Weber to host ethics debate

OGDEN — Weber State University will host a debate on the current citizen legislative ethics initiative at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 30.

The public is invited to attend in the Shepherd Union Wildcat Theater. The debate is sponsored by the Richard Richards Institute for Politics at WSU.

Former GOP House member Kim Burningham, chairman of Utahns for Ethical Government, will speak on behalf of the UEG petition.

Sen. Lyle Hillyard, R-Logan, an attorney, will address perceived problems with the 26-page initiative, which, if adopted by Utah voters, would lay down any number of ethics-related laws that Utah's 104 part-time legislators would have to obey.

Utah legislators, both Democrats and Republicans, are looking at creating a five-member independent ethics commission to review ethical complaints against lawmakers.

The UEG initiative, now out for voter signatures, would also create an independent ethics commission. However, the two proposals differ in scope and responsibility.