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Showing posts with label The Sutherland Institute. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Sutherland Institute. Show all posts
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Spencer v. Chaffetz Part One
What steps will you take personally to lead, not necessarily as a Republican or a Democrat, but as an American? (This is the question where Chaffetz states that he used to be a Democrat until he learned to read and write)
Bennion Spencer
Bennion Spencer
You're the one who needs to apologize Mr. Chaffetz
At today's Sutherland Institute debate between Utah's 3rd congressional candidates, Bennion Spencer (D) and Jason Chaffetz (R) , Mr. Chaffetz demanded an apology from Mr. Spencer for supposedly misrepresenting Mr. Chaffetz's heartless immigration policy.
Mr. Chaffetz also stated that he was a Democrat until he learned to read.
I guess Mr. Chaffetz is suggesting that the late LDS leader, President James E. Faust, along with other past and present Utah Democrats never learned to read.
Mr. Chaffetz claimed he would work with all members of congress who have a "good idea", but his above statement is just another example of his arrogance. He has misrepresented the Western Governors Association on their immigration policy (More on that today from Bennion Spencer). He has demeaned all Utah Democrats, and he is showing his true nature and inability to look at immigration issues with a humane heart.
Click here to read Robert Gehrke's article, Chaffetz demands apology over prison camp comment but isn't getting one.
More on the debate later today.
Mr. Chaffetz also stated that he was a Democrat until he learned to read.
I guess Mr. Chaffetz is suggesting that the late LDS leader, President James E. Faust, along with other past and present Utah Democrats never learned to read.
Mr. Chaffetz claimed he would work with all members of congress who have a "good idea", but his above statement is just another example of his arrogance. He has misrepresented the Western Governors Association on their immigration policy (More on that today from Bennion Spencer). He has demeaned all Utah Democrats, and he is showing his true nature and inability to look at immigration issues with a humane heart.
Click here to read Robert Gehrke's article, Chaffetz demands apology over prison camp comment but isn't getting one.
More on the debate later today.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Ethics reform must proceed in the Utah Legislature.
In a rare joining of hands, Representative Roz McGee and the Sutherland Institute’s Paul Mero agree: Ethics reform must proceed in the Utah Legislature.
SALT LAKE CITY, February 11, 2008 — While Rep. Roz McGee, D-Salt Lake City, wants a complete rewrite of the Legislature’s ethics process and an end to lawmakers investigating themselves and Sutherland’s President Paul Mero wants lawmakers to hold themselves to a higher standard, both advocates agree that ethics reform is a priority issue whose day has arrived.
Rep. McGee’s House Bill 130 would create a commission that would receive ethics complaints regarding legislators and other state elected officials and offices.
“In the current system, both the house and senate have ethics committees, and the committees look at ethical violations of members only after receiving three complaints about the same lawmaker. Complaints must come from legislators, not the public, and Utah legislators historically haven’t been keen on turning each other in,” said McGee.
Public opinion has also shown that ethics reform is wanted and needed. According to a poll released by the Salt Lake Tribune on January 20, 72 percent of residents support creating a commission to investigate complaints against lawmakers. Both Republicans (69%) and Democrats (76%) support the measure.
“It is vital to restore our citizen’s trust in the state government. The committee would work to assure government employees are held accountable to the law,” said McGee.
“The Sutherland Institute supports ethics reform that maintains two key features: individual accountability and the integrity of the institution of the Legislature. A strong internal Ethics Committee that provides both an advisory role as well as an adjudicatory role, modeled after the U.S. Congress, has a proven track record of success” said Mero. “Ethics reform has been the ugly step-sister of the political process in our state for too long.”
Although House Bill 130 was approved by Rep. McGee in January and the fiscal note was made available January 30, the House Rules Committee in the Utah Legislature has refused to send the bill out for public committee hearing.
“I am frustrated that we can’t get this to advance from the rules committee. This legislation absolutely must see the light of day. It is time to get it into committee, in a public forum where lawmakers can debate the issue, so that we may proceed with meaningful ethics reform,” said McGee.
Other lawmakers agree. “We need to proceed with some kind of ethics reform legislation,” said Representative Kevin Garn, R-Layton. “But until we have a burst of public support, the issue probably will not move forward.”
McGee’s proposed ethics commission would be made up of five members appointed by the governor and legislative leaders. It would have authority over legislators and state elected officials, including the governor, and could look into alleged violations of lobbying rules in addition to broader ethical complaints.
****
Sutherland Institute press inquiries, please contact Katie Christensen at 801-355-1272 or 801-891-5142
Rep. McGee’s House Bill 130 would create a commission that would receive ethics complaints regarding legislators and other state elected officials and offices.
“In the current system, both the house and senate have ethics committees, and the committees look at ethical violations of members only after receiving three complaints about the same lawmaker. Complaints must come from legislators, not the public, and Utah legislators historically haven’t been keen on turning each other in,” said McGee.
Public opinion has also shown that ethics reform is wanted and needed. According to a poll released by the Salt Lake Tribune on January 20, 72 percent of residents support creating a commission to investigate complaints against lawmakers. Both Republicans (69%) and Democrats (76%) support the measure.
“It is vital to restore our citizen’s trust in the state government. The committee would work to assure government employees are held accountable to the law,” said McGee.
“The Sutherland Institute supports ethics reform that maintains two key features: individual accountability and the integrity of the institution of the Legislature. A strong internal Ethics Committee that provides both an advisory role as well as an adjudicatory role, modeled after the U.S. Congress, has a proven track record of success” said Mero. “Ethics reform has been the ugly step-sister of the political process in our state for too long.”
Although House Bill 130 was approved by Rep. McGee in January and the fiscal note was made available January 30, the House Rules Committee in the Utah Legislature has refused to send the bill out for public committee hearing.
“I am frustrated that we can’t get this to advance from the rules committee. This legislation absolutely must see the light of day. It is time to get it into committee, in a public forum where lawmakers can debate the issue, so that we may proceed with meaningful ethics reform,” said McGee.
Other lawmakers agree. “We need to proceed with some kind of ethics reform legislation,” said Representative Kevin Garn, R-Layton. “But until we have a burst of public support, the issue probably will not move forward.”
McGee’s proposed ethics commission would be made up of five members appointed by the governor and legislative leaders. It would have authority over legislators and state elected officials, including the governor, and could look into alleged violations of lobbying rules in addition to broader ethical complaints.
****
Sutherland Institute press inquiries, please contact Katie Christensen at 801-355-1272 or 801-891-5142
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