Daily Herald | Posted: Wednesday, October 1, 2008 11:00 pm
COUNTYWIDE
• Concerned about the ethical cloud surrounding the state legislature, a group of Democratic legislative candidates from Utah County has signed a guarantee promising to sponsor legislation to pass specific ethics reforms.
This guarantee goes significantly further than the recent pledge instigated by Utahns for Public Schools.
The candidates' "guarantee to support ethics" calls for ethics reform changes that they say have been ignored by the state Legislature. They include:
• Creation of an independent commission to investigate ethics cases involving legislators. Currently, legislators investigate each other.
• A ban on all gifts from lobbyists that exceed $50 in value. Currently, lobbyists can give a gift of any amount. They only need to report gifts of $50 or more.
• Disclosure by the legislator and the lobbyist of all gifts.
• The deadline to file for the Economic Stimulus Payment is Oct. 15. The Utah County Volunteer Tax Assistance Coalition is offering free filing assistance today starting at 9 a.m. If you need to set up an appointment to file, contact United Way by dialing 211 or 374-2588.
• The Utah County Women's Legislative Council will hear from two active political leaders at its meeting today at the Provo Library, 550 N. University Ave., at 10 a.m. on the second floor. Candidates for the upcoming election will be highlighted by Utah County Democrat Chairman Richard Davis and state Rep. Becky Lockhart, R-Provo. For more information, call 225-1521.
PROVO
• State Sen. Curt Bramble, R-Provo, was given the Legislator of the Year Award Wednesday by the American Legislative Exchange Council.
The council is a nonprofit group with members from state legislatures, the private sector and federal government that seeks to advance principles of limited government, federalism, free markets and individual liberty.
The award is given to legislators who have advanced policies based on the principles promoted by the council. Eight legislators were given the award this year.