Deseret News | Walker registers as a paid lobbyist

Reader comments
Walker registers as a paid lobbyist

Utah Bill | 4:29 a.m. Jan. 28, 2009

Hmmm... too unethical to be a legislator yet Walker will be rubbing shoulders with them as a lobbyist. Just amazing.

Utah Dem | 5:24 a.m. Jan. 28, 2009

The Legislature can pass all sorts of laws regarding ethics, but if you are still an unethical person you will find ways around the law. And yes I realize there currently are no laws against immediately becoming a lobbyist and for many the name lobbyist is a four-letter word - but come on folks do you really need a law to tell you how to be ethical? Sorry, what was I thinking, this is Utah, of course they do.

It's So Simple | 6:04 a.m. Jan. 28, 2009

If you want respect it is so simple. Don't accept gifts of any kind, in any amount ever. This is the only way to a bonafide claim that you are not being influenced. Buy your own meals and your own tickets. Do more than is expected and take less than you are entitled to. Limit the amount and types on campaign contributions you accept. Any unused amounts left over go to charitable causes. It's not that legislators don't know what is right, they lack the will to do the right thing leaving politics suspect.

Comments continue below

IHC | 6:22 a.m. Jan. 28, 2009

It doesn't surprise me that this criminal is going to be a lobbyist for IHC insurance (AKA Select Health). They are corrupt and monopolistic.

in a sorry State | 7:12 a.m. Jan. 28, 2009

I would like to see the list of who he is lobbying for.

A side note, or a sad note? I hold no expectation of any significant ethics reform form this session.

He is not unethical | 7:33 a.m. Jan. 28, 2009

Walker can't be unethical, he is a member of the republican party. Remember he couldn't even hold a debate on Sunday because he had to go to church.

Everything about this guy says is a guise to get people, who won't think for themselves, to trust him. GOP member? Check. Goes to church? Check. Minor "misunderstanding" of the law? Check. Don't get me wrong being a GOP member and going to church is not a bad thing, but ask yourselves do you really think that this guy is a true reflection of what all of these things stand for? Absolutely not.

Now he is a lobbyist. Do you really think that he will start to respect the law when it comes to gifts to all of his buddies that supported him for treasurer like Herbert and Schurtleff?

What I don't get is why people aren't demanding that the GOP party purge itself of the unethical behavior. It has gotten so bad that they don't even hide it anymore. All they expect to do is build up the guise and hope people fall for it hook, line, and sinker.

Anonymous | 8:04 a.m. Jan. 28, 2009

Why do people trust/elect Republicans in this state? They are corrupt and unethical.

Pleasantly amused | 8:06 a.m. Jan. 28, 2009

I think Mr. Bernick is getting his 'factual' articles mixed up with his 'opionion' columns. It appears that Mr. Gehrke (SL Tribune) found Greg Curtis on the registered lobbyist list AND his clients. Perhaps Mr. Bernick should do a little more research and and little less gossip which is manifested by paragraphs like, "And now there is talk that. . ."

Irony | 8:09 a.m. Jan. 28, 2009

So as a legislator it's illegal to offer a bribe, but as a lobbyist you get paid for it? I think they should have made it a stipulation that he had to stay away from the political arena for several years. He will have no remorse, no guilt, he's just been allowed to legally do what got him in trouble...

No wonder he was smiling | 9:21 a.m. Jan. 28, 2009

Day 2 of the legislature and we have Walker and Curtis back as lobbyists.

Gov, along with Buttars this is why we are not voting. Why bother?

Robin | 9:55 a.m. Jan. 28, 2009

Utah needs to follow Obama in regulating lobbyists to a two year cooling down period. Thought that was decided when AG Jan Graham became one.

So what? | 10:35 a.m. Jan. 28, 2009

So many in here think that Walker has no right to chose what he wants to do for a living...probably the same folks who are whinking at the new US Sec of Treasury failing to pay taxes for over 4 yrs.

What? Do we live in a one mistake society?

How dare he | 10:35 a.m. Jan. 28, 2009

This guy should never be able to work again. He should go on welfare, food stamps and CHIP for his kids and let the taxpayers support his family.

Big deal | 12:40 p.m. Jan. 28, 2009

Lobbying is a legitimate profession. You make money off your knowledge of the process and your relationships with people.

How many of you would not use your connections and past experiences to make a living?

Steve | 12:40 p.m. Jan. 28, 2009

Did ya see my last medical bill from IHC? Theyï¿½ll go together like a hand and glove.

Re "How dare he | 10:35 a.m." | 12:53 p.m. Jan. 28, 2009

How dare he | 10:35 a.m. sounds pretty harsh to me. Wants the guy to "Never be able to work again"??? For a Misdemeanor offense!!! Sounds pretty harsh to me.

I wonder if he/she is as harsh on people who break our immigration laws? I dare bet not. People like this are usually just harsh on political opponents.

It's probably just more political clap-trap from a Republican-hater.

@ No wonder he was smiling | 9:2 | 12:59 p.m. Jan. 28, 2009

Hey, "No wonder he was smiling | 9:21",

Where did you get your information that Greg Curtis is a registered lobbyist?

Is this just more Democrat lieing? Or do you have some information the rest of us don't have?

His bio on wikipedia is current up to 2008 but there's no mention of him being a lobbyist. Did you just make that up? Or is it a fact?

Re Re "How dare he" | 1:23 p.m. Jan. 28, 2009

I thought the ridiculousness of my post would make it clear that I was being sarcastic.

I'll cut the sarcasm and make my point. The guy is trying to earn a living to provide for his family. I'd rather him do that then free load off the government and tax payers like a lot of people out there.

@ How dare he | 1:35 p.m. Jan. 28, 2009

And he should be forced to take a "economic stimulus package" that pays a "tex refund" to those that don't pay taxes....err wait...he would have to be US Sec. of Treasury for that one.

Mike Ridgway | 1:53 p.m. Jan. 28, 2009

The answer to BIG DEAL's question, "How many of you...?," starts, with me, at one. Anyone want to raise me?

Mark Walker's unfortunate decision to take advantage of his connections and knowledge of the system (too bad he didn't have "knowledge" of the laws that apply to candidates running for election) benefits Mark Walker, but is a huge black-eye on a Utah Republican Party that already has an innumerable number of black eyes for which it has yet to show the slightest evidence of remorse.

These kinds of stories make it hard (or, rather, impossible) for proud conservatives to be proud Republicans, not to mention their effect on the average, already-very-cynical voter.

Tragic | 2:03 p.m. Jan. 28, 2009

He should realize he has tarnished the government, his party and his cause (if he has one) and have the decency to get out of politics. But he doesn't seem to care about that. After all, he just "made a mistake".

I believe he did have the backing of higher ups, but he appears to be covering for them. I am a true blue conservative, and believe we conservatives need to get rid of any who are corrupt or we will lose to socialists waiting for any opportunity they can get.

If corrupt conservatives cared about the cause, they would leave on their own. Unfortunately corrupt people don't have the selflessness required to do something that altruistic.

Greg Curtis = lobbyist per KSL | 3:08 p.m. Jan. 28, 2009

"former Speaker of the House Greg Curtis is lobbying for Phillip Morris against the tax hike."

Per KSL, check it out

Knowwhat | 3:53 p.m. Jan. 28, 2009

The path of progression=corrupt utah state legislator>to Lobbyist> to make a lot of money from known inside deals> to back to utah state legislator. I bet if you look at history it is the way to all success.

Ferry Family | 5:24 p.m. Jan. 28, 2009

The democratic minority leaders of the senate and the house both registered as lobbyists. So did Curtis and Walker. Of course we only hear about Curtis and Walker. But I guess I don't understand why this is wrong? Do you realize there are nearly 400 registered lobbyists, and many, many of them are former legislators. Several legislators tried but couldn't make it as lobbyists. Just ask yourself if there is anything wrong with someone getting paid to advocate for a position before the government? If yes, then fine. Make sure none of your income as a teacher, doctor, banker, credit union member, builder or whatever goes to fund a lobbyist to advocate the interests you share. My guess is that 99% of you are funding at least one of these many, many lobbyists. Oh, and by the way, if you ride TRAX, guess who your new lobbyist is: GREG CURTIS.

jr | 6:53 p.m. Jan. 28, 2009

the skunks are out and about real strong in this here state of Utah and the sheep support the skunks - The Gov wants to see more people vote but for what purpose, what choices does one have? Utah is as dirty and corrupt as any other state and may publis they are number one at many things but truth comes out eventually - sad that integrity, honesty, ethics are dirty words and not to be practiced in the Capitol halls representing the public(tax payers)

Anon E. Mous | 10:40 p.m. Jan. 28, 2009

Sigh. There are no morals in Utah politics

sob | 8:57 a.m. Jan. 29, 2009

mr walker has decided that he doesn't mind being thought of as the poster boy of a rotten system
when he is done with this gig he will work part time as a used truck salesman and a securities broker.

CITIZEN | 10:05 a.m. Jan. 29, 2009

What a country!!The foxes are still guarding the hen house!!!

Add your comment

Comments are monitored. Any comments found to be abusive, offensive, off-topic, misrepresentative, more than 200 words or containing URLs will not be posted.

Words Remaining

E-mail address: For internal use only. We may want to contact you to publish your comment (not your e-mail address) in the newspaper or for a separate story idea.