deseret news | Alliance for a Better Utah

Romney criticizes Trump clearing out peaceful protesters to make way for photo op

Better Utah June 3, 2020

This article originally appeared in the Deseret News. Read it in its entirety here. SALT LAKE CITY — Sens. Mike Lee and Mitt Romney met Wednesday with Utah National Guard soldiers deployed to Washington, D.C., to help deal with protests over the death of a black man in police custody, as a left-leaning group in Utah urged the governor to call the troops home. Also Wednesday,

Utah’s no-bid COVID-19 buys spur some lawmakers to seek checks on spending power

Better Utah May 23, 2020

This article originally appeared in the Deseret News. Read it in its entirety here. SALT LAKE CITY — Frustrated by certain multimillion-dollar, no-bid purchases and contracts that state officials have executed as part of their response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a pair of lawmakers are drafting legislation to bring more transparency and checks to the state’s emergency procurement powers. Rep. Andrew Stoddard, D-Sandy, and Rep. Suzanne

Public can testify at virtual legislative hearings — but only with 12 hours’ notice

Better Utah May 19, 2020

This article originally appeared in the Deseret News. Read it in its entirety here. SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Legislature has a new process to hear public testimony during committee hearings being held virtually because of COVID-19, but would-be participants will have to make a request to speak at least 12 hours in advance. … Although the meetings are being conducted with videoconferencing software, they can only

Utah auditor reviewing $800K buy of anti-malarial drugs, other COVID-19 purchases

Better Utah May 1, 2020

This article originally appeared in the Deseret News. Read it in its entirety here. SALT LAKE CITY — Utah State Auditor John Dougall confirmed Friday his office is reviewing the state’s $800,000 purchase of anti-malarial drugs — a controversial move that raised red flags from pharmacists and medical professionals, and has since been refunded. “Yes, we’re looking into it,” Dougall told the Deseret News when asked

Utah Legislature approves Better Boundaries deal

Better Utah March 11, 2020

This article originally appeared in the Deseret News. Read it in its entirety here. SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Legislature has officially signed off on a deal struck between lawmakers and backers of a voter-approved citizens initiative creating an independent redistricting commission to recommend new legislative, congressional and State School Board boundaries following the census every decade. The Utah House of Representatives on Wednesday voted

Deal reached between lawmakers, Better Boundaries on redistricting

Better Utah February 26, 2020

This article originally appeared in the Deseret News. Read it in its entirety here. SALT LAKE CITY — A deal has been struck between lawmakers and backers of a voter-approved citizens initiative creating an independent redistricting commission to recommend new legislative, congressional and State School Board boundaries following the census every decade. “We have a deal in principle,” said Rebecca Chavez-Houck, a former Democratic state representative

Press Release: Better Utah comments on anticipated first tax reform meeting

Katie Matheson May 30, 2019

PRESS RELEASEFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 30, 2019 Salt Lake City, UT – Following the failure of HB441, the tax reform bill from the 2019 legislative session, the Tax Restructuring and Equalization Task Force was formed to take on the gargantuan task of tax reform. In recent weeks, various politicians have gone on the record to

Know the news in Utah

Better Utah April 17, 2019

What is the purpose of a free press? Our founding fathers saw it as a safeguard for democracy. President Donald Trump sees it as a purveyor of “fake news.” And in tweets such as “91% of the Network News about me is negative (Fake),” he has helpfully revealed his definition: “Fake news” is any report

Environmental advocates warn they’ll be ‘watching closely’ as Utah Inland Port begins business

Katie Matheson July 31, 2018

SALT LAKE CITY — After a false start last month, the Utah Inland Port Authority board had its first meeting Monday, where board members were sworn in and the board’s leadership was elected. The port authority members voted unanimously to appoint Derek Miller, Salt Lake Chamber president, as the board’s chairman, and Salt Lake City

Amid conflict of interest issues, House Speaker Greg Hughes resigns from inland port board

Katie Matheson June 28, 2018

SALT LAKE CITY — In wake of revelations that he has ties to properties that disqualify him from being a Utah Inland Port Authority board member, House Speaker Greg Hughes announced Tuesday that he will not be serving on the board. While acting as a guest host for a KNRS radio show Tuesday, Hughes announced he will

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