Comments about ‘The winners and the losers’

The Lieutenant Governor's rule on electronic signatures requires that they be executed in the presence of the petition circulator; defeating the convenience factor of having an electronic signature.

Want to guess whether the State of Utah will accept a tax return if it is not electronically signed in the presence of a revenue agent?

Des News reporters and SL Trib reporters are again at odds. The Trib says the Lt. Gov. said NO to online signatures UNLESS they were made in front of a witness. Des News calls the Gov. a "winner" because he is going to "allow" them. It appears to me that the DesNews editorial staff needs to do a little more digging before they pat the political favorites on the back. This is NOT a win - it is a ridiculous ruling. Say yes or say no Lt. Gov. Bell. Don't say yes and then make it so ridiculously hard that it leaves everyone scratching their heads as to just exactly what you were thinking!

The DNews is misrepresenting the decision about electronic signatures. Lt. Gov. Bell is NOT allowing the 10,000 electronic signatures gathered by the Utahns for Ethical Government. He has rewritten the initiative rules to say an individual signature gatherer had to be standing by the computer to witness the e-signature. This of course is impossible and disenfranchises much of rural Utah as well as many disabled citizens.

Why are the politicians so afraid of this initiative? It just places the ethics on the ballot so the citizens of Utah could study the issue, make an informed decision and vote. Are the politicians afraid that Utahns will learn about the unethical practices in the legislature and demand higher standards of our representatives. I have read the initiative and would not want anyone writing the laws I have to live by who would be afraid the live by the ethical standards in the initiative.

Rural citizens please find a way to sign this petition by Aug. 1st so Utahns will be able to decide on ethics standards for themselves. Look up Utahns for Ethical gov. on the net to find signature gatherers in your county.