The secret to standing up to a conservative supermajority is on display in... Utah?

The secret to standing up to a conservative supermajority is on display in… Utah?

Better Utah December 11, 2020

This article originally appeared in Mother Jones. Read it in its entirety here. At 4 o’clock on a Thursday afternoon, the lobby of Dragonfly Wellness is almost completely full. Clients perch expectantly on the lobby sofas, waiting to be buzzed through the locked door marked PATIENTS ONLY. This might not be an unusual scene elsewhere—medical marijuana is legal in more than 30 states—but this happens to

Utah Legislature approves Better Boundaries deal

Better Utah March 11, 2020

This article originally appeared in the Deseret News. Read it in its entirety here. SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Legislature has officially signed off on a deal struck between lawmakers and backers of a voter-approved citizens initiative creating an independent redistricting commission to recommend new legislative, congressional and State School Board boundaries following the census every decade. The Utah House of Representatives on Wednesday voted

Deal reached between lawmakers, Better Boundaries on redistricting

Better Utah February 26, 2020

This article originally appeared in the Deseret News. Read it in its entirety here. SALT LAKE CITY — A deal has been struck between lawmakers and backers of a voter-approved citizens initiative creating an independent redistricting commission to recommend new legislative, congressional and State School Board boundaries following the census every decade. “We have a deal in principle,” said Rebecca Chavez-Houck, a former Democratic state representative

Utah State Legislature will target anti-gerrymandering Prop. 4, group warns

Better Utah February 21, 2020

This video originally appeared here on Fox 13. This video originally appeared here on Fox 13.

2017 Interim Session – Voter Participation Update

Chase Thomas May 19, 2017

Government Operations Interim Committee There were a range of topics in this month’s Government Operations Interim Committee meeting, but we honed in on one major topic: voter participation. Rep. Patrice Arent presented on Presidential Primary Funding. During the legislative session, Arent and her co-sponsor, Sen. Curtis Bramble, passed a bill requiring the state to hold

Redistricting 101

Better Utah January 18, 2017

This past Friday, Alliance for a Better Utah hosted a panel discussion at the Sandy Senior Center about redistricting. Our founder and board chair, Josh Kanter, facilitated the discussion with Rep. Chavez-Houck (D) and Quang Dang of Represent Me Utah. The subject of redistricting may seem a little dry at first glance, but the subject

Shurtleff, Swallow cases remain a wake-up call for public officials, politicos say

Better Utah July 28, 2016

Source: The Salt Lake Tribune No longer confronted with criminal charges, former Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff may be in the clear in a court of law, but the court of public opinion is another matter. And that reality, political observers say, should serve as a blunt reminder to every officeholder: Public corruption cases may

Dying with Dignity

Better Utah July 20, 2016

All throughout college, one of my best friends, Alanna, received a People magazine subscription. Our senior year, they usually ended up on the coffee table in our apartment so my other best friend, Megan, could casually browse their contents. I enjoyed teasing them about keeping up with the Kardashians, but one day Alanna asked us if

Bill to Turn Two Committees Partisan Advances

Better Utah February 11, 2016

Source: Utah Political Capitol A bill that will seriously alter the political makeup of two key legislative committees advanced Wednesday. HB 220 – Legislative Organization Amendments, sponsored by Representative LaVar Christensen (Republican – Draper), would add two additional Republicans to the Legislative Management Committee and the Legislative Audit Subcommittee. At present, an equal number of

Better UTAH Beat Episode 41 – March 19, 2013

Better Utah March 21, 2013

The following is the transcript from this week’s Better UTAH Beat. It aired on March 19, 2013. ——– This is Maryann Martindale of the Alliance for a Better UTAH and welcome to this week’s edition of the Better UTAH Beat. It might be tempting to say that the divide in the state legislature is between

Tag: rebecca chavez-houck