Last year, the U spent more money on lobbying than any other registered Utah lobbying group.
Spending nearly three times more than any other state college or university, the U dished out $23,505 on lunches, sporting events and other event tickets. Utah State University, the second largest lobbyist in the higher education system, spent $8,000.
“It looks like we spent a lot, but a lot of that is just cost value that we have to account for,” said Nancy Lyon, assistant vice president for government affairs.
For example, on Nov. 10, the U gave seven legislators football tickets to see the Utes defeat San Diego State by a score of 17-3. The U didn’t spend anything on the tickets, but the cost value must be included on the lobby report. At $20 a ticket, the football game became a $140 lobbying effort.
The state defines lobbying as any gift given to a policy maker. Under this definition, the U Board of Trustees, state Board of Regents and legislators are all included.
Lunches with legislators, regents and trustees appear frequently on the lobbying report?so do tickets to plays and sporting events.
“These events are necessary. Through these events, we help policy makers understand what we do on our campus. Perhaps the best way of helping them understand the U’s role is to get them on campus to see what we do for the community,” Lyon said.
Last year, the U hosted two legislative subcommittee meetings on campus. The costs associated in these meetings includes not only lunch, but also transportation, she said.
Some may feel that $23,000 is too much for the U to spend on lobbying, but Regents Chairman Charlie Johnson doesn’t think so.
Because the U lobbies for both academic programs as well as University Hospital, “it would be expected to see the U as the largest lobbying group in the state. [The U] has more issues, the largest budget and complex academics that demand the need for lobbying,” Johnson said.
Lyon said she feels good about the amount of money spent on lobbying. “I don’t think it is too much or too little.”
However, the U claims that $23,000 is higher than it should be.
“We are learning what events we have to include and what events don’t count,” she said. There were multiple costs included that the U administrators have learned didn’t need to be, such as costs for invitations to events.