SandBoxUtah: Salt Lake Tribune "Good for Shea"

Lakshmi Johal-Dominguez, Orem:

"Thank you, Pat Shea, for being a truth-teller ("Utah: A beehive of corruption," Opinion, April 21). Last week, I heard Sen. John Valentine, R-Orem, give a legislative update, and what a noble spin he gave to the federal land-grab issue.

As a taxpayer, I want a list of the legislators and lobbyists who will make money if this "indefensible legislation" goes through. How many conflicts of interest, wrapped up in patriotism, are involved in this "fantasy claim" of state ownership of RS2477 roads?

I want a published list of the campaign contributions given in exchange for pushing this agenda. Which oil and gas companies will benefit? Which land developers and realtors will benefit? How much secret money will change hands behind closed doors?

How clever and corrupt to have us taxpayers foot the legal bill for a losing proposition! I’m with Shea — we need to get rid of the extremist poison of the connivers, the manipulators and the greedy.

We must elect responsible leaders to serve Utahns in a open and nonpartisan environment. Let’s remove those from office who think they can set up their personal financial kingdoms and "who believe that they alone know the truth of things...."  (Read more?  Click title)

SandBoxUtah: Salt Lake Tribune "Utah: A beehive of corruption"

Pat Shea:

"I have served on the Governor’s Council of Balanced Resources since its creation in 2009, but no longer.

Here’s why:

At our last meeting, legislation by the Utah Legislature purporting to reclaim federal land for the state of Utah was discussed, though the main proponent of the idea, Rep. Mike Noel, R-Kanab, was absent.

When lawmakers were considering the legislation, Bob Abbey, director of the federal Bureau of Land Management, told The Salt Lake Tribune that "it’s too bad we can’t focus on our shared values, instead of litigating and spending money."

In keeping with that spirit of shared values, during the meeting I drafted a letter from the Balanced Resources Council to the BLM director, asking for his view of our shared values. I read the letter to the council and everyone agreed it was a good idea.

Alan Matheson Jr., the governor’s chief environmental adviser and staff person for the council, asked that Gov. Gary Herbert be given a chance to review the letter. Two weeks later, I received a phone message that the governor was not willing to have his council send such a letter.

Matheson said that if Abbey wanted to write a letter on his own describing his perception of our "shared values," the letter could be reviewed by the council. Disgusted, I resigned from the council on April 13.