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.
New OpEd: Utah’s Transparency Problem
Over the past year, despite the public outcry over the anti-transparency HB477, Utah’s Legislature and attorney general have quietly resumed their continuing assault on the principles of open and transparent government. Yet this assault has received little attention. During the 2012 legislative session, Sen. Margaret Dayton, R-Orem, succeeded in passing …
ALEC conservatives reject charges of corporate cronyism
The American Legislative Exchange Council has found itself in the crosshairs of a national campaign from critics, but lawmakers attending the annual conference in Salt Lake City this week say they won’t be intimidated… … Twenty-five corporate sponsors have abandoned ALEC in recent months amid the public scrutiny, fueled by …
Was Governor Herbert Romney’s Personal Watchdog?
One little story you may have missed over the past week was Utah Governor Gary Herbert’s rather unusual quote to the National Journal, where he defended Mitt Romney’s story that the presidential candidate wasn’t working for Bain Capitol after 1999. “I was in Utah when he was running the Olympics! …
Stolen Valor Act – Lying Isn’t A Crime
After the Supreme Court ruled last week that the Stolen Valor Act is unconstitutional, some Republicans are already moving to reconstruct the act and pass it again (“Court rejects stolen valor law, boosts Utah congressman’s idea, Tribune, June 29). Why do these elected officials, who never fail to warn of …
Des News/KSL Report: Better UTAH Warns Winder of “laughing off” Burwash scandal
Via the Deseret News and KSL: SOUTH JORDAN – Mike Winder’s phone started ringing about 8 a.m. Wednesday. Supporters of the Republican candidate for Salt Lake County mayor were calling to tell him they’d seen campaign signs for Richard Burwash, the fictional name Winder used in 2010 and 2011 to …
Leaked Phone Call Reveals Candidate Backroom Deals
Better UTAH joined Fox 13 News tonight to discuss why Attorney General Candidate John Swallow is discussing major changes to the Consumer Protection division in private meetings with donors, but not in public.
Elected officials should perform duties with openness, transparency
Recently, the governor’s office deflected attention to the troubles at UDOT by saying, “External attempts to politicize the process are neither constructive nor appropriate. The governor has been very clear: Facts and performance, not politics, will govern the decision-making in these administrative processes.” But the Denice Graham story is as …
Winder’s Consequences
Published: Friday, Dec. 16 2011 Above, West Valley City mayor Mike Winder asks a question of Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis about the eVerify law during a reception at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in Salt Lake City, Thursday, August 11, 2011. (Brian Nicholson, Deseret News) West Valley City’s City Council …