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Legislator's conflict bares lax ethics rules
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A legislature who is a lawyer for developers aids their projects by getting funding for adjacent infrastructure projects. A legislator who is a contractor building private schools is a leader in the fight for vouchers. Oh, and pity the poor city, county or agency that doesn't comply with the legislator's whim or pet projects -- project priorities and funding get changed, your county's ability to effect zoning is changed, your city's form of government is forced to change, or where you thought you were voting your tax dollars to go is changed.
I believe that the root cause is incumbency. It appears that being in any elected office more than two terms makes a person think that they somehow endowed with more wisdom and knowledge than the average voter. And they think that the average voter is not smart enough to see the conflict and do something about it. They then use their ability to steer the ship of government to directly benefit their self interest.
So, when employees of school districts and universities (or their spouses) are elected to the Legislature, they get to vote on budgets and tax issues without having a conflict of interest. Nice deal.
Rep Tilton should step down from that committee. I have read that he has a silent partner in this. If that is true then that bothers me even more. It suggests that he is a front man. I have also read that it will cost up to $100million to get the license. If that is even twice the real cost, it means that Rep Tilton will need a silent parnter. I don't like that part at all! If he refuses to disclose his private partnerships I agree that he should simply resign from the legislature.
As for all of the conflicts of interest. I was told by a State Senator that the history is pretty recent. I guess in the mid-1980's two state employees were elected to the House of Representatives, as Republicans. For the 100 years prior to this it was never allowed. A vote was held and the legislature agreed to let employees of state government to vote on their own pay raise. Sine this line was crossed it has grown out of control.
I think it should be tightened up significantly. I am a conservative Republican.
Now, in terms of the recommendation that voters get rid of Tilton, good luck trying to get Utah County to elect decent legislators.