Anything to avoid accountability

Alleged state treasurer race-related bribe
Rep. Walker resigns on eve of ethics investigation
By Robert Gehrke and Cathy McKitrick
The Salt Lake Tribune

Walker's resignation highlights need for honest, open government says Utah Democratic Party Chair

SALT LAKE CITY – Although Rep. Mark Walker, R-Sandy, resigned his seat in the Utah House of Representatives Sunday, just before an investigation into a bribery allegation that was to begin today, the chair of the Utah Democratic Party said the party remains fully committed to a more open and accountable government.

“I sense heavy-handed backroom political deals here,” said Wayne Holland. “We can only hope Walker’s resignation will not derail the attempt of a few courageous lawmakers to force our GOP-dominated Legislature to work for us instead of lobbyists and their cronies. This is exactly the reason we need an independent ethics commission.”

Legislation for just such a panel was introduced by Democrats in January, but it was not even given a committee hearing.

Holland says he is hopeful the five lawmakers – two Republicans and three Democrats - who filed the ethics complaint will not become targets of retaliation, and he challenged Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. to lead his party in creating the kind of state government every Utahn can be proud of.

Walker, who lost his bid last month to run for state treasurer, remains under criminal investigation by the attorney general in connection with allegations he offered deputy treasurer Richard Ellis a pay raise if he would not run against him.

No Mr. Walker, this is real...

From SLTrib.com, Ethics probe could take an ugly turn:

"I think" those bringing the new ethics investigation "are just using me as a whipping boy to get to (GOP) leaders," said Walker, R-Sandy, who lost the GOP treasurer's primary Tuesday.

The new investigation "is just a vindictive political cheap shot ... to harm the elections of others" in the House this year, Walker added.

Rep. Mark Walker/sltrib.com

Maybe Mr. Walker is simply incapable of understanding the severity of the allegations that are facing him. This ethics investigation is a necessary and most needed step towards ethics reform on Capitol Hill.

If there has been a political cheap shot it has been played on the Utah voters who put their trust in Mr. Walker and other GOP leaders who played a part in what could (and should) be the unraveling of GOP dominance in the Utah.

Uh, uh, uh...

Shurtleff clarifies conflicting letters on Walker investigation
A.G. clears confusion, says treasurer's primary bribery probe will continue
By Cathy McKitrick
The Salt Lake Tribune
Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated:06/27/2008 06:15:29 AM MDT

Two county attorneys tapped to look into bribery allegations against state Rep. Mark Walker will continue to investigate a possible criminal violation, the state Attorney General's Office said Thursday.

Attorney General Mark Shurtleff's office issued the statement to clarify its seemingly contradictory letters on the matter released a day earlier. The letters came from different officials in the A.G.'s Office, one seeming to indicate the investigation was being dropped and the other that it was going forward.

continue

The J-Man Says,

"Hey Mark Walker, You're Not Qualified!"

Shurtleff's judgment ?? People and payday loans

AG Shurtleff and other top GOPs are avidly supporting this Walker guy who has zilch experience for the job as Utah Treasurer even though he claims otherwise contrary to all available evidence (See lack of experience below).

Also the Walker guy the current AG is pushing:

According to his opponent Richard Ellis, Mark Walker offered him a $160,000 job in March if he'd drop out of the race.

Walker denies it, calling it a desperate political move.

"Our hope is to have some kind of determination by the end of this week," said Herbert spokesman Joe Demma.

In contrast to Walker's non- experience:

Richard Ellis, lists 22 years in public finance - eight of those serving as the state's chief deputy treasurer.

But top lawmakers, such as Shurtleff are backing Walker, saying the treasurer's office needs a leader with new perspective, but no experience for an important job.

http://www.sltrib.com/utahpolitics/ci_9473417

On Mark Walker's campaign Web site, he touts his private-sector experience during his three-year stint as Zions Bank manager of government finance.

However, the Zions Human Resources office defined his position as a sales resource officer, a job he left (?) at the end of March to run for state treasurer.

Also in contrast to Shurtleff's avid support of payday lenders and how they stop bankruptcy in Utah and elsewhere, read what protection the DOD (the US military) wants via
http://www.defenselink.mil/pubs/pdfs/report_to_congress_final.pdf .

f. The Department of Defense seeks the following protections against predatory lending to Service members, as described in the report:

(c). It is understood that such special military disclosures may discourage lenders and limit the availability of credit to certain Service members, but the Department believes this risk is justified given the impact of predatory loans.

(2). Require a federal ceiling on the cost of credit to military borrowers, capping the APR to prevent any lenders from imposing usurious rates.

6
(a). Lenders should be prohibited from directly or indirectly imposing, charging, or collecting rates in excess of 36 percent APR with regard to extensions of credit made to Service members and their families. This APR must include all cost elements associated with the extension of credit, including the “optional” add-ons commonly used to evade ceilings, such as credit insurance premiums.

(b). It is understood that such an interest rate cap may limit the availability of credit to certain Service members. Limiting high-cost options assists the Department in making the point clear to Service members and their families that high cost loans are not fiscally prudent. A clear, unambiguous rate ceiling is justified given the high fees, interest and other charges associated with loans to Service members reviewed in this report, and the impact of those predatory loans on military readiness and troop morale.

Uncle Don