Reader comments
Better off out of Senate?

How true it is. This is an example of the need for term limits in the legislature.

Senator,

Don't let the door hit you in the backside. If you can't abide by the standards, it's time to get out.

Ditto.

Mr. England's letter misses the Senator's point.

As I recall the article in which Senator Hillyard is quoted, he said that the proposed ethical standards for legislators would require that his firm open its records, including confidential client records, to outsiders.

Such a requirement would place Mr. Hillyard -- and any other legislator who is a lawyer -- in an untenable position, requiring either resignation from the legislature or cessation of the practice of law. This is because legal rules of ethics require lawyers to keep many records about their dealings with clients strictly confidential.

That was the point the Senator -- and the newspaper article in which he was quoted -- was making.

We need fewer lawyers in politics anyway.

Robert | 9:40 a.m. Nov. 13, 2009

"Mr. England's letter misses the Senator's point."

You missed England's point which is that if there is a conflict than a legislator must choose between what he was elected to do and his own private interests or the interests of those he works for.

"Such a requirement would place Mr. Hillyard -- and any other legislator who is a lawyer -- in an untenable position, requiring either resignation from the legislature or cessation of the practice of law."

If there is a conflict between his law practice and his duties as a legislator then he should either be forced to resign from the legislature or from a law firm but he shouldn't attempt to hide conflicts that he has representing a client that has interests that involve legislation.

"This is because legal rules of ethics require lawyers to keep many records about their dealings with clients strictly confidential."

Legislative rules of ethics require that legislators not hide conflicts of interests regardless of rather their job is that of a dog catcher or lawyer. We are well aware that he believes this but it shows that we are better off.

The Utah network for favorable legislation would not work if ethical conduct is required.

I don't this phenomenon is limited to Utah politics.
Sad though.

We need this ethics legislation. If this forces lawyers, business owners, and a lot of others out, great! The only legislators without conflicts of interest are retirees and public employees. How great our legislature would be if that's all we had!

Perhaps we should ask those who want to participate in politics to fill out a form to determine if there is anything in their professional or personal lives that might cause a conflict of interest.

Then we could dispense with elections and just appoint the few that were not already eliminated. Of course they would not the best and brightest among us, just those who had never done anything.

There is no list of professions who are unqualified for public service, as long as it is legal, nor should there be.

Hillyard was exaggerating anyway, since they can't defeat ethics reform by actually taking it head on. (P.S. After 20+ years, it's time for new blood anyway, Senator.)