Deseret News | Reader comments: Demos issue 4 proposals for ethics reform

Reader comments
Demos issue 4 proposals for ethics reform

Cottonwood Heights Native | 1:12 p.m. Oct. 28, 2008

Thank you, Representative Morgan, for your exemplary example on Ethics Reform. I appreciate that you have always walked the talk on this issue. Once, again, your willingness to stand strong for what is right has made a constituent proud. You represent the state of Utah and our Utah legislature well.

Cameron Hess | 1:13 p.m. Oct. 28, 2008

Are legislaters serious about ethics reform that apply to themselves or is it just a hammer to use against the other party for not supporting a partisan "ethics reform" bill? Are they really willing to clean up their act? Are they willing to do away with the appearance of pay to play? Do politicians REALLY want to represent the people who elected them or just the financial contributors who wine and dine them?

Re: Cameron Hess | 1:43 p.m. Oct. 28, 2008

Some do and some don't. Before voting for an incumbent, check his or her past record. I'm sure they will ALL BE FOR ETHICS REFORM this week.

Comments continue below

Read My Lips | 2:36 p.m. Oct. 28, 2008

Pat Jones will still figure out a way to take the "free" $400 concert tickets from lobbyists regardless of the words coming out of her mouth.

Chuck | 2:49 p.m. Oct. 28, 2008

This is the pot calling the kettle black.

Helen of Troy, NY | 4:50 p.m. Oct. 28, 2008

I fully support ethics, but I believe that people who lobby for ethics reforms should be exempted from ethics restrictions, like Lisa Johnson. Since Lisa Johnson is lobbying for ethics reforms and higher taxes, she should NOT have to register as a lobbyist nor should her "Republican" front group be required to register as a PAC when they pay for signs and put up them in the public right of way.

Commoner | 10:01 p.m. Oct. 28, 2008

Before the demos try to clean up the State House they ought to clean up their own house.

They are actively trying to get their own lobbyists elected by having them deliberately violate the existing ethics laws by not registering as lobbyists so that the public will not know that they are lobbyists.

If the democrats want ethics reform, they can start by having their own lobbyist/candidates like Lisa Johnson and Jay Seegmiller comply with the existing lobbying laws and register as lobbyists.

But wait, if the public knew they were lobbyists they probably wouldn't get elected would they?

And so the democrats look the other way and come up with proposals that won't stop their own unethical secret lobbyist candidates.

Doggie | 11:02 p.m. Oct. 28, 2008

Ethics? These people are talking ethics?

Karen Morgan was improperly contacting Phil Riesen's attorney during the recent ethics hearing.

Pat Jones uses her position in the legislature to steer business to Dan Jones and associates and takes front row tickets to Billy Joel.

Wayne Holland uses Party money to pay his son to work on the Seegmiller race.

Lisa Johnson illegally lobbies the legislature for over a year without registering or disclosing her lobbyist expenditures.

I'll start listening to these so called ethics proposals once the Democrats start acting ethically.

Jonny-come-lately | 7:40 a.m. Oct. 29, 2008

These Dems are playing Jonny-come-lately to Governor Huntsman, who has showed leadership on this issue since he took office. He has supported legislative ethics reform, and has implemented it for the Executive Branch.

The Dems in the legislature only want a one-year revolving door, while the Governor has always said he supports two years.

Looks like the Dems want to pretend they're in the front of this issue, but aren't willing to go far enough to actually impact their own post-legislature career ambitions.

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Courtney Sargent, Deseret News

Shadows of members of the media color the ground before Rep. Karen Morgan as she speaks about ethics reform at a press conference sponsored by the Utah Democratic Party at the Capitol Tuesday.