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Hughes to introduce ethics bill in Utah Legislature

This is the first good idea on ethics reform that I have seen. I guess something good can come from Lisa Johnson's sleazy October Surprise. Also, the biggest most systemic problems in state government don't come from the legislature, but from the bureaucracy. I know first-hand of a fish-faced department head who shook-down a subordinate for a campaign donation to her desired politician.

More Smoke and Mirrors at the Tax Payers Expense. Ethic is as Ethics does. I can't sell Blood or Sell a Body Organ, or tissue. Because of so called ethics.

Yet everyone else can charge an adsorbent amount for the work related to my Donation.

The beat goes on from there, just one thing after another. A Secular way having a Morals System. In Short Men/Women sit in Judgment on what other Men/Women should or should not do.

Give the power of impeachment back to the citizens as originally set up in the constitutution, this will take care of questionable, unreliable, and mis-representation. How many legal offices does it take to tell the people we have un-ethical representation? We already know that and another office is only going to add more confirmation of what is known. Put the fear of the people on their backs with the ability to put them out of office at any time. Another level of legal overseers with no powers is a waste of time and lots of tax payers money. We the people should have the power to oust unethical and irresponsible governmnet officials and their staff at any time. We the people must have the powers to regulate who represents and serves us. This will also go a long way in putting controls on PAC's and special interest groups groveling at the tax payers trough of tax funds. We people are not a nation of uneducated and responsible citizens that don't know what we want, we do know what we want and that is honest and truted representation that is not working behind closed doors.

Hughes is lucky that the Democrats botched the October Surprise. They sprung it two weeks too early.

Next time they'll get it right, but next time the target will be Killpack or Stephenson.

Greg Hughes is an arrogant, uneducated bully. He is unfit to serve as rules committee chair which is one of the most powerful positions in the legislature. His violent temper, poor manners, and bad judgment are an embarrassment to Utah. Enough with the victim act, already! Hughes brought his problems upon himself.

Hughes proposing ethics legislation? It's just too ironic, and evidence that he refuses to see his own corrupt behavior. He thinks he can throw sheep's wool over his past, and we will all think he is the pillar of integrity. Nothing could be further from the truth, and the citizens of Utah need to never forget his true nature.

I don't buy one inch of his intention, and we will all be sorry he didn't lose this last election.

This new Inspector General, as the proposed legislation calls him/her, "would investigate any claims of waste, fraud or unethical conduct" in state government, Hughes said.

But the State Auditor's office already does this, and does it very well, in my opinion.

Isn't this new legislation just Mr. Hughes' attempt to try to get from under the cloud involving his own behavior?

Yeh, they'll create an "independent" counsel and then hire one of their own kids to run it. Isn't that the way legislators spend campaign donations - on their own children and wives.

It also needs to have the authority to review complaints against all registered lobbyists.

Behind every shady deal you will very likely find a lobbyist. That includes this whole 'Hughes affair' as well as so many other little games.

I thought Lisa Johnson did a pretty good job on the October Surprise against Greg Hughes. It was very well executed, although I agree with the previous poster that she sprung the October Surprise a little too early. Rookie mistake.

Can't you think of a better way to waste taxpayers money? You guys are politicians, the very definition of dishonesty. We know all of you are on the take and can be bought as cheaply as lunch at a taco cart.

This is just another smokescreen by Greggie. He knows full well the legislature will be facing budget cuts this year, and has no money to fund a program like this. He knows it therefore can't pass, but he still gets/tries to look good in the press because he is championing a proposal he knows to be doomed.

The Utah public doesn't fall for this kind of obvious rope-a-dope. (Or maybe it does - Greg did win his re-election after all.)

The fox has to protect the chickens somehow.

I'm sure the "independent" inspector general will be a former lobbyist.

This is an absolute joke. I have no confidence in any of the legislation being passed by this bunch of arrogant lawmakers.

Do we really want any ethics "reform" proposed by Hughes? Anything that he proposes would be beneficial to him. Having an IG means there's only one person to bully and bribe; it's much more efficient this way.

To all of the clowns bashing Hughes: If you are so pure and wholesome, why don't you run for office?

I think it is funny that Hughes believes he has been "found innocent." I would expect one who writes our laws would understand the legal difference between being "found innocent" and being "cleared of any wrongdoing." No wonder our laws are worded so poorly they rarely have a chance of standing up to legal scrutiny when challenged.

Hughes advancing ethics legislation? The sun has darkened and the moon has turned to blood...

Someone without a College degree and one that clearly crossed the ethical lines wants to pass legislation because he was caught in one is simply HILARIOUS!