Ethics Panel Wants Hart Off Rev & Tax

You can read the tail-end of the play-by-play live-blog report by Dustin Hurst/Idaho Reporter of the action by the House Ethics Committee and tax-resisting Rep. Phil Hart below. Link at bottom provides the full report. (Courtesy photo from Idaho Reporter, of Phil Hart during 2010 Legislature):

• 3:28 p.m.: Raybould motions that committee find Hart not guilty of abusing legislative privilege. Loertscher says that proper motion is to dismiss ethics complaint.  Seconded by Wills.
• 3:30 p.m.: Kane: “You don’t have five rights of free speech a year. It’s difficult to quantify an upper or lower limit on its use.”
• 3:31 p.m.: Ethics panel clear Hart on abuse of legislative privilege on a count of 5-2.
• 3:32 p.m.: Raybould recommends that the speaker remove Hart from Revenue and Taxation Committee.
• 3:33 p.m.: Panel votes 7-0 to recommend that Idaho Speaker of House Lawerence Denney remove Hart from House Revenue and Taxation Committee.
• 3:34 p.m.: Jaquet brings up why Hart hasn’t had legislative salary garnished.  Loertscher says that topic is off-limits for  ethics panel.
• Dustin Hurst’s complete live-blog of proceedings here

Question: Are you satisfied with the split decision by the House Ethics Committee re: Rep. Phil Hart’s tax problems?