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.
Good government groups to petition Gov. Herbert to appoint interim AG
Salt Lake City — Two good government groups are joining forces today to deliver a letter to Gov. Gary Herbert, asking him to appoint an interim attorney general who will not stand for reelection in November 2014. Both Utahns for Ethical Government and the Alliance for a Better UTAH have …
Utah needs its own Cincinnatus for attorney general
The case for a replacement attorney general who won’t stand for reelection in November 2014 got an added boost with a new op-ed in the Deseret News. Maryann Martindale, executive director of the Alliance for a Better UTAH, drew upon Livy’s account of the some time Roman ruler Cincinnatus to …
ALEC Pledge of Allegiance
A recent investigative report by the The Guardian into the practices of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) showed that top ranking members are asked to pledge loyalty to the ALEC agenda. According to the report, state chairs, apparently including our own Rep. Ken Ivory and Senate President Wayne Niederhauser, …
Utah Supreme Court gets F for bad disclosure rules
The Center for Public Integrity released a report yesterday on the financial disclosure requirements of state supreme court justices. As one might suspect, Utah ranks at the bottom. In fact, Utah is one of just three states that has no disclosure requirements whatsoever. Idaho, Montana and Utah all received scores …
Accountability for John Swallow was a team effort
The Better UTAH Beat airs Tuesday afternoons on KVNU’s For the People. Podcasts of previous episodes are available here. —– Is John Swallow a bad man? I really don’t know. I’ve shaken his hand, but we’ve never spent more than a few minutes together and I don’t know much about him beyond …
Meaningful change should be focus following Swallow’s resignation
Salt Lake City — Officials with the good government group Alliance for a Better UTAH have released the following statement following Lt. Governor Spencer Cox’s decision today to suspend further adjudication into an election law violation complaint filed earlier this year by Better UTAH: “Regardless of who is chosen to …
Turkey of the Year award goes to Utah’s Sen. Mike Lee
Turkeys will soon be gracing Utah tables as families sit down to enjoy their Thanksgiving feast, but turkeys can be found year-round in Utah, especially in government and politics. That’s why good government group Alliance for a Better UTAH polls its supporters to award an annual Turkey award to the …
Will Swallow get the last laugh?
Just when you think it can’t get any worse . . . When John Swallow finally resigned last week, there was little doubt that his decision had less to with his feigned indignation or unfair financial situation and more to do with the forthcoming Lt. Governor’s investigative report and his …