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Show oats D2 DAILY Saturday, February 11, 2006 HERALD 2006 LEGISLATURE Ban onlobbyist sifts passes committee Tyler Peterson DAILY HERALD A ban on lobbyist gifts to legislators worth more than $5 will head to the Housefor debateafter passing through a committee hearing unanimously Friday. oh yes, food counts as a Le the three bills this session to tighten currentlobbyist gift and disclosurelaw, this is the mostrestrictive. “Cynicism is rampant with our constituents... right now,” said Rep.Patricia Jones, D-Holladay. “That kind ofdistrustis contributing to a general malaise ofdisinterest.” Jonessaid she and her husband have long been season ticket holders for the Utah Jazz. So it is always troubling whenpeople stop her at games and ask whichlobbyist bought the tickets. “[ think everyonein this room is awareof the growing distrust of governmentright now,” she said Generally speaking. anygift morethan $5 would be a no-no underthebill. but there are a few“commonsense” exceptions. Flowersfor a funeral, » informational items, or events to whichall legislators are privy are some examples. Gifts returnedor sold to generate moneyforthe state's general Sponsor: Rep. Patricia Jones, D-Holladay | | I || 1 don’t need to include names. Healso removes the exemption thatallowslobbyists to pay for travel and expenses without disclosing it. In addition, disclosure reports would be due every quarter instead of every year. Thatbill | was passed by the House, and | pen es peebeard by a Sete ite Committee. Ban on Gifts to Elected Officials — Bill would bangiving anygift worth more than $5 to elected Officials, with some excep. tions. oe slightly different is —— SenateBill 102, Gifts to Public Officials, by Sen. Gregory Bell, R-Fruit Heights. fund are also excluded from the ban. Like Alexander's, non-food Jonesintroduced a less-deitems from $10 to $50 would veloped version ofthe bill as an require names on lobbyist reamendmentearlier this session portsin Bell's bill, but so would on the Housefloorto Rep.Jeff food from $10 to $50. Alexander'sbill on lobbyist While well intended in gift limits and disclosure, but Jones's mind, the measures put the amendmentfailed to pass. forth by Alexander andBell reSince then she has made a few quire more red tape, have loopchanges. « holes,andstill allow gifts from “Saying that we would have lobbyists. Jones said it would nogifts would be nice thing, be easier for both lobbyists and but weareall part-timelegislegislatorsif they didn’t have lators,” Alexander, R-Provo, to deal withall that. said at the time. “There would Jones said herbill is “much be opportunities where the lessintrusive and less cumbermedia or maybe even others somesthan theotherbills.” in our own body wouldjust be aring occurred without waiting to catch somebody for je but Rep. LaVar Chrissomelittle thing, and I don't tensen, R-Draper,said he hadn't think we wantto go there.” seen anygift giving with the Alexander's proposal, HB type ofimpact that the newspa101, does not ban gifts, but repers mayhave people believe. quires a lobbyist disclosure re“I, for one, certainly have port to include names for nonnointerestin that,”hesaid.“I food items between $10 and think the ban is a good idea, $50. Currently, these reports andI'm fine with it.” School uniform bill passes committee again A schooluniform bill that made it pastall but the Senate last year started fresh Friday, passing through a House committee unanimously without muchdebate. Thebill would require local school boards or principals to hold anelectionif at least 20 percentof the students’ parentssign a petition for a uniform policy If the majority votesin favorofa uniformpolicy, the school would have to adopt one. The process may also occurat the district or charter schoollevel, as long as 20 percentof the parents sign a petition. The bill would give the par- Frank, R-Pleasant Grove. The state Office of Education supported the bill last year, and the state Attorney General's Office said it would be constitutional as long as there wereprovisions for families who couldn't afford uniforms,and as long as the uniforms weren't prescriptive and allowed forreligious clothing. entpopulation moresay in uni- form policies, said Rep. Craig Caa :NIC your. neighborhood grocer.| a.m.- 9:00 p.m. BTUU MATT YORK/Associated Press. Sellers and buyers trade underthe historic portalin Old Townin Albuquerque, N.M.A proposal being considered by the New Mexico Legislature couldbe thefirst step toward making things easier for American Indian artists whorely on their crafts to makea living. New Mexico Démocrat hopes toseparate real, fake artwork Susan Montoya Bryan THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Oneotherstate, Alaska, spon- sors a similar program that protects the workofnative artJuanita L. Peterssits on a side- ists and guarantees buyersthat walk beneaththe historic portal items bearing a “Silver Hand” in Albuquerque's Old Town, hop- seal were handcrafted by an ing the few winter tourists wan- Alaska Eskimo,Aleut or other dering the plaza will stop and Indian artist. look at her handmade turquoise The New Mexicolegislation earrings and necklaces. stems from complaints about ForPeters,selling her small imitation art beingsold in Santa worksof art means more than Fe andGallup, which is known keeping alive a tradition handed as a hubforcollectible jewdownby her mother, There are elry produced byartists from times she guards her spot under nearby Zuni Pueblo, the Navajo the portal for an entire day to Nation and the Hopireservation earn enoughto payherbills. in eastern Arizona. “I have no other income,” deadlineis looming, said the Santo Domingo Pueblo though: The Legislature adweuan. journs Thursday anda $70,000 proposal being considered appropriation to study the certibyttheNew Mexico Legislature fication plan is tied up in a budgetbill that has been criticized could be a big step toward makingthingseasier for Peters by Gov.Bill Richardson. and other American Indian artState andfederal lawsalready prohibit misrepresenting ists who rely on their crafts to makea living. fake Indian art or jewelry as Rep.Patricia Lundstrom’sbill authentic, but Lundstrom said would set aside funding for the those laws aren't enough.“It's a state Licensing and Regulation big problem. There's no way to Departmentto study and proregulateit.” said the Democrat. The Indian art market — with pose rules to establish a certification stamp forarts and crafts estimated sales of more than $1 made byIndians in New Mexibillion nationally — affects tourco. The aim is to boost sales and ism in New Mexicoas well as ensure that the expanding mar- the livelihood of Indian artists ketisn't tainted by fakes. andthe shopkeepers who sell . Navel Oranges Shank Portion irBOL % Ham $49 Butt Portion truly that TFLove Sou Bat anee John aT Ham Indiancultureis one of the top reasons peoplevisitthe state. Hesaid it would be important to him as a consumerto knowthat workbeingbilled as Indian is Roses are Red DLrolets are Blue,Maila Love Letter andtell” Charlie tg ‘Gee ey Content are Tested, Califomia Sweet, 4 Ib. Bags eneiy New Mexico Tourism Secretary Michael Cerletti said Y Gay at with Love! SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2006 “Delivered Fresh By their work. Squashblossom necklaces and boloties can be foundat roadside stands across the Navajo Nation, which spans parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. Trading posts along historic Route 66 in western New Mexico sell baskets and rugs as well as jewelry from the Zuni and Hopitribes. Shops on the plazas in Albuquerqueand Santa Fe are filled with fetish necklaces, silverbracelets,rings, sand paintings, pottery and kachinas. Someofthe items come with cards that read: “Certificate of authenticity. Guaranteed Native American made.” Jessica Martinez, who manages the Covered Wagonin Old Town,said guarantees like that attract buyers. “Anything we have,wetry to sell with a pictureofthe artist,” shesaid. “The one that doesn't havethe picture ofthe artist whodid it usually stays on the shelf longer.” Guesday, Sfebrumy 14, 2006 Lalentines Tay DEADLINEIS FEBRUARY10, 2006 BY 5:00 “y Fill out form below and send a paymentto Attention: Y, ove Lines eed eH erald Daily Herald P.O. 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