On Jan. 15, my state senator, Sheldon Killpack was arrested for DUI. Sen. Killpack was the Utah Senate majority leader and he was also serving as co-chair of the senate ethics committee. I am disappointed by his decision to drink and drive. But, what is equally distrubing is that the person the media reported was with Sen. Killpack at the time of his arrest is an individual by the name of Mark Walker. People might not recognize Mr. Walker's name, but he was a former state representative, who in 2008 ran for the state treasurer's office. He pled guilty to trying to bribe a competitor into dropping out of the race. He was fined and given community service. He is now a paid lobbyist.
The year, ethics has become the most important agenda item on the Legislature's calendar and this is not just another prime example of why these folks cannot or will not pass any kind of meaningful legislature dealing with ethics.
In a recent news article, it was reported that our lawmakers have come up with an initial proposal on ethics. I read the article twice and the proposal had move moves than an old Fred Astaire/Giner Rogers dance routine.
The Jan. 30 editorial, Ethical fantasies," was dead on. These bottom feeders from both parties just can't five up their perks and special relationships with paid lobbyists. The only reason this subject became so important on their legislative agenda is because of the voter initiatives that are being circulated.
I am going to start practicing my own form of ethics by voting against every incumbent. I encourage other outraged voters to do the same. I believe we will have to do this for at least the next three voting cycles for those who are running for various offices to take note of who they are supposed to represent. If we don't do this, our state government will never change and it will bee business as usual.
Jim Bishop
Syracuse
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