PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 30, 2020
Salt Lake City, UT – In response to today’s release of the COVID-19 purchase and emergency response audit by Utah State Auditor John Dugall, Chase Thomas, Executive Director of Alliance for a Better Utah, issued the following statement:
“Although politicians like to brag that Utah is the best managed state, this audit reveals a number of serious flaws in how Utah leaders have managed the COVID response. This audit validates the concerns many have had that well-connected businesses obtained lucrative contracts to assist with Utah’s COVID response and then fell short. The audit also raises a number of questions about the role of the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget, and why they have been behind the wheel of so many public health decisions without properly consulting public health experts.
“As the audit notes, our state government was not adequately prepared for an emergency of this nature, but Utah leaders must now learn from their mistakes in order to help the state move forward. As COVID cases continue to rise, we need strong, unified, and transparent leadership that will take charge and put people first.”
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Alliance for a Better Utah is a nonprofit that holds politicians accountable and advocates for progressive policies that make Utah an even better place. The organization improves the lives of all Utahns through advocacy, transparency, and accountability in Utah politics, policy, and government. More information at www.betterutah.org.