Comments about ‘Huntsman appoints ethics reform panel’

So Governor Huntsman holds a news conference in the GOLD room of the capitol to announce that he has appointed the following luminaries (among others) to serve on his *ethics* commission:

* Doug Wright, who is paid handsomely by LDS-Church-owned KSL to tell us how to think, which R-Rated movies to watch, and where to buy our groceries.

* Lavar Webb and Frank Pignanelli, who are paid handsomely by corporations to lobby (buy gifts for) politicians and who are paid handsomely by the Deseret News to share with us the opinions they "fine-tune" as they do the work corporations pay them to do.

* Dan Jones, who is paid handsomely by politicians, the Deseret News, and KSL to tell Utahns what they think, and who is paid handsomely by the University of Utah. with our tax dollars, to tell students what TO think, and whose wife is a legislator.

There are more absurdities but these examples should suffice to make the point.

That none of the above highly conflicted individuals declined to serve on a commission that's supposed to be about ethics and electoral inclusion should tell us all we really need to know:

Its IN-credibile.

After all this is done; restore Amendment #1. Separation of Church and State.

I really wish he would concentrate on more important issues right now. Maybe some people don't go and vote cause there isn't anybody worth voting for.

It seems Huntsman is trying to create a permenant office so he can reward his buddies. They are all part of his circle of friends and supporters. Where is Joe the Plumber on this panel? We don't need more studies, we need action. He has already impaneled 3 commissions to study the unethical and imoral actions of elected officials. He must be looking for the right commission that he can agree with and make some pointless and useless ethics reforms. Morality and ethics go hand in hand but it seems Utah is going to be saddled with politics as usual as long as Huntsman is in office.

Is a nice guy, but was one of the writers of the national bill known as McCain-Feingold, which is an abortion of the 1st amendment. Looking over the names on the list, very few are conservatives who have a problem with McCain-Feingold. I don't see this Commission proposing "reform" so much as I see them attempting to strangle my ability to contribute whatever amount I deem appropriate to the candidate of my choice.

And isn't it ironic that a Governor who has substantial personal resources to draw upon, and who took these large chunks of money from donors back in 2004, now finds these donations morally questionable? You've been hanging around McCain too much, Governor.

Huntsman picked a good group of people for this panel. Thankfully, he selected moderate Republicans (Webb, Donosso, Hansen, Wright) and moderate/liberal Democrats (Holbrook, Pignanelli).

You can't have a serious discussion about ethics with conservatives at the table. Huntsman was wise to keep them out.

Right on "Anonymous 5:58"!

Governor Huntsman is to be applauded (again) for his efforts to mainstream Utah.

Will true campaign finance reform culminate (again) with a trivial discussion of Jazz ticket donations? Will Republican legislative caucuses, where most legislative power brokering takes place, continue to remain closed to the public? Will legislative leaders continue to consult in closed meetings with LDS lobbyists and general authorities (see Tribune, 1/22/09 "LDS open to liquor change") even after the revelations of the machinations to subvert the democratic process in California's Proposition 8 election?

Yes, that's my prediction. Will this blue ribbon panel fail to seriously address these three affronts to the democratic process? Yes, that's my prediction. Will many potential voters remain cynical and estranged from participating in our democracy? Yes, that's my prediction,

I am interested in how hard hitting this Commission will be. The state's populace is much more moderate than its elected Representatives and Senators but we can't seem to break the stranglehold that the far right has on this state. Utahns continue to elect people who are more conservative, more dogmatic, more idealogical than they are in real life. Mormons tend to avoid controversy. Mormons are so involved in church and family life that they often defer on politics, political thought, political involvement and significant community leadership and leave it in a void for those few who have a conservative agendas. The LDS Church needs to specifically endorse the notion that members like Senate President Harry Reid is a good member of the church, just as other general authorities, including James E. Faust and others, who are/were Democrats. The Republican party is not the only option for Mormons. Unbalanced government, like we have in Utah, leads to apathy and out of control power plays where ethics are in the back seat. Senator Michael Waddoups is not a strong leader who will fix this problem. Speaker Clark and Gov. Huntsman are. Voters need to step up now.

I find it funny that Huntsman is commissioning this, or any panel, to try and understand why people lack confidence in our local government. We already understand and really nobody disputes that many people in our government are unethical. But instead of working to promote change and truly getting at the root of the problem.

Huntsman needs to be a leader and start with ethical reform in the governor's office. Not to say that he is acting unethically but why not institute the some of these rules voluntarily within your own office? To me some changes like that would make me believe that Huntsman really wants ethical reform.

Instead Huntsman will continue in his M.O. about commissioning panels to study problems (remember gouging at the gas pump 3 months ago?)without ever really doing anything. And he wonders why people don't have faith in the local government?

Next he should commission a panel to understand why people think the sky is blue.

I don't recognize any of the names as being particularly conservative, nor noted leftists. That is a shame. Panels of moderates are like steers. They think they are supposed to do something, but don't know what. They need strong advocates from both sides to make a case for alternatives. They need some bulls to watch.

Hopefully the panel will invite presentations from the thinking extremes to fill that void and give their moderation something to moderate.

Another example of the politically connected being appointed. There is no independence. Huntsman is the master of hyperbole and spin.

Isn't this the same Larry Miller who uses the legislature and the governor as a tool to protect his car industry, buying favors with money and influence? Yes, we know this guy!

I find it interresting how Larry H. Miller could be considered chairman of an ethics commission. Have you ever purchased a car from one of his dealerships? Well I have, and I have found the sales managers to be incredibly dishonest. I also have two friends that have quit the business because of dishonesty. I know that he doesn't control all of the day to day of his businesses but a leader does disiminate his ethics and ideals in his businesses.

"Dead Horse" up there says it exactly right: we don't need a commission to find out why Utahans don't trust their government, we already know. I can save the Governor and his little make-work, CCC-project-for-rich-people a whole lot of time. This article reads:

"But even though there is such overwhelming support for such reforms, GOP legislative leaders maintain some of the above suggestions will not be adopted. For example, leaders say the Legislature itself will decide ethical conduct of its members."

That's it, Govenor. That's the problem. No "comission" needed. See how we just saved a lot of time and money, and potential complications for poor Larry Miller? We call that "wise government", Mr. Huntsman, and that's what we're looking for, no matter what are political leanings may be.

It should be an embarrassment to be a member of this group. A by-product of politicians behaving unethically is to create a committee on how to behave ethically. Membership in the committee is a declaration of self-righteousness: "Oh, yes, WE can get these unethical politicians to behave themselves." So do you really think THIS committee (or any government-appointed committee) is going to fix the problem? Three things will solve the problem: (1) Dissolve two-party government, (2) Stop voting for people who fail to keep their oath of office, and (3) Start (politicians) keeping oaths of office.

It amazes me how many lobbyists are on this list. Webb, Piganelli etc. Even Larry Miller has some strong lobbyist ties through energy solutions. This doesn't quite pass the smell test. I guess I do understand the need to have some lobbyists on there to get their input. I just hope they can be trusted. I'm glad Doug Wright is on it.

Utah needs a young man to cope with the vastness of the Social abuses that prevail in the retoric to continue a golden retirement package system based upon the Social dollars from Washington which has created a dependency on a corrupt self serving industry created by a family of neo conservatives.

Soooo..."Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. named his government ethics/political reform commission Thursday, saying it's time to find out why so many Utahns "lack confidence" in the state's political institutions."

Dear Governor, you can't be so out of touch with the way the legislature throws their weight around acting like they control the affairs of State. Where have you been? Haven't you you been paying attention?

I thought you were more astute about what was happening around you. Now I'm convinced that all you are organizing is a dog & pony show. Unbelievable.

ummm. It's pretty obvious why Utahns lack faith in their reps, don't you think?

Well said Hatuletoh @ 8:51am! Gov. Huntsman, you want ethics..save us tax payers alot of money and you can just sit down with the other government leaders of this state and tell them to clean up their acts. Cause that's where it all stems from! Give Mr. Miller a break - he needs to rest. You don't need a panel to figure out the problem it's right in front of your face - and they work in the State Capitol.