Utah Legislature: Ethics reform video pokes fun at Utah lawmakers

SALT LAKE CITY — Let the public campaign begin.

No sooner had the Utah Legislature passed a handful of ethics reform bills than one citizen initiative petition group has put up an Internet video saying lawmakers haven't done enough and citizens need to sign their petition.

The new Utahns for Ethical Government video can be viewed at www.youtube.com.

UEG must get 95,000 voter signatures by April 15 to get its initiative on November's ballot.

The video attempts to use a little humor to get its point across.

A small boy asks another what his father does. The other boy says he's a legislator.

"Honest?" says the little boy, meaning does the other kid's dad really have such an important job.

"No, regular," says the other kid, meaning that his dad really isn't that honest.

Some GOP legislators have been tough on UEG officials, clearly not liking what they are doing.

Lawmakers have passed a new law that makes it easier for residents to remove their signatures from initiative petitions, including giving opponents of the initiatives 30 days to examine the petitions and contact some signees to ask them to take their names off.

UEG officials could not be reached for comment Friday on the new Internet video.

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— Bob Bernick jr.

Jr.