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2 lawmakers defend their involvement in proposal for nuclear power plant

While Aaron Tilton has crafted legislation in the past two years that seriously impedes my job, I'm not too concerned about his involvement in a nuclear plant. We've got to develop additional power resources and nuclear is already well regulated on levels that would supercede anything Tilton or Noel could entertain.

Why can't Utah County legislators just stick to building charter schools that benefit themselves?

It is nice to see progress being made for nuclear power after years of hyperbole and fear mongering.

We have a legislator from Draper involved in the operation of a private or charter school working to pass a law that would subsidize the tuition to his school with tax dollars. Now we have these two. Nice ethics. Greedy much?

you get what you elect

It would seem the moderator is busy screening what people say...

There are clearly two issues here. TWO, not one.

The first, alternate energy sources. People are going to fall into either support nuc power for one reason or another, or oppossing is for one reason or another.

The second, ethics. We have two legislators sitting on the committee, in fact controlling the committee, that oversees the very industry they are trying to get into. Either you think this is a problem or you do not.

I read people either talking ethics, or saying they like nuc so the ethics is not a problem. In both cases an over simplication of the issue.

On nuc power, I support it. Kudos for trying though at the end of the day I highly doubt a nuc power plant will be built any where in the US, let alone Utah.

On ethics, these two have clearly stepped over the line. Did Gov Huntsman know that Rep Tilton was starting a power company essentially when he appointed him to the environmental committee? Did committee members know? And if no conflict, why file it?

These two should resign from the committee. Avoid the appearance.

Rep. Noel thinks global warming is a myth, does he think nuclear waste is a myth too? I love it how people are touting N-energy as the "solution" to our energy woes. Been there, done that, don't want to go back.

As James said, it is two issues. Nuclear power production will probably double or triple in the next decade or two, because IF global warming is an issue, it is the only resource capable of replacing coal and natural gas, and if our cars become electric the gasoline used by them.

On the other issue of conflict of interest, it is nearly impossible to avoid in a part time legislature. They all have their own issues. We really don't need lobbyists since so many have a special seat on the floor of the House and Senate. They are generally not professional politicians and so they are involved in other professions: education, real estate, farming, construction, and the list goes on. The legislature is made up of special interest, which I prefer to the professional politicians, that do the bidding of their lobbyists even in the face of constituent opposition.

Spanish Fork, you are correct that they are part-time legislators though in my opinion this crosses the line. If they step down from that committee it cleans it up a great deal.

A perfect example of their conflict is the nature of the hearing. They set up a kangaroo court where everyone agrees that they are wonderful. Apparently there is only one side to this story.

A committee chair that was not conflicted would invite guests reflecting all sides to an issue.

And there are other examples. Rep James Ferrin of charter school fame. It's great that he builds charter schools. It's great that votes for charter schools. What do we think when he pushes the increase in per-pupil funding for the charter school facility line item? This is the very line item charter schools use to pay his bill. He increased the line item that ensures he gets paid.

People can smell through these conflicts. Every legislator has them, absolutely. Not every legislator abuses it. Ferrin, Tilton and Noel have.

Rep Dave Cox did it right. He was a teacher who refused to sit on education appropriation committee so he couldn't vote on his pay raise directly or indirectly.

dont ya know ... politics is defined as - the ability to benefit the self under the cloak of benefitting the many !!
always has been , always will be ... otherwise we wouldnt have anybody in politics cause nobody would be interested
one of my favorite political stories was one of sen bob dole's family businesses was into the making of smoke alarms and his lobbied bill's/law's out of washington dc required a specific smoke alarm for federal buildings that only his family business built (eventually a watch dog group caught hold of the whole scheme and sen dole had to lighten up the spec's on the bill/law for the smoke alarm to allow at least 2 bids on the smoke alarm)....
nothing new here utah .. business as usual, get over it - but it does go along with my premise that hatch, bennett, cannon, matheson, bishop need to be dropped (their favorite lobby group will hire them)and get a new set every election to share the specialized retirement program with utahns only these 5 have positions can have (but you and i and america pay for)

To N. Ethics
Your comment shows your ignorance. The legislator in Draper serves on a PUBLIC Charter School Board for free, board members get zero for their SERVICE. Public Charter Schools are free, no tuition and precluded by law from becoming private schools, therefore the voucher bill has nothing to do with charter schools.
Get your facts straight before you cast stones!