Reader comments
Panel set to meet in ethics probes

Don't just meet | 2:07 p.m. Oct. 3, 2008

Do SOMETHING... bribery is a crime... how about some Jail time?

Restore our confidence! | 2:25 p.m. Oct. 3, 2008

Can't you hear our calls no our screams for HELP?
Restore our confidence in government leaders!

You weak leaders are destroying our country.
Get a backbone and hold people accountable for their actions, don't try to cover it up.

County resident | 2:39 p.m. Oct. 3, 2008

Thank you for bringing this to the public's attention Rep. Riesen.

Comments continue below

jake | 4:04 p.m. Oct. 3, 2008

Fer heck sakes rep. Hughes! just stick to your guns you know that if you say something enough times it becomes true. Besides you can count on your buddy Curtis to get you out of this fix.

Dan | 5:20 p.m. Oct. 3, 2008

If this supposedly happened more than 2 years ago, and now they bring it forward just a month before the election, it certainly looks like an October Surprise.

MadMax | 11:40 p.m. Oct. 3, 2008

This is the result of one party rule. "Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely." While Rep. Hughes claims his he has done nothing wrong, in fact he has violated the trust of his constituents. They did not want vouchers, yet he did. Why? Becasue it benefited him and his family. That is a very high form of corruption. He deserves to be replaced.

2 birds | 12:08 a.m. Oct. 4, 2008

with one stone ;)

Curtis may get to go down with Hughes, 2 of the most corrupt politions working to gether in the back rooms. And we pay them for their dirty work too...

Only 6 comments | 12:10 a.m. Oct. 4, 2008

tells you that the public knows this story is bogus. A woman claims that 2 YEARS AGO she "felt intimidated" by Greg Hughes and she just HAPPENS to want to complain about it 5 weeks before the election?

Pretty ridiculous. It is easy to intimidate Utah women, though, so I guess it isn't impossible to imagine that she "felt" that way. If a male representative had filed this claim it would be obvious how ridiculous it is. Only because of the skewed thinking about women and their tender feelings is this even being looked at.

Silly!!!!!

SRD | 1:20 a.m. Oct. 4, 2008

I have actually taken some time and read the complaint filed with the ethics committee as well as the letter written by Ms. Lawrence. In her defense, I believe that she was just trying to get the legislative leadership to listen before the crap hit the fan. I honestly believe that she had the best intentions when she wrote the letter.

There were several other allegations that were made by the legislators in the complaint. It appears that everyone wants to focus on just the claim of bribery. As far as I am concerned that could be and probably will be dismissed. The claim that is most alarming to me is that Mr. Hughes telling lobbyist that you must ï¿½pay to play.ï¿½ The sad thing is that this is the perception that the legislature gives when they conduct business. I personally believe that this perception is true.

There was also an allegation that he had the fiscal analyst do work on the school voucher issue that benefited his Political Issues Committee. There is an allegation that he told lobbyist if they supported a potential republican challenger he would make sure that they would lose all ï¿½influenceï¿½ on Capitol Hill.

SRD | 1:33 a.m. Oct. 4, 2008

Further, they called the lobbyist clients and complained further trying to intimidate them.

The fifth allegation was that he tried to use his influence to intimidate a political opponent from running against him.

The sixth allegation is that he called lobbyist and told them that he was going to be the next chairman of the Rules Committee and they better not support certain candidates he would see to it that their legislation would be ï¿½blocked.ï¿½

So even if the first allegation isnï¿½t enough for some people, there are 5 other allegations. If any of these allegations are true, Mr. Hughes should be kicked out of the legislature and in some cases charged with a crime.

Anonymous | 7:26 a.m. Oct. 4, 2008

Riesen is a hero.

Stop the corruption.

Get rid of the bullies.

Take them down.

Cato the Elder | 7:47 a.m. Oct. 4, 2008

Hughes' denial makes no sense. There would be no point in telling someone that pro-voucher groups will contribute to a supporter. Everyone knows that. The only way the conversation makes sense is the added detail found in the Lawrence letter -- that she could get $50,000, that she could get it for just taking a walk (and not actually voting yes), and that Hughes wanted her to change her vote in exchange for money.

Oxymoronic | 8:08 a.m. Oct. 4, 2008

"House" and "ethics" in the same sentence.

RE: SRD | 10:23 a.m. Oct. 4, 2008

Thank you for this information. Trust must be restored to the people. It's time to get our House in order.

1Observer | 4:07 p.m. Oct. 4, 2008

Get real people. Most House campaigns in Utah don't even cost $50,000. Also, Rep. Lawrence had a reputation of being a fence sitter and even when she would tell you she was with you on an issue you could never count on her vote - she basically told people what they wanted to hear. I suppose that is what is happening in this case - she is telling the anti-Reoublican Leadership crowd what they want to hear. This a basically the anti-voucher group. I didn't like vouchers either but I am not about to throw around a bunch of false accusations and ruin peoples lives because I didn't agree with them. (though I doubt my comments will get posted since the D-News seems bent on helping reshape politics in Utah and only reports one side of this issue.)

Common Sense | 8:12 p.m. Oct. 4, 2008

RE; 1Observer-
ALL legislators say that they are with the people on issues and that the people can count on their vote. They ALL basically tell people what they want to hear. I think what Utah citizens are looking for this time around are House and Senate representatives who walk the talk and House and Senate leaders who don't use intimidation and undue pressure as ways to get a vote from these representatives and senators. In my opinion, Utah citizens are looking for leaders who can handle pressure in a calm and collected manner both in and out of the job.

advocate for truth | 11:27 a.m. Oct. 6, 2008

Seems to me that Phil is more than able to handle the pressure! Way to go Phil! The truth can be a heavy burden eh Greg?

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