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.
Utah’s no-bid COVID-19 buys spur some lawmakers to seek checks on spending power
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 …
Utah should seek to develop federal lands near cities, argues a former lawmaker
This article originally appeared in the Salt Lake Tribune. Read it in its entirety here. Utah officials now have a $700,000 tool that they hope will demonstrate the federal government is paying the state a “minuscule fraction” of what it’s due for its public lands. On Friday, a tech firm called Geomancer unveiled the software that Utah lawmakers bought to help them understand …
Kaysville City Council passes resolution denouncing a planned protest concert and mayor’s actions to support it
This article originally appeared in the Salt Lake Tribune. Read it in its entirety here. The Kaysville City Council — in a revolt against Mayor Katie Witt — was considering turning on sprinklers and cutting power to a city park to stop a protest concert she backed there that openly aimed to defy state COVID-19 restrictions. Word about these possible city actions …
Concert Moved To Private Property In Grantsville; Yet To File Permit
This article originally appeared on KSL News. Read it in its entirety here. SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A controversial concert that was slated for May 30 in Kaysvillehas been moved to Tooele County, event organizers said. According to an email obtained by KSL from the Kaysville City Business Licensing, the permit for the concert was denied. The group Utah Business …
Public can testify at virtual legislative hearings — but only with 12 hours’ notice
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 …
Alliance for a Better Utah calls for Kaysville mayor’s resignation over planned concert
This article originally appeared in the Deseret News. Read it in its entirety here. KAYSVILLE — The Alliance for a Better Utah is calling on Kaysville Mayor Katie Witt to resign after she opened up the city to a free outdoor concert May 30 in conjunction with activists opposed to restrictions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Witt expressed her support …
Press Release: Better Utah calls for resignation of Kaysville Mayor Katie Witt
PRESS RELEASEFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 18, 2020 Salt Lake City, UT – Today, in response to Mayor Katie Witt’s plan to hold a free concert in Kaysville, Alliance for a Better Utah called for her resignation. The concert would likely break state health guidelines during the Covid-19 outbreak, and could …
Utah’s no-bid contracts guided by personal contacts, CEO suggestions
This article originally appeared in the Salt Lake Tribune. Read it in its entirety here. In the war on COVID-19, Utah has doled out more than $84 million in no-bid contracts and supply orders outside the normal purchasing process designed to promote transparency, fairness and competition among businesses. These procurement shortcuts were necessary during the pandemic, officials argue, to cope with …
