Comments about ‘Independent legislative-ethics commission may be unconstitutional’

The issue is that voters need to be more selective in their candidate selection, and elected honest, reputable, people because it is virtually impossible to legislate ethics and morality.

Don't forget Lt. Governor Herbert's role in the scandal that rocked the last election. As the election official in the state he allowed the corruption to continue unchecked until AFTER the primary, even though he clearly knew the law was being broken. What does that say for the direction ethics will take with him as Governor?

The last Presidental election is proof of that!

Ethics, we don't need no stinking ethics!
We make our own stinking ethics...

As long as people in the state keep voting in people like, Stevens and Bramble...they get what they deserve.

So the ethical Senator Jones wants an "independent" committee that is appointed by legislators. Sounds like she wants the appearance of ethics and the ability to use the committee as her own political shell game.

Legislators who intend to discipline their fellow members face a higher level of scrutiny, one resulting from a commitment to public service. Both legislative ethics committees and commissions play essential and consistent roles in ensuring that our public servants behave ethically. We must not forget the basis of effective government is public confidence Ethical behavior and personal integrity in public life means that public officials act in ways that they and society have accepeted as right conduct and that this behavior is consistent with their personal values. Government belongs to the people and is accountable to the people. Government is elected by the people and must represent the people it governs. Government must work for the people's benefit. Members of citizens Ethics Commissions offer external oversight. A commmission would oversee state legislators compliance with ethics laws. 39 states have have some form of ethics commission. Commissions in Illinois, Indiana, New York, Michigan, Ohio, and North Carolina do not have authority over legislators. A long as the make up of an ethics committee is 4 (D) and 4 (R)--the vote will always be 4 yes 4 no.