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.
Complaint filed with FEC over Lee campaign donations
Wide-reaching FEC Complaint names Lee, Swallow, Johnson, McMillan, J.P. Morgan Chase, and Jane & John Doe Salt Lake City–Good government group Alliance for a Better UTAH recently filed a complaint with the Federal Elections Commission, asking the FEC to investigate allegations that Senator Mike Lee accepted straw donations in his …
Op-ed: Hold Recapture Canyon ATV protesters accountable
It has been nearly two months since armed riders, led by San Juan County Commissioner Phil Lyman, rode ATVs through Recapture Canyon to protest the canyon’s closure to motorized vehicles. Isaac Holyoak, communications director for Better UTAH, penned an op-ed in the Salt Lake Tribune over the weekend, questioning Lyman’s …
Silence on Utah’s Capitol Hill over Gov’s Health Plan
Salt Lake City — Despite a new poll showing overwhelming support for Governor Herbert’s Healthy Utah Plan, legislators were silent about expanding health care during their monthly interim session today. Maryann Martindale, executive director of good government group Alliance for a Better UTAH, has released the following statement, calling for …
Group to file FEC complaint against Sen. Mike Lee
Salt Lake City — Search warrants obtained yesterday by the Salt Lake Tribune in the investigation into former Attorney General John Swallow revealed allegations by Jeremy Johnson that Johnson and Swallow laundered some $50,000 in campaign contributions to Sen. Mike Lee. The Alliance for a Better UTAH, whose history of …
Shurtleff’s rant disrespects Doug Wright’s role as a voice of reason
Salt Lake City — Former Attorney General Mark Shurtleff appeared on the Doug Wright Show this morning to proclaim his innocence, and assail his opponents, in an ongoing investigation that stems from multiple investigations into former Attorney General John Swallow. Isaac Holyoak, communications director for the Alliance for a Better …
Anarchy is Recapture Canyon trespassers and Cliven Bundy, not marriage equality
Salt Lake City–Various news outlets have reported that Gov. Gary Herbert has called the choice by some states not to defend gay marriage bans as a step toward anarchy. The Alliance for a Better UTAH, which aims to bring balance, transparency and accountability to Utah politics, has released the following …
For Utah Gov. gay marriage is a giant worth fighting
Pennsylvania’s conservative governor announced Wednesday that he will not appeal a federal court decision that invalidated his state’s gay marriage ban because he believes an appeal has little chance of succeeding. Meanwhile, Utah’s politically similar Gov. Gary Herbert, along with Attorney General Sean Reyes, has continued his crusade against gay marriage in an …
Utah’s Rep. Ken Ivory at center of national debate on public lands
The Better UTAH Beat airs Tuesday afternoons on KVNU’s For the People. Podcasts of previous episodes are available here. —– The public land debate has garnered significant levels of public attention this year. If recent events are any indication, that interest is only set to increase. Several weeks ago the nation’s attention was …