Thoughts from Jim Dabakis re: John Swallows resignation. Dear Democrats, It is a somber day for Utah. Amidst a corruption scandal, our attorney general will resign. This is a clarion call for finally dealing with ethical problems in state government. As a result of a citizen complaint by Alliance For a Better Utah, John Swallow will leave after filling out his campaign forms deceptively. Its like Al Capone finally going to prison - for tax evasion. This must NOT be the end of asking the hard questions, must not be the end of the subpoenas. Utah taxpayers have spend $1.5 million dollars--and they have the right to see a final inclusive report. I am afraid thats what the peddlers of the status quo want- this problem to just go away. A singular aberration in the otherwise best manged state. The truth is, after so many years of one party domination, we have a a culture of political entanglement. I predict that we will soon hear the cries to close the investigations. Send home the prosecutors. The bad guy is gone. Finished. Forgotten. Lets get back to normal. Why do we need to keep going? The GOP leadership will say this is narrowly about impeachment. Its not. Its about answers. I see a great probability that Utahns will never know what happened. NEVER. It will be hushed up. Files closed. Influence peddlers, money bag men and politicians will just keep dancing, with a short pause in the music as Swallow awkwardly leaves the ballroom. Steven Reich, the out-of-state, no-nonsense, expensive, independent prosecutor that the House hired must stay. He led aggressive independent investigations into corruption in two states. Governors went to jail. We need Special Prosecutor Reich to deliver a full, honest report on what went wrong. If added authority is needed, Reich should be given a new mandate to seek out corruption wherever it leads. Serious investigators must be able to tell the people of this state what happened, and make recommendations on how to prevent this pattern from ever happening again. We must follow the trail, bravely. Some say it is expensive. I ask: How big a price tag do you put on regaining the trust of the people? Will we pay as much to get to the truth as we pay to stop imaginary Mexican wolves from coming to Utah? As much as the millions the state spends on futile federal lands lawsuits? I can sense a certain smugness in the powers that be that says, we finally have this handled. No uncomfortable questions, no depositions for anyone other then Swallow. No changes, no reforms, no facts--everyone back in the pool. Nothing to see here, move along. The stench of back room dealing, favors, contributions, contracts and pay-for-play is unmistakable. The only way for the get rid of the smell and build back the trust of the people of Utah is complete, bright, sunlight. Stay tuned. Jim
Posted on: Thu, 21 Nov 2013 21:04:08 +0000