes, Dave Clark and Steve Urquhart LECTURE the other members of the House and Senate about why they don't need ethics reform. VOTE ALL THESE INCUMBENTS OUT! That sends the only message we need -- Legislators work for US, and if you are not honest and open, you will be fired.

I need a new job.

There must be some legislators and lobbyists posting their comments and trying to defend this system.

Citizens, representing their personal interests in a democratic system, are NOT lobbyists. Rogers and his ilk, who are paid to protect the profit margins of businesses and other organized groups, are doing something completely different.

There is a clear and sharp line between these two activities and only someone who benefits from lobbying would try to confuse this issue.

Thank heavens for lobbyists. Without them, our ignorant legislators (local and national) wouldn't know what the heck they are voting for. Somebody has to educate them--so lobbyists do it for us.

The GOP of Utah is a mirror image of the GOP in Washington.
Nothing to be proud of.
Lots of palms being greased.

Uh-huh. Most of these negative comments are from people who don't try to be part of the political process. They want to whine and yet don't do anything to influence outcomes.

If you want influence, you have to make a consistent effort. Go to your neighborhood caucus, get elected a delegate to the county and/or state conventions (if you don't get chosen, you can still go, you just don't get to vote). I guarantee you will get an audience with any elected official or candidate you want at that venue. At the county convention, our representative took those from his district (about 20 of us) into a separate room for a 60-minute Q&A. You can button-hole anyone you want for a one-on-one.

Contacts outside of conventions depend on the official. Write all your representatives on issues you care about. I usually get a form letter from Sen. Hatch, but Sen. Bennett and Congressman Bishop are more responsive. Bishop once called me the same day I emailed him. He frequently holds conference-call town meetings with as many as 3,000 participants, any one of whom can ask a question live or recorded for later response.

Your voice can be heard!

No, no, no, Bill -
Lobbyists don't educate our legislators - they buy them.

My brother in law is super close with a legislator. He says the Paul Rogers formula is simple. He finds a powerful legislator and gets his clients to pay that legislator money for "consulting." Once that arrangement is made, Rogers then has control over how that guy votes. So all this talk of banning free lunches isn't going to solve the problem. You have to find and prosecute the legislators that Rogers has arranged "consulting" contracts for.

the whole idea of a lobbyist is to make sure that those with the money get their opinions known ...

or so many of the normal people make contact with our politicians that they the politician fear being voted out - since that will never happen because this state is so passive related to law and rules and gov't ..

therefore the lobbyist will always win with the perks and benefits (under the law) to the politician

anybody in this state get to an nba final with somebody else paying for it ?? lobbyist took care of that for some our captiol hill folks .. dinners .. short trips to places of interest ??

utah politics .. who's your lobbyist (bank)

I remember my AP Government class during my senior year in high school spending a week working for legislators: the one I worked for was a retired farmer from a small town with no legal training at all. He ran for office to help make changes in the education system and to help build infrastructure in smaller parts of the state. He voted on hundreds of issues during the session, most of which he had no experience with. To get info on those issues he could talk to other reps or sens and accept their opinions, talk to constituents, or talk to lobbyists on each side of the issue. He talked to other reps/sens, but wanted to make up his own mind, so he looked for more info. Not many constituents ever tried to contact him on most issues (I was really surprised at how little people got involved). So he had to get info from lobbyists.
Lobbyists play a very important role -- just like constituents -- but there should be more transparency. The $50 limit seems to help some, but it should be tightened up. But I am grateful for those who seek to inform our legislators!

I have had excellent responses from my legislators. I am just a citizen and have contacted several legislators and successfully put together meetings with them. Sometimes they aren't even my legislator, but are a leading voice on an issue I am interested in. I have had a state senator call me 3 and 4 times to follow up on an issue we have discussed.

You can have influence just as a lobbyist does. I spend time at the capitol during the session, I learned how to put requests in to talk to a legislator, and I have met with them during critical points of issues I am interested in. All as just a citizen. There's really nothing sinister or magical about it. Just being willing to put together a coherent position and take the time to ask them to meet works well.

And I have to say it is more than a bit silly to believe that a legislator is going to change his position for a lunch. He/she really isn't basing his/her positions on the lunch aspect - it's the discussion and dialog that is important. Give it a try!

I agree with what has been said above -- everyone can lobby. Some of the most effective lobbyists are volunteers, or get paid very little. The UEA is still the most powerful lobby in the state -- they spend near-millions so they can complain about not having enough cash. But I am a Curtis constituent who does not know him personally (just through being a constituent) and he has always been very accessible. Obviously we don't always agree, but both my senator and my representative have listened and shown my ideas and opinions a lot of respect. In order to get "face time" with a representative or senator, just remember that they have families, full-time jobs, and other responsibilities to take care of. Try different avenues (call, mail, email) and let them know you'd like return communication. Be respectful and cordial (which can be hard at times!) and they will be too. You can even invite them out for a "dutch" lunch.

There are 2 sides to every story.
Lobbyists do help legislators discover elements of issues that may be hard to understand or positons which may be under-represented. However, they do also exert undue influence on legislators becasue of gift giving. They have unfettered access to many legislators. Conversely, many constituents have limted access to these same legislators. Often public business is done in private and that is wrong.
The sleaze factor is alive and well in this arena. When laws are passed contrary to the wishes of a majority of the public; when laws seem to magically appear at the end of sessions without any visable discussion; when 'deals' are struck without any real public input and when elected officials have arrogant attitudes and hob-knob with lobbyists; the public has a right to be angry. They ought to replace such elected officials with those who promise to be more responsive to the will of the people and to continue to replace them until they find representatives who respond to their desires.
Utah needs ETHICS REFORM, TRANSPARENCY in public issues and decisions and a VIABLE 2 PARTY system. Without such changes corruption will continue and the public will not be served.

....different day. YAWN! Let me know when you find some news.

You want to know what is wrong with America? Here you go...lobbyist that bribe legislators to represent a special interest...this is essentially the auction of America led by George Bush, Goldman Sachs and every state legislator. In particular, you have to love how they fixed the charter school situation..legislators got their wives on the boards, then they set up a way to finance them, build them, then sell them to the charter board, aka..private religious boards...and then the parents whose kids go to these schools have no say. Worse, these pathetic boards are full of dysfunctional, control hungry people who lack any measure of decency to the employees. This is one example of how the minority is well served by the special interest and the majority of people remain unserved.

No politician should be able to accept any gratuity from a lobbyist, further there should be a law that requires the politician to spend equal time with regular constituents as they do lobbyist.

To not a highly paid lobbyist, the difference of the jazz making the money they make is that they dont impact the laws of our state. Lobbyists are paying of the legistlative folks for favors affecting our lives on a daily basis. Lobbyists are evil self serving people

Anyone in the lobbying business quickly learns that the only thing he has to offer in the marketplace, besides a lunch I suppose, is honest and truthful information. If he deceives a legislator, it will only happen once, as his credibility is gone.

I don't know about this Mr. Rogers the Dnews interviewed, but a good lobbyist is a credible lobbyist. They serve a useful purpose. And they can lobby either of the two parties, because, again they are perceived as someone who provides factual information.

None of us will ever really know what goes on behind closed doors and under the tables in the legislature - will we?
Never expect one legislator to rat on another in these situations.

As a private citizen, I've personally met with over a dozen Utah legislators to discuss issues, and I don't have any special "credentials" or "qualifications". These meetings were very enjoyable and very professional.

Only twice was I allowed to pick up the tab, and once the legislator actually paid for my meal (assuring me that he was using private funds).

Many of you claim that you don't have access to lawmakers. Perhaps that says more about you than the lawmaker?

Based strictly on the tone and quality of your comments, I wouldn't want to go to lunch with you either!

Again, strictly based on what you've written, I'd rather eat breakfast or lunch with this Paul Rogers guy than many of you!

You guys are typical cynics who assume everything about politics is corrupt. There are many lobbyists who are not high-paid but work for nonprofit groups, chambers of commerce, poverty advocates, taxpayer groups, etc. They are registered lobbyists because part of their job is to present their groups' views to legislators and try to make a good impact on public policy from their point of view. Many of these people make from $30,000 a year to $60,000. It's and OK living but not high-flying! I've been one of them myself, and I've seen a sincere interest in legislators in trying to hear from many sides of an issue to be sure they're not missing any important information or arguments as they make up their mind on an issue or bill. It's an important part of the process, and many of these lobbyists are working for you and me to make government make better decisions.

I am fussy about who I eat with, no Thanks

Hey Bob "Columbo" Bernick, did it ever occur to you that maybe Paul "Jolly" Rogers could not actually be in two places at one time? And maybe, just maybe he is buying meals for legislators at which he is not actually present. That maybe he is not just buying "access" as they claim. Maybe he is buying "influence". Maybe some legislators ask lobbyists to buy meals for them even when the lobbyist is not around. Maybe some legislators, despite their protestations to the contrary, really can be bought for the price of meals, since it is cash money that ends up directly in their pocket.

Yeah, ask Rogers 3 simple questions:

1) Have you ever purchased a meal for a legislator at which you were not present?
2) If so, how many?
3) Has a legislator (like say, Bramble for a hypothetical example) ever initiated contact with you asking you to pay for his meal(s)?

Rest assured that if Paul Rogers is around it is to try and suck as much government booty into his snout as possible.

Don't need any reforms. The system, according to the lobbyists, is self-regulating and is cleaning itself up. And you too can make money in MLM selling juice and skin care products.

I can think of something worse than going to lunch with legislators. Being an attractive female and going to lunch with them.

For all of you who want to get rid of lobbyists, there is a simple solution, run for the legislature and when you get elected, just ignore Rogers and his type. Put them out of business by making them inconsequential.

Of course, given the overwhelming showing of ignorance concerning how government and the legislature actually works, and is intended to work, exhibited in many of your comments, there is not much chance that anyone would actually vote for you.

And for those of you who can't get your elected officials to talk to you, you should ask someone to give you an honest evaluation about your approach. Because in over 25 years in politics I have not met a legislator who is not only willing, but anxious to talk to their constituents. So if yours won't talk to you, the problem just might be your approach or maybe your breath.

Humm.....Are these the same legislators who are have been so concerned about the influence on the prescribing habits of doctors by the drug companies and their representatives who offer free lunches, pens and pads????

What hippocrites!!!!

Interestingly enough all these lobbyists and their piglet snouts in the public trough, have necessitated that government itself (like your county or city) have its own lobbyists. This is to slow the flow of government swag and loot handed out by the legislature... and to make sure the legislators do not completely overlook the fact that there are actually people other than themselves involved in government.

Don't we see this same story everytime lobbying reports are filed?

Remember, it's called a NEWSpaper for a reason.