Political pots are beginning to boil

With the election a little more than three weeks away, the Utah political pot is beginning to boil (finally). Here is our take on some topics in the news:

Dueling ethics charges. Last week, three legislators filed ethics charges against their powerful colleague Rep. Greg Hughes. Hughes and others then filed an ethics complaint against one of the signatories, Rep. Phil Riesen, for releasing the charges to the news media prior to the filing. Because this occurred only a month before the election, allegations are flying that the issues are more political than ethical. What's going on here?

Webb: Hughes will be exonerated in lengthy, fair and detailed Ethics Committee hearings because this is mostly a "he said/she said" situation and the other charges against Hughes aren't likely to stick. Campaign contributions are offered by individ- uals and interest groups, both liberal and conservative, to candidates, both Republican and Democrat, who are likely to vote a certain way or support particular causes now or in the future. Dealmaking, compromise, financial support and political pressure are all part of the way politics in America works, from city council races to presidential contests, from George Washington to George Bush.

Obviously, there is a line that must never be crossed into bribery, and it wasn't crossed here. The ethics complaint coming when it did was clearly an "October surprise" designed to influence the election. I believe meaningful ethics and campaign finance reform will come in the next legislative session, but you can never completely take the politics out of politics.

Pignanelli: "Is ethics simply politics in disguise?" (Randy Cohen) For many years, a number of political veterans (including my firm partner Doug Foxley and I) have advocated for the establishment of a permanent bipartisan ethics commission, composed of individuals — not holding office — to supervise campaign contributions, lobbyist reports and complaints against officials/lobbyists. Recent events clearly demonstrate the need for such a body. The existing legislative ethics committee was not built for these issues. Much time has been wasted over wrangling over process, and concerns exist because decisionmakers are current officeholders with agendas. Further, a number of Capitol Hill insiders have heard rumors of potential actions against lawmakers for years. To have them filed against Hughes a month before his re-election does raise questions as to the true intentions of the allegations: a search for justice or political advantage? Accusations of bribery and unethical conduct are severe matters, not campaign tactics. A more robust entity can distinguish political games from a serious contention.