The stink rising from the stalled ethics probe into the Legislature lingers. Outsiders —that's you and me, the voters—are left to speculate: Who is Mr. Big?In yesterday's episode, the investigation into Rep. Mark Walker's questionable Treasurer's campaign tactics ended abruptly. Walker resigned his House seat, which meant the ethics panel no longer has jurisdiction over him. Walker said the investigation would have been too hard on his "family" — by that I assume he means The Family — Utah's Republican Party.
Others may be guilty. I believe this hearing was in part to see if other people were involved.But any further probing will require a new complaint be filed against a specific lawmaker, something that only happens, say, three times in 22 years.
The Fab Five lawmakers (Republican leadership prefers to call them the "cancer") who filed the complaint against Walker are considering further complaints to keep the probe going.
The Tantalizing Text: The now-dead ethics complaint alleged that Walker:
. . .offered to use his position as a legislator and his legislative connection with an unnamed member of the legislative body to secure a legislative appropriation in order to bribe another government official.
Treasurer candidate Richard Ellis Walker assured him he could make the pay raise "happen and that he had talked with 'the person' who could make it happen."
Irvine told the Tribune:The House leadership made a decision to sacrifice a pawn to save a king. It's clear that this allegation has a lot more amperage than the Ethics Committee feels comfortable in pursuing.
So, who is Mr. Big, a guy who snaps his fingers and makes pay raises happen for top executive officials?
Irvine tells the Deseret News' Lisa Riley Roche that he is "not 100 percent sure" that person is House Speaker Greg Curtis. But, Irvine says, Curtis would be one of a small cadre of GOP leaders who could make pay raises happen.
Roche says Curtis was "upset" at the suggestion he may be the target of an ethics complaint.
I refuse to comment on these unfounded, mean-spirited, politically motivated accusations.Next episode: Speaker orders aggressive cancer treatment.
13 Comments:
Just like any soldier in the Mafia, sorry, I mean the Utah Republican party, when you step out of line and embarrass the family, you get whacked. What's so funny about this is that every one of these guys no doubt considers himself (and herself) upright, moral, righteous even--just like the Dons do--yet they are as corrupt and venal as they come. Since Utahans keep sending theses same crooks and liars back to office, they get what they deserve.
So when is a witch hunt a justified investigation. Irvine speculates, but doesn't have fact. Moss is a member of the ethics committee but seems to be driving a political agenda rather than being impartial and looking at the facts. Walker was right to resign since he couldn't get a fair hearing from the House Ethics committee.
So Glen, with all these insinuations, how about leveling some sort of charge against Greg Curtis? Or is Curtis just on your "blacklist" because you are dislike his politics and style of getting things done?
So many people on these boards love to hurl around nasty names and such, but I wanna ask: Where's the beef? All we've got here is political wrangling, and the UEA is knee-deep in this with their donations to Richard Ellis. How about digging a little bit there, you know, covering both sides of an issue?
Curtis is a douchebag.
Who is Mr. Big? Mascaro would have the interns believe it is himself.
Blog quote of the day, Hard Daddy. I just laughed out loud in a public place sitting by myself....people are staring.
Curtis. Most powerful politician in Utah. Love him or hate him, he knows how to spend political capital.
Somehow the media seems to forget that Curtis was the speaker that supported opening the house caucuses, posting conflict disclosures on the internet, expanded information disclosure on the legislative website, and greater transparency of state government.
We all have our faults, but remember Curtis' advocacy of open government compared with some of his heavy-handed predecessors.
Curtis is a lame duck. He's the one whose gonna get wacked right out of office.
Curtis is only "Mr. Medium." They're giving him up way too easily. This goes all the way to the top!
The political mood must be unsettling when even Utah Republicans are feeling the heat ...
Isn't all of this based on hearsay produced from a donor to Ellis' campaign? Why is this a news story? Oh yeah, I forgot that any accusation against a conservative is true until proven false in the eyes of our "objective" reporters.
What is so "conservative" with the Curtis Cartel?
Curtis was interviewed on Rod Decker tonight. He denied talking to Mark Walker at all about the Treasurer's race, salary, or anything else. (I thought I heard a cock crowing in the background). Kind of hard to believe since Walker portrayed himself as a major force in the legislature. And it is a complete reversal from two days ago when Curtis said I refuse to comment on unfounded, politically motivated accusations.
Curtis complained that none of the legislators who filed the complaint had any first hand knowledge of the wrongdoing. Let's see, the one legislator who had first hand knowledge was Mark Walker and he canceled his appearance by resigning. Moreover, since it takes 3 legislators to file a complaint, Curtis' standard of first hand knowledge would effectively neuter the Ethics Committee for all of eternity. So much for openness in government.
Then he implores anyone with evidence of anyone's involvement to bring it forward. Hmmmm. Seems like there was a room full of witnesses at the Ethics Committee hearing ready to do just that.
Who is Mr. Big?
Answer these questions, find the one person that shows up on all the lists, and the secret will be revealed to you:
1) Who is a member of House Republican leadership that is not Greg Curtis (who has denied it was him and is too shrewd to do this directly anyway)?
2) Who is on the Executive Appropriations Committee?
3) Who is a sponsor or prime mover of all legislation pertaining to executive compensation, elected officials pay, and related matters?
4) Who was a prominent supporter of Mark Walker at the Republican Convention?
5) Who is an employee of Zions Bank?
Signed,
The Riddler
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