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Probe ends as Walker resigns Utah Legislature

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Beavis | 12:29 a.m. July 8, 2008
The should make a movie out of this and call it "Revenge of the RINOs".
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SunnyJim | 12:38 a.m. July 8, 2008
Talk about retaliation. The UEA gave Ellis a $10,000 donation because Walker voted for vouchers. Then they've hired an attorney to draft the complaint against Walker. This is all politics. I bet they will hire an attorney for Mascaro the Molester just to keep him around for an occasional vote.
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Mellons | 12:51 a.m. July 8, 2008
So this allegation about "an unnamed lawmaker" is merely based on Ellis' complaint? You've got to be kidding. This is the same guy that solicited a job from Walker, talked about it, discussed it but then decided against it??? That Richard Ellis.

And with everyone accusing Walker of being a liar, why is we want to believe him on this one particular point. I think I know the answer: poltics.
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RangerGordon | 1:31 a.m. July 8, 2008
SunnyJim: These allegations are sensational! The teachers' union behind it all? Love it, love it!

I would like to write about this, but I'd need documentation; could you please provide links?
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Shamus On You GOP | 4:37 a.m. July 8, 2008
Walker should be going to jail if guilty of offering a bribe.
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Political Witch Hunt | 5:30 a.m. July 8, 2008
The article states: 'Irvine said he was "not 100 percent sure" the person referred to was Curtis. But, Irvine said, the House speaker certainly was among the handful of GOP leaders able to make such a commitment.'

So Irvine is on a witch hunt. He doesn't have the facts, but was willing to drag Walker thru the mud anyway to find some unknown individual. Despicable.

It's unconscionable that 5 legislators would be pawns to this corrupt individual. What's Irvine's motivation? Who's paying him and why?
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bcs | 6:49 a.m. July 8, 2008
Doogie,
That is an interesting analysis. I hadn't looked at it that way.
I am going to think this through today but I believe you may be onto something
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BBKing | 7:09 a.m. July 8, 2008
At this point witch hunt.

As for Phil Reason, he clearly does not understand that nature of the ethics committee. It is ultimately about protecting the honor and reputation of the House and Senate. Utah rarely has ethics committee hearings though when they do they are for real, not like DC.

Phil shows by his comment that he is also engaged in a witch hunt. Pretty big game that is being played right now.
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JimBobDandyMcFly | 7:19 a.m. July 8, 2008
now why aren't these five legislators doing something about the tryanny and monopoly of Intermountain Health? after all ihc assigned lobbyists to each task force member paying each of them around 99K to harass the legislative task force members and see to it their ways were engraved in stone. it's all politics and everything is okay on either side of the aisle as long as it suits the individual politician. both sides do unethical things and get away with it until these kindergartners suddenly can't play well together. then they go get their teachers to straighten out the mess they have created. utah is no different than Chicago in many ways.
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Tony | 7:45 a.m. July 8, 2008
I am amazed Sheryl Allen requested an ethics investigation over bribery when it is alleged that she did the same thing in 2000 against her eventual primary opponent.

Sheryl was originally declared the winner at the Davis county Republican convention.

Her opponent challenged the vote tabulation.

It was clear that Robert's rules of order supported the challenge and Sheryl was going to be forced into a primary.

When Sheryl realized this she allegedly offered her opponent a position with the Davis School District or her support if he should decided to run for the School Board (I'm not sure which) if the opponent would drop his challenge.

Her opponent declined the offer.
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Erick | 8:21 a.m. July 8, 2008
I think it is a mistake to halt the ethics probe. There is still a cloud of suspicion and doubt that lingers over Mr. Walker, the Republican legislative leadership, and certain elected officials. And the public still deserves to know if there was, in fact, any wrongdoing. Too many legislators and elected officials are involved in this incident to let this drop just because Mr. Walker has resigned.

This is not just about Mr. Walker. I suspect others are involved and would be embarrassed by the outcome of such a probe. Perhaps Mr. Walker was little more than a sacrificial lamb for the protection of those individuals. If so, then whatever happened will likely happen again and bring about additional questions of ethics - unless those involved are more careful and do a better job covering their tracks.

Continue the probe in the name of true ethics. Otherwise, how will we know just how honest and ethical are these other individuals?
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Nick | 8:40 a.m. July 8, 2008
I've got a simple solution to this mess.

I'm voting for Mr. Clark, the Democratic candidate for treasurer. He's well-qualified.

I'm washing my hands of Republicans this year.
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Anonymous | 9:27 a.m. July 8, 2008
The House ethics complaint ended because Walker is no longer a member of the Utah House of Representatives. The AG's investigation (through Davis and Weber County investigators) is still in process.
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Anonymous | 9:27 a.m. July 8, 2008
What is it about the Republicans?
Why the rampant corruption and cronyism?
Here are some of their role models:
George W. Bush
Dick Cheney
Karl Rove
Rush Limbaugh
GOP is toast for a decade or so.
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JoAnn Hanson | 9:36 a.m. July 8, 2008
Continue the probe. Mark Walker was the pawn who was sacrificed to save King. I, too, suspect others are involved and the truth needs to come out.
My hat is off to the brave legislators who have asked for the probe.
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Dr Don | 9:48 a.m. July 8, 2008
"What is it about the Republicans?
Why the rampant corruption and cronyism?"

And Democrats are exempt from this? Have you ever heard of Chicago-style politics?
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CITIZEN | 10:00 a.m. July 8, 2008
TO ALL VOTERS/PATRIOTS;THROW THE BUMS OUT!!!!
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Davis County Republican | 10:03 a.m. July 8, 2008
C'mon, Tony! Sheryl Allen couldn't offer her 2000 opponent a job in Davis School District. Jobs offers in school districts come from human resources departments and are offered only after job postings and interviews by a selection committee. I know. I work there.
Stop making stuff up.
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Government Man | 10:19 a.m. July 8, 2008
Greg Curtis is up to his neck in this event. Walker's brother lives in Curtis's ward. The big boys in the Legilsature wanted Walker in this important job so that they could privatize the State Retirement system. Curtis and his bandit friends want to totally stick it to teachers and state employees. Curtis keeps blaming the teacher's union and PTA ladies for all of the investigations concerning him. The school people are only concerned about fair pay and reducing class size. Curtis hates them with a passion. He can't stand the fact the teachers and PTA people got the Voucher law stopped. Curtis does not believe in open government. He tried to still implement the Voucher law with the 2nd clean up bill. Curtis, Dolan, and Valentine are also getting payback on Mayor Carroon for not supporting the soccer stadium. Curtis pushed the split of the Jordan District so that he and his band of clowns could come back and try to get several million dollars from the New District to pay for the soccer stadium. Curtis's wife (Teresa) ran for the School Board in District 3. She was endorsed by Kelvin Cullimore, Niderhauser, and Mayor Workman.
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the investigation must go on | 10:22 a.m. July 8, 2008
And the taxpayers get the shaft. Again.

We pay these legislators to work for us and when we finally get a toehold on the wall and we're just about to peek into the arena and see what's really happening, they resign.

Show's over. Nothin' to see here. Go back to work so you can send us more of your paycheck. There's no scandal. Of course there isn't. Since he's resigned and we have no jurisdiction that means there wasn't any bribery.

We want the TRUTH! It really does appear that this scandal goes all the way to the top! If not, why drop it so early in the investigation? If Mark Walker is innocent, let the evidence be presented and we, as your taxpaying employer, will tell you so.
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