Salt Lake City, UT – Without holding a public committee hearing, the Utah Senate passed HB 460, a bill approving $100 million in additional bonding for the new state prison currently under construction in Salt Lake City. The House also voted to approve the bonding measure on Monday evening without holding a public committee hearing.
Chase Thomas, Better Utah’s policy and advocacy counsel, issued the following statement:
“It is alarming that our legislators believe they can pass laws without involving the public in the process. The public should have the opportunity to receive an explanation why this money was needed and what it would be used for, followed by an opportunity to comment. It is improbable legislators only found out two days ago that the prison project would be over-budget. Yet, legislators chose to ram through this bonding proposal at the last minute of the session without a public hearing.
“Transparency is a key element of a well-functioning democracy and one of the three pillars of Alliance for a Better Utah’s mission. We ask that our government government officials act in a transparent manner so their constituents may hold their representatives accountable and know what the government will be doing with their hard-earned money.”
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