In Depth: Ethics review on Capitol Hill

In Depth: Ethics review on Capitol Hill


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Starting at 9:00 this morning, the House Ethics Committee will review its first two ethics complaints in 10 years. How did this all start, and what can we expect to happen next?

It all started over the issue of school vouchers. Rumors spread among lawmakers saying certain political groups would give campaign donations to legislators who support vouchers. But one lawmaker says it was more than just gossip in the spring of 2006.

Former Republican lawmaker Susan Lawrence said, "My purpose is to just state what happened in an effort to get the Legislature to seriously look at themselves [and] the activities that are happening."

Lawrence wrote a letter saying Rep. Greg Hughes told her she could get nearly $50,000 for her campaign from pro-voucher groups if she would change her position.

"My reaction, I think he was probably aware that it was disturbing to me, [and] that I did feel it was inappropriate," she said.

Hughes, however, says there was never any quid pro quo in his conversations with Lawrence.

"Specifically to changer a vote, absolutely not. When you have people in the campaign process, they are looking for good lawmakers to support and we had talked about getting her as much support as possible," he said.

But other lawmakers say Lawrence's letter shows there is a deeper problem on the hill. One of those lawmakers was the man who replaced her in office, Democrat Phil Riesen.

"If anybody believes, for one minute, that this matter should have been kept confidential and behind closed doors, they're mistaken. Too much of the people's business is already done behind closed doors on Capitol Hill," he said.

But Riesen himself became the subject of another ethics complaint. Hughes alleges Riesen leaked Lawrence's letter to the press. As for today's hearing, House Ethics Committee Co-Chair Todd Kiser says he anticipates it could take several days.

"I understand there's a large witness list and we'll need to hear testimony from those witnesses," he said.

Both Hughes and Riesen asked for these proceedings to be open to the public, but Kiser says current rules won't allow it.

"We don't have the authority or the power within this eight member committee to suspend rules and make the meeting open," he explained.

After its probe, the ethics committee will propose whatever changes it deems necessary to the rest of the legislators.

E-mail: pnelson@ksl.com

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