Duelling Editorials: 2009 Utah Ethics Reform Update

Three differing takes on ethics reform bills prospectively emerging from the 2009 Utah legislative session

There are two notable northern Utah print media editorials this morning, addressing the subject ethics reform legislation which may prospectively become ready for the Governor's signature, before the legislature winds up its 2009 session at the end of the week.

The Deseret News is optimistic, and views the legislature's efforts with a "glass is half full" approach:

Sometimes, the length of the stride isn't quite as important as the direction of the stride. There are ways in which every ethics bill the Utah Legislature has passed, or soon will pass, this year could be stronger, tougher and more airtight. But it sure is nice to see ethics bills of any sort make it to the governor's desk for his signature.

For the Salt Lake Tribune, "the glass is half empty," or worse:

When you study the stat sheet for ethics reform, it looks like another losing season for Utah lawmakers. If Jerry Sloan were in charge, legislative leaders would be riding the pine.

Late last month, one of Weber County Forum's long time regulars offered a prediction about the prospect for "meaningful" ethics legislation emerging from this 2009 legislative session:

There ainta gonna be any meaningful "ethics" legislation come out of this, or any other session of the Utah Legislature.
They are already an ethically "perfect" body and they don't need no fixin. If you don't believe me ask them.

So what about it WCF readers? Assuming that the bulk of remedial ethics reform bills mentioned in the above two articles become part of the body of Utah law, is there room for optimism, as the Deseret News suggests? Was the Salt Lake Tribune correct that this year's legislative work product is no cause to break out the bubbly at all? Was the ever-skeptical Ozboy on the money in his prognostication that whatever would emerge from this year's legislative session would be essentially meaningless?

The global blogosphere eagerly awaits our gentle readers' comments.