Sep. 19--Gov. Gary Herbert has come out against campaign contribution limits, a position that flies in the face of a proposal currently under deliberation by the Governor's Commission on Strengthening Democracy.

Commissioner Randy Dryer, an attorney who drafted the proposal to cap individual donations at $4,000 for statewide candidates and $2,000 for legislative races per election cycle, voiced disappointment at the governor's comments.

"I'm disappointed that he's expressed his view now instead of waiting until he gets our report.," Dryer said. "If there are other issues that we're looking at where he's already made up his mind, perhaps we should know about that so we don't waste any more time."

Former Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. first formed the 19-member panel in January to scrutinize five areas -- ethics, redistricting, campaign finance, lobbying and elections -- and to determine why voter turnout and civic participation has declined in Utah.

Herbert became the state's top executive in August after Huntsman was confirmed as the U.S. Ambassador to China. At that time, he wrote a letter supporting the Commission's continued efforts.

On Sept. 10, Commissioners voted 10 to 7 to accept Dryer's proposal and amend it further in their next session.

Herbert told The Associated Press in an interview published Friday that contribution caps limit free speech, and the absence of limits actually levels the playing field for well-heeled

and shoestring candidates alike.

"What I don't want to see either is a wholesale turnover to the election process to only the wealthy and those who have celebrity status," he told the AP .

Instead, Herbert favors disclosure of contributions within 48 hours -- a requirement that current staffing levels in the Lieutenant Governor's Office cannot yet achieve.

Herbert spokeswoman Angie Welling said his remarks were made before the Commission issued its proposal.

"Obviously there's a difference in what the Governor believes and what this proposal says," Welling said. "But it's something they can talk about and square in some way to find common ground."

The commission's role had already shrunk under Huntsman, who removed ethics and redistricting from its purview to appease legislative leaders. Whether Herbert's stance signals further cramping of its area of policy impact remains to be seen.

Kirk Jowers, a campaign finance attorney, heads up the Commission and said he plans to push ahead.

"I'm going to hold Governor Herbert to his word that he is anticipating our recommendations," Jowers said.

The panel's full report is scheduled for release in November.

"Hopefully we will come up with recommendations that may not be perfectly in line with his world view," Jowers added, "but that he can support because he will understand that, in their totality, they will improve the governance of and civic participation in Utah."

cmckitrick@sltrib.com

-- Commission's campaign contribution proposal includes the following individual limits per election cycle:

$4,000 -- For state-wide races

$2,000 -- For legislative races

$5,000 -- To parties

$2,000 -- To Political Action Committees

$100 -- Cap on cash donations

$25,000 -- Aggregate limit to candidates, parties, labor unions and PACs

-- More information -- Online at www.strengthendemocracy.org

-- The Governor's Commission on Strengthening Democracy meets Thursday from 3 to 6 p.m. at Weber State University's Hurst Center in Dumke Legacy Hall

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