The Non-Partisan Independent thoughts for a partisan world…

The Utah Legislature sent an ethics reform bill out of committee yesterday, and it’s exactly what one would expect from arguably the most corrupt state legislature in the country:  window dressing.

The bill creates an independent commission that meets behind closed doors to sift through ethical complaints.  Those deemed to have enough merit are then forwarded on to the House or Senate Ethics committees, where appropriate action would be taken.  Here are the problems:  first, an “independent” commission that is appointed by the legislature meets behind closed doors to discuss complaints.  How does that help to provide transparency in the process?  The only purpose of this commission is to create an additional roadblock to ethics complaints and attempt to distract voters into believing that something is actually being done.  The second problem is that the Utah legislature’s definition of “appropriate action” is to promptly bury any ethics complaints and circle the wagons in defense of their “good ol’ boys.”

I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again.  There is absolutely NOTHING at the state government level that should be considered classified.  No state business should be conducted behind closed doors.  Transparency is the most important element to any ethics reform at the state government level.  What the legislature has done with this bill is to create further walls to shield the actions of elected officials from necessary public scrutiny.

Utah voters, please wake up and smell the Postum.  Your elected leaders have openly decreed that you aren’t smart enough to participate in the process.  For some reason, they feel that they are superior to you, the voters to whom they theoretically answer.  Prove them wrong.  Any legislator that votes for and/or supports this sham of ethics reform should be voted out of office at the next opportunity.