Deseret News | Hughes may not get Rules post

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Hughes may not get Rules post

Anonymous | 6:03 a.m. Nov. 18, 2008

This is disturbing. All you have to do is accuse WITHOUT PROOF which is what the RINOs and the Democrats did and you can derail someone politically. Totally shameless.

Mike Ridgway | 7:23 a.m. Nov. 18, 2008

So hard to know what to believe about Mr. Hughes.

If there were some simple basis of ethics among the Republicans in the House, the fact that the House Ethics Committee exonerated Hughes might have some weight in my mind.

But when I consider that these same Republicans overwhelmingly elected Greg Curtis to be the speaker of the House two years ago, my confidence in their ability to render an honest and accurate ruling goes flat to zero. So I remain skiddish.

Representative Hughes, if you get passed over for this assignment, just remember, there are a lot of decent Republicans in this state who have been passed over. You won't be the first and you won't be the last.

And in the end, it's not where you serve, it's how. Wouldn't you agree?

Anonymous | 7:33 a.m. Nov. 18, 2008

The ethics committee told Hughes that his conduct was unbecoming a member of the House. The last thing we need is an arrogant bully like Hughes as chair of rules. He needs to serve somewhere else.

Comments continue below

John | 9:33 a.m. Nov. 18, 2008

If I am not mistaken, Rep Hughes, as the Rules Vice Chair, was at least partly responsible (if not largely responsible) for killing HB 130 that would have created the State Ethics Commission to hear ethics complaints against members of the State legislature and other governmental officials. I beleive this bill died a quiet death last year in the Rules Committee.

Glen | 9:35 a.m. Nov. 18, 2008

Greg Hughes shouldn't be passed over based on charges that weren't true. Instead, Phil Reisen should be passed over for any post anywhere. As far as I am concerned, he has the ethics problem!

Rep. Hughes would | 9:42 a.m. Nov. 18, 2008

do an excellent job as Rules Chair but regardless of the committeee assignments he will serve his district well.

Anonymous | 9:44 a.m. Nov. 18, 2008

I guess we are descending into another McCarthy-isque era, where allegations--even allegations proven to be false--are all that is need to defeat a political foe. Shame on Clark and anyone else who allows this to happen. You are as gutless as all those Senators in the 1950's who sat on their hands while McCarthy ruined the lives of one innocent person after another. It may be prudent politics but its not leadership.

Journalism 101 | 11:30 a.m. Nov. 18, 2008

This is the difference between decent journalism and the Bernick version:

"Perhaps true, but the Rules committees have extraordinary power..."

This is why you fail at journalism, Bob. The "perhaps true, but" is unnecessary and speculative. "Extraordinary power" is subjective. Aren't the Rules committees specific powers enough to let the reader decide about the "extraordinary nature'?

Um, Bob, how about this instead:

"The Rules committees have power to..."

Then, as you did, explain the Rules Committee, and let the people decide.

Retire | 11:50 a.m. Nov. 18, 2008

Hughes and Buttars. Neither of them should have been re-elected. Why should they be given important positions in the legislature? "No ethics" seems to be a good thing in Utah politics.

Mike Ridgway | 2:18 p.m. Nov. 18, 2008

To Anonymous:

A) You betray a fundamental ignorance of McCarthy and his "tactics." The throughness of his research has been vindicated time and again, yet the ignorant masses, you included, disregard the facts that have come to light and continue to besmirch a person undeserving of the vilification that will forever attach to the outrageous misuse of his name as an implied verb.

B) You are correct. We have sunk to that level -- long ago. Why are you only rising to complain about it now that the alleged target of the alleged smear is a powerful Utah Republican legislator with ties to all of the wrong people -- a legislator who, to my knowledge, has never stood up for the innocents who have been smeared by people like Salt Lake County Party Chair, James Evans, as reported in the Deseret News and on KSL, among other news organs both this year, and in 2006?

You're not a respecter of persons, are you?

Jordan G. | 2:25 p.m. Nov. 18, 2008

As an attorney representing clients' needs before the legislature, I can attest that Rep. Hughes is one of the brightest, honest, hardest-working and likable Legislators on the Hill.

Throughout the process of trying to pass a bill on behalf of one of my clients, Hughes was always accessible, and took the time to understand the issues at stake. In the end, Rep. Hughes opposed our bill. Nothwithstanding his opposition, he was respectful, and most importantly, completely upfront and honest about where he stood.

That is leadership.

Citizen | 9:50 p.m. Nov. 18, 2008

Hughes and Buttars: the village idiots (neither are educated, intelligent or classy) up on the hill again...no wonder Utah gets no respect from the rest of the nation. What's even more discouraging is that Utah is full of people dumb enough to think these two are good leaders! Both only won by 1-2%, though. At least the 48% of citizens who voted against them are smart, so there is hope for Utah to get beyond the MLM/real estate agent/uneducated housewives reputation.

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