No ethics reform for you
The governor's taking about ethics reform. Nearly 90 percent of taxpayers want ethics reform. Lawmakers have pre-filed 50-some bills on ethics reform. But there won't be any sweeping ethics reform during the legislative session that begins today.The reason is, despite House Speaker Dave Clark's sanctimonious preaching in the Tribune, lawmakers haven't got a clue what ethics is. You can't reform something you don't understand.
The proof of that will come this week, when Republican Senate leaders return Chris Buttars to his position of power as chairman of the Judicial Confirmation Committee. Buttars was stripped of the chairmanship last session after it was revealed he had used his position to attempt to intimidate a sitting judge who had ruled against a Buttars' developer pal.
As Clark puts it:
Since when has the Legislature paid attention to the Vox Populi?At times last year, it seemed as though many Utahns no longer believed that the House listens to the voice of the people. Various opinion polls during the year demonstrated that the people believe legislators more often served special interests or their own self-interests rather than the public's interests.
The Legislature must regain the faith of the people we serve during this time when we most need their input.
4 Comments:
The Repubs in the Utah legislature have been in power so long that they look on themselves as an aristocracy, with the divine right of royalty to rule the peasants (read: the rest of us) as they see fit. Vox Populi? Ethics reform? Why would they need to be reformed when they are sitting at the right hand of God himself and getting their advice straight from North Temple? To Waddoups and the rest of them we-the-people are just the common scum and they, the annointed and all powerful--plus Gayle Ruzicka, of course--know what's best. Let them eat cake! Theirs is the same attitude that led, in another age, to the storming of the Bastille. Not that I would advocate any such thing, of course!
When we wanted rid of Sen. Valentine because of last year's lack of ethics, we didn't think we'd go from the frying pan into the fire. Waddoups is even more corrupt and self-serving, evidenced by re-appointment of Buttars as chair of the Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee. As "vox populi" we will see business as usual this year. Their attitude was put succinctly by Rep. Brad Last, (R) St. George, in regard to his vote on the voucher issue. If you remember, his vote was the deciding vote 'for' vouchers and because of which voters mandated the issue be put on the ballot. He said: "I'm at peace with my decision." Aren't they all?
Since Clark became Speaker. I hope Clark never gives you an interview or the time of day. In fact, I think I will email him right now and tell him that I appreciate his willingness to address Utah's tough issues instead of cower like the Gov. Glen you remind me SOOOO much of Dick Cheney. You always unjustifiably question a man's intentions without listening to a word they say in order to further your agenda. When I think of you one term comes to mind. D-Bag.
If you want to see visually what influence Chris Buttars has had, drive to Mapleton and look up on the mountain side and see the scars that Wendell Gibby put there. He was enabled by the actions of Senator Buttars and his pressure on the judiciary and the legislature. When, oh when, will someone stand up to this guy?
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