Huntsman appoints ethics reform panel

Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. named his government ethics/political reform commission Thursday, saying it's time to find out why so many Utahns "lack confidence" in the state's political institutions.

Meanwhile, a new Deseret News/KSL-TV poll shows that Utahns overwhelmingly want ethics reform in the Utah Legislature, which convenes its 2009 general session Monday.

Chairing Huntsman's 18-member commission, which includes legislators, political scientists, former party leaders and news media, will be Larry H. Miller, owner of the Utah Jazz, the EnergySolutions Arena and a number of Intermountain car dealerships. Miller retired from active leadership of his wide-ranging sports and business empire last year due to ill health, and Miller had to miss the Capitol press conference because of a hospital visit.

But Huntsman said Miller called him Thursday specifically to say his chairmanship would be "one of (Miller's) top priorities this year."

During 2009, the Huntsman commission — formally called the Governor's Commission on Strengthening Utah's Democracy — will study various issues aimed at restoring public trust in government and citizen political participation, including voting. It will make recommendations to the Legislature and public in November.

Huntsman said he hopes the commission can find some way to get more Utahns, especially young people, to vote. "Wouldn't it be cool if we could be the first state with online voting?" the governor said.

The new poll, conducted by Dan Jones & Associates (Jones is a member of the new commission), found that three-fourths of Utahns want, in general, state ethics reform.

Among the 74 percent who want reform, there was great support in the following areas:

87 percent say all gifts to legislators should be banned, except for small items like a soft drink or a pen.

84 percent say there should be an independent ethics commission to look into complaints about a legislator or top member of the executive branch of government, like the governor.

84 percent say state officeholders shouldn't be paid lobbyists for at least one year after leaving office.

83 percent say there should be limits on the size of contributions made to state office candidates.

77 percent say legislators and executive elected officers, current and retired, should not be able to use their campaign funds for personal use.

73 percent say an independent commission should be adopted to recommend to the Legislature how legislative and congressional districts are redrawn after each 10-year Census.