Rep. Wayne Owens admitted to a few overdraft checks, then it grew to 20 or 30 bad checks, now it is 92 in a 39-month period. Sloppy bookkeeping was blamed. I should say $139,000 in overdrafts in the disclosed period (more than two checks every month with overdrafts exceeding his monthly income 18 percent of the time) is not sloppy, that's abuse.
Then he tries to deflect his responsibility by "justifying" his own actions because others did it. (Rep. Owens, please explain this excuse to my kids - are drugs OK now because others do it?) The deflection grows out of hand when he blamed "opportunistic freshmen Republicans." Blame them? Let's applaud them for bringing this abuse of office to an end.John Cook
Sandy
After watching the confirmation of our last Supreme Court justice, I did not think that our elected officials serving in the nation's capital could put on another show that ridiculous. After reading the remarks made by Wayne Owens regarding his overdrafts, it's obvious I was wrong.
I.M. Tippetts
Salt Lake City
So far, all this hullabaloo over the congressmen's overdrawn bank accounts is an incomplete story.
I have a good credit rating, and if I wish, I can issue checks beyond the funds deposited, showing a minus balance. The bank does not penalize me, but charges interest. A limit is stated, but if I wish a larger allowance, I can apply for it. I have used this privilege at least three times in the past few months.
The news media have not, in my opinion, judged fairly from what facts they've presented thus far. So far, the main difficulty is that the congressmen don't know how to explain their transactions.
Melden J. Smith
Monroe
It's human nature (politician or not) to make a mistake like bouncing a few checks. But when a politician makes excuses to cover up that mistake, it could only be motivated by desperate, vain and prideful ambitions. If people like Wayne Owens, then like him. But don't vote for him this fall.
Tyler Jensen
Logan
I find amusing but dismaying the gullible, ill-weighed and knee-jerk response of some people to the media's patent distortion and sensationalism of the check overdraft non-issue.
Congress, as with any institution, has flaws. If, however, one feels so compelled to yield to the lynch-mob mentality, let it be directed at issues of substance - those that impact the quality of our lives, such as health-care reform, economic revitalization, environmental preservation, etc.
R. Milligan
Salt Lake City
Rep. Wayne Owens reminds me of a little boy caught in the cookie jar. At first he denies doing anything wrong, but as the evidence mounts, he admits only to what he thinks he can get away with.
Until Mr. Owens can get his own financial house in order and live under the same rules that the rest of us do, he has no right to represent the state of Utah.
Robert L. Harwood
Taylorsville
The title "Wayne's World" now takes on a whole new meaning due to the recent House bank scandal. Much like Wayne and Garth of current cinematic fame, our own Wayne Owens also seem to be living in a fantasy world void of reason and common sense that only he and his out-of-touch-with-reality incumbent cronies could love, appreciate and exploit.
N.G. Nelson
Orem
Why does Congress expect us to trust them with our billions in tax money when they can't even balance their own check books? I'm sure Mr. Owens wouldn't get weight-control advice from a person weighing 300 pounds, or he wouldn't go to a marriage counselor who's been divorced seven times. That is about the same as what Congress is asking of us.
Wade Haslem
Vernal