Alliance for Unity endorses legislative ethics reforms

SALT LAKE CITY — The drive for ethics reform in the Utah Legislature got a boost Thursday when the Alliance for Unity, a community group of Utah heavy hitters, endorsed several reforms that legislators may consider when they meet in general session Jan. 25.

The alliance, founded several years ago in part to mediate and discuss in a civil manner divisive civic issues in Utah, said legislators should adopt "strong" new laws that include an independent ethics commission, "a tough legislative code of ethics," conflict of interest provisions, campaign contribution limits and banning gifts from lobbyists.

The group did not endorse the Utahns for Ethical Government citizen initiative, although its objectives are among those in general terms of the initiative. Initiative supporters are now out gathering signatures, and if they get 95,000 voters to sign up, the new law will be on the November ballot for approval.

Meanwhile, The Sutherland Institute, a conservative think tank, issued a detailed briefing paper that opposes the UEG initiative. Two UEG officials debated their petition's specific language at a Sutherland luncheon seminar.

The alliance said, "If we are to protect Utah's image as a beautiful, healthy and safe place which reflects the values of its citizens, we must do all we can to ensure that government is ethical, transparent, responsive to the will of the people and not under undue influence from special interest groups."

Alexander Morrison, the alliance's executive director, said the group did not even consider the UEG initiative. "We are not for or against it. We just wanted to tell the Legislature that these (ethical issues in their statement) merit their consideration."

Kim Burningham, chairman of UEG, said he welcomes the statement, even if the group did not endorse his specific initiative.

"They clearly want the same things we do — strong ethical reform, independent ethics commission, ban of lobbyist gifts and campaign contribution limits. Theirs is a good group, and I certainly hope their stand makes a difference with the Legislature and Utahns.

"Does our initiative have to pass? No, not if the Legislature does all, or mostly all, of what ours would do," he said. "But if they water down these principles, we'll have real problems."

Paul Mero, head of The Sutherland Institute, said his group believes there should be ethics reform in the Legislature, but the UEG initiative is not the way to go.