The fundamental purpose of our work is to maintain open and transparent government by keeping the electorate informed. Though some find it hard to believe, our state is home to a diverse population of backgrounds and perspectives. Utah citizens put a great deal of trust in local government to ensure that everyone is represented equally.
When elected government officials abuse that trust, whether by acting in accordance with their personal beliefs instead of the law, accepting “gifts” in exchange for political favors, indulging the influence of outside groups or by making important decisions in closed caucus meetings, ABU is there to speak out.
Advocacy. Transparency. Accountability.
We’ve got a new logo! We recently went through a brand adjustment, and with our new logo comes a new tagline: “Advocacy. Transparency. Accountability.” In the past, we’ve talked about our organization as being built on the pillars of “balance, transparency, and accountability.” Now, we’ve obviously changed one of the …
Proud to be disloyal
According to recent reports, President Trump has said that Jews who vote for Democrats are either ignorant or disloyal. Though it’s unclear whether he is suggesting that a vote for Democrats is disloyal to him, to the United States, or to Israel, I will wear the badge of disloyalty with …
Press Release: Better Utah statement on tax reform behind closed doors
PRESS RELEASEFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 20, 2019 Salt Lake City, UT – In response to an article in the Deseret News about yesterday’s Tax Restructuring and Equalization Task Force meeting, in which it was stated that the final tax reform proposal could possibly be crafted in a closed GOP caucus …
Press Release: Senator Vickers’ business interests reveal further issues with the Legislature’s handling of Props 2 and 3
PRESS RELEASEFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 23, 2019 Salt Lake City, UT – Yesterday, a story about Senator Vickers’ business interests in the pharmaceutical industry broke. Sen. Vickers, the Senate Majority Leader, has two family-owned pharmacies in Iron County which distribute 34 percent of the County’s opiates–more than even Walmart’s pharmacy. …
Former Utah County commissioner sues colleagues over sexual harassment claim
This article originally appeared on KSL.com. Read it in its entirety here. PROVO — A former Utah County commissioner is suing the onetime employee who he says falsely accused him of sexual harassment, along with the county leaders who publicly released the allegation in 2017. Greg Graves alleges his fellow commissioners sought …
Watchdogs criticize Salt Lake Chamber’s canceled $2,500-a-head ‘off-the-record conversation’ with lawmakers on tax reform
This article originally appeared in The Salt Lake Tribune. Read it in its entirety here. Government watchdog groups are calling out the Salt Lake Chamber over an abruptly canceled “off-the-record conversation” on tax reform in which business owners would have paid $2,500 for a cozy session with Utah legislative leaders. “It didn’t …
Salt Lake Chamber scraps plan for pricey ‘off-record’ meeting with lawmakers
This article originally appeared in the Deseret News. Read it in its entirety here. SALT LAKE CITY — It started with a flyer. Then it quickly unraveled as the Deseret News began asking questions. The flyer — sent to members of the Salt Lake Chamber — asked for a minimum …
No proposed fixes and no public comment at first tax reform task force meeting
This article originally appeared in Deseret News. Read it in its entirety here. SALT LAKE CITY — There were no proposed fixes to the state’s tax structure discussed during the first meeting Thursday of a new legislative task force formed after lawmakers backed away last session from imposing sales taxes …
