Utah's Deseret News has looked into the campaign finance records of Utah office-seekers and the results are grim evidence [1] of the need for reform.  Of the $3.74 million spent in the last election cycle by winning candidates $3.58 million came from the candidate's own wallet, or from special interests.

Not only are the overall fundraising numbers up, so are the totals raised from special interests with a stake in the bills that are considered and passed by the Utah legislature. The charts that accompany the extensive article give a picture of where the money is coming from.

The article quotes Tony Musci of Utah Common Cause on what reforms are in order: "We clearly support a role for public financing of legislative campaigns [. . .] A political campaign is a central part of the process of democratic governance. If the public is not funding that part of the process, then that critical part is owned by special interests. And that translates into how decisions are made once those elected officials take office."