The citizens of Utah demand ethics reform. It's about time!

I have watched with excitement as a group of citizens from a broad variety of political make-up and diverse career backgrounds launched a citizens initiative to take matters into their own hands and do something about ethics in the Utah Legislature. I have also delighted to see certain legislators squirm and scream as they envision the future of politics on the hill. It won't be as comfortable for them after the citizen's of Utah demand the change that they've been asking for from the Legislature for many, many years.

I knew nothing significant would ever come from the self-governing lawmakers after the last legislative session that ended in March with celebration over very little ethics legislation. It was a session that promised big change and rightly so after the allegations of bribery brought against one representative in October, 2008. The ethics committee was split along party lines on any decision of conduct unbecoming a legislator, but all signed a letter of reprimand. They proved that they're unable to govern themselves.

I appreciated UtahTeacher's recent report (a four part series) on one of the eight required public hearings that she attended. I wanted to attend the Provo hearing specifically because of the memo that was reportedly distributed among lawmakers which encouraged them to attend hearings and speak out against the initiative. I noticed that the hearings were video-taped and posted by the Lieutenant Governor's Office on YouTube a few days ago. It was hard for me to watch, however, because they are not labeled or posted in order, as far as I can tell. To this end, I've decided to make it easy on you and I've posted the hearings and the links to the video segments in order. You'll notice that there are citizens that speak in each of the hearings that are in favor of the initiative and others who aren't happy about it at all. I think it's important to hear both sides and decide where you stand on the issue. I agree with the initiative, if for nothing else, perhaps it will cause the legislators to actually make some change in 2010. Maybe something that will REALLY make pigs fly!



PUBLIC HEARING VIDEOS:


Thursday, September 17, 2009—7-9 p.m.
Southeast Region (Carbon, Emery, Grand, and San Juan Counties)
Grand County Council Chambers
125 E. Center St. (w. entrance)
Moab, UT 84532

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5 - Part 6

Monday, September 21, 2009—6-8 p.m.
Central Region (Juab, Millard, Piute, Sanpete, Sevier, and Wayne Counties)
Sevier Valley Center, Theatre
800 W. 200 South
Richfield, UT 84701

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5 - Part 6 - Part 7 - Part 8

Tuesday, September 22, 2009–7-9 p.m.
Wasatch Front Region (Davis, Morgan, Salt, Tooele, and Weber Counties)
SLC Main Library, 4th floor conference room
210 East 400 South
SLC, UT 84111

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5 - Part 6 - Part 7 - Part 8 - Part 9

Wednesday, September 23, 2009—7-9 p.m.
Bear River Region (Box Elder, Cache, and Rich Counties)
Cache County Office Building, Multipurpose Room
179 No. Main St.
Logan, UT 84321

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5 - Part 6 - Part 7 - Part 8 - Part 9 - Part 10 - Part 11

Wednesday, September 23, 2009—7-9 p.m.
Mountain Region (Summit, Utah, and Wasatch Counties)
Provo City Library, Brimhall Room
550 No. University Avenue
Provo, UT 84601

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5 - Part 6 - Part 7 - Part 8 - Part 9 - Part 10

Wednesday, September 23, 2009—6-8 p.m.
Southwest Region (Beaver, Garfield, Iron, Kane, and Washington Counties)
Washington County Library, St. George Branch, Conference Room B
88 W. 100 South
St. George, Utah 84770

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5 - Part 6 - Part 7 - Part 8 - Part 9 - Part 10 - Part 11

Thursday, September 24, 2009–7-9 p.m. NEW!
Uintah Basin Region (Daggett, Duchesne, and Uintah Counties)
Uintah Basin Applied Technology Center, Multipurpose Room
450 No. 2000 West
Vernal, UT 84078

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5 - Part 6 - Part 7 - Part 8 - Part 9 - Part 10 - Part 11

Thursday, September 24, 2009—7-9 p.m. NEW!
Southeast Region (Carbon, Emery, Grand, and San Juan Counties)
Grand County Council Chambers
125 E. Center St. (w. entrance)
Moab, UT 84532

No Video Provided on Lieutenant Governor's YouTube Site

Tuesday, September 29, 2009—7-9 p.m. (An optional 8th hearing)
Weber County
Mound Fort Middle School, Media Center
1400 Mound Fort Drive
Ogden, UT 84404

No Video Provided on Lieutenant Governor's YouTube Site