Seeing is believing, and I wish these new leaders the very best. But wasn't Clark the one who tried to convince Margaret Bird not to run against Greg Hughes because Hughes was their man ? Doesn't really sound very ethical to me.

QUOTE: "It is hoped that new leadership will set the stage for civil and thoughtful lawmaking."

In most cases, it is. Unfortunately, the media works overtime during the session to find one or two controversial bills out of the 400 or so that are presented each year, and then frame all of their coverage of the legislative session in light of the very few controversies.

Last session, it was voucher retribution that was supposed to happen. The media anxiously awaited anything that might remotely be deemed payback. It never came. Luckily for the sensation lovers out there, Senator Buttars made a stupid comment on the floor. Had it not been for that, readers would not have even known that a legislative session had happened.

Perception is reality. I hope this year the media will do it's best to let perception actually reflect the reality instead of the sensational.

But I'm not holding my breath.

Yes, Clark did talk to Margaret Bird when he heard she wanted to run for the seat now held by Greg Hughes. Was it inappropriate or not? We don't know since the Ethics Committee hearings tapes have not yet been made public.
We all need to make certain our legislators support ethics reform. Legislators have been ineffective in policing their own ranks.

Not only does the legislature have an opportunity to weaken SB-81 even more, but also may consider making it even more restrictive. The Illegal Immigration Interim Committee has been holding hearings around the state this year. Unless it was designed to be nothing more than a "dog and pony show," they heard more about restricting the privileges of working and committing ID fraud by illegal aliens in Utah from citizens than continuing the sanctuary policies of the state.

As the committee listened they found that those supporting the illegal immigrants were: cheap labor employers, Hispanic ethnic groups, and those whose opinions are based in empathy over logic. These groups were by far in the minority at the hearings. By far the majority of citizens at these hearings wanted the legislature to be much more restrictive.

To Joe
We do all need as best we can to see that our Senators support ethics reform. It seems that this idea and about this much commitment by the leadership is part of preparing for the next session. Ethics reform having been a major issue during the campaign we will see if they can do any better than in the past. I know how I would bet the ranch. What would it take to pass a proposition or referendum to change the state constitution to limit terms, donations ect.?

The DN puts immigration and healthcare in the difficult issue category while keeping the economy in just the regular run of the mill issue category. Then they state that since the get tough on immigration legislation doesn't take effect until the summer of 2009, the legislature has time to roll back some of the unworkable and punitive components. What?

When will the DN succumb to reason rather than compassion to a fault, or as some have described it, self inflicted suicide. When will there be a thoughtful review of the immigration crisis without turning it into a racial or lack of compassion issue. When will the DN provide something other than an irrational biased reporting of this issue.

And yes, I have Spanish and Indian blood coursing through my veins. Yes, I have relatives who are Hispanic. Yes, some of my best friends are Hispanic. Yes, I grew up with a large Hispanic population and know them well. But my allegiance is to reason and Constitutional law. Once we get those things right, then we can start talking compassion and immigration reform.

Rick mentions term limits. In all of the suggestions for ethics reform, I have heard nothing about term limits. There was a term limits statute that was repealed in 2003. Many of those mentioned in this article, who have just been elected to leadership positions, voted to repeal term limits.