Hughes was cleared by the ethics committee, but the incident showed the flaws in the process, Valentine said. He said an independent ethics investigation should look into allegations before it is determined if a hearing should be held. If one is necessary, it should not be held behind closed doors, he said.

Valentine said good ethics legislation must be specific.

"We have to be rational with our approach to reform," he said. "We can't just say we need an independent ethics investigation. We need to make sure it works and solves the problems."

For example, Valentine said a strong definition of personal use would be needed to reform campaign-fund usage.

The Democrats clearly are particularly troubled by undisclosed gifts like tickets to Utah Jazz games and by the personal use of campaign funds, especially after a legislator leaves office.

Tanner also said the state needs a revolving-door law that would keep a legislator from leaving the House or Senate in December and starting work as a lobbyist in January, a concern mentioned by Huntsman.

Tanner is known for working to create the first law in the United States that banned smoking in public places. He sponsored a campaign finance law, but it failed.

"We need legislation requiring all gifts to legislators to be reported," he said. "We need to put good legislation into code to protect government from problems. This has nothing to do with individual people."

Valentine said the momentum for change is on hand.

"The events of the last couple of months have really shown the need to focus on ethics reform. This has been building for a while, and last week's hearings are a precipitating event."

The Democrats who signed the pledge are part of a moderate/conservative slate of candidates recruited by local party organizers to offer voters in what is known as the reddest county in the nation what they hope is a competitive choice in the general election.

The others who signed the pledge are Ken Peay, Gwyn Franson, Debbie Swenson, Brad King, Mary Lou Huffmon, Deon Turley, RaDene Hatfield, Steve Baugh, Boyd McAffee and Boyd Peterson.

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E-mail: twalch@desnews.com