Reader comments
Clark's proposals for ethics reform

Most of this is a good proposal but it is not strong enough. The prohibition period for becoming lobbyist etc, should be longer, like 2 or 3 years or the next election cycle of the office they held. Then they need to include penalty and criminal actions for violating the trust of public service and ethics laws, including candidates and lobbyist. Then the left over campaign fund accounts should be turned over to the state to add to the funds. What wasn't addressed is the campaign funds the state gives to individuals for campaigns, it should be divided equally to all candidtates, not just a select few favoring any one candidate. This would put all candidates on an equal foundation regardless of party, and not discriminate against citizens wanting to hold office. We all have the right to these funds in equal disbursments. These state collected campaign funds belong to the people after an election and should be returned when election ends. These accounts should be frozen the day after every election, and not after they leave office. This fund is used while in office to hide personal bribes and non taxable income.

Speaker Clark will be a welcome change in tone and in ethics. His proposals would be an enormous step forward. Particularly banning gifts and introducing campaign contribution limits. Now, let's see if Clark can get it done!

Put limits on taxes before putting limits on campaign contributions.

That goes for corporate and individuals contributions.

The right of a taxpayer to contribute to a fiscally responsible candidate over a taxing despot is fundamental to keeping the size of government in check.

yes but it's such a refreshing start! God bless Rep. Clark and Seegmiller for bringing him to power. I'm sure he is going to face a lot of opposition from people who don't want the party to end.

A good start but where is a bipartsian redistricting commission?

This guy is the real deal. I looked at his record and it seems like every tough issue (like cutting the budget and changing retirement benefits) was sent to him to run. He is tough and smart. He would make a great Governor. Hope he has much success!!

No "bipartisan" redistricting commission to reinforce the two-party duopoly.

Let's replace single member districts with proportionally-elected, multi-member districts and get Republicans for downtown SLC and Democrats for Utah and Davis counties.

Other democracies have figured out that proportional representation yields better government.

Just another BYU ethically challenged slug with Utah Realtor Association strings. Count on more grand standing and delays hoping the storm over ethics and campaign finance reform and an independent ethics commission and redistricting commission will be eventually forgotten.

More of the same with only a new name and face.

Electing Becky Lockhart to leadership to push the agenda of her husband the state GOP leader is NOT ethics reform!

If Mrs. Becky Lockhart (yes, that's a reference to her heavily conflicted spouse, Stan) had run for Speaker, does anyone doubt that this year's crop of Republicans in the House would have elected her over David Clark?

Honestly, were it not for the Democrats who worked so hard to defeat Curtis, (thank you Jay Seegmiller) things would be just as they were in the last legislative session - and the one before, and the one before, etc., etc.

With the election of Representative Lockhart to Republican House leadership, there simply is no evidence yet to support the allegation that ethics will be any less absent in our legislature this year than in years past.

That is a shame.