Government leaders should not be legitimizing misinformation

Better Utah September 15, 2021

PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 15, 2021 Salt Lake City, UT – Today in the Health and Human Services Interim Committee, a presentation was given by Kristen Chevrier from Vaccine Freedom Utah and Open for Business. The presentation, originally titled Business Medical Regulation Protection Act, quickly devolved into a platform for spreading misinformation about

2 quick ways to take action on Utah’s COVID response

Katie Matheson August 3, 2021

With the Delta variant spreading like wildfire, vaccination rates lower than hoped, and implementation of mask mandates made overly-political and difficult—or in the case of public schools, outright illegal (thanks to the Utah Legislature)—many Utahns are worried about how their communities will fare in the coming weeks and months with schools reopening and public gatherings

How do we get fair districts and keep communities together?

Melissa Nelson-Stippich June 28, 2021

Every ten years, the lines for our voting districts are drawn. Depending on how the maps are made, the lines can strengthen or separate a community. When a community is sliced apart, their voices are minimized, and elected officials have no incentive to listen to them. A community that is kept together can advocate for

Better Utah responds to anti-trans Interim discussion

Better Utah June 16, 2021

PRESS RELEASEFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 16, 2021 Salt Lake City, UT – Today, lawmakers on the Health and Human Services Interim Committee discussed the ability of trans girls to participate in school sports. According to the Utah High School Activities Association, there are currently no trans girls participating in school sports in Utah. Lauren Simpson, policy

Utah’s conflict of interest problem

Lauren Simpson April 2, 2021

With the Legislative session now a month behind us, it’s a good time to reflect not just on what happened, but what we want the Legislature to look like in the future. Utah has long resisted implementing meaningful ethical standards for public officials. As a matter of fact, a few years ago lawmakers decided to

Better Utah Publishes Legislative Progress Report

Better Utah March 31, 2021

PRESS RELEASEFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 31, 2021 Salt Lake City, UT – Today, Alliance for a Better Utah published its annual Progress Report for the 2021 General Legislative Session. This year, lawmakers were graded for their votes on 66 important bills organized into four categories: Strong Communities, Equal Rights, Good Government, and Sustainable Future. All 104

Better Utah responds to reduced debate time in Utah House

Better Utah February 16, 2021

PRESS RELEASEFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 16, 2021 Salt Lake City, UT – Today, with three weeks left of the session and some big bills still in the queue to be debated, the Utah House unanimously passed a motion which would limit floor debate time from ten minutes to five minutes. Lauren Simpson, policy director of Alliance

Press Release: Utah advocates call for block of $20 million bailout for bankrupt coal port company

Better Utah August 13, 2020

PRESS RELEASEFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 13, 2020 Salt Lake City– Today, a team of Utah environmental and public interest groups called on the Utah Legislature and Permanent Community Impact Fund Board (CIB) to forgo spending public funds to bail out a bankrupt California coal port developer. As reported by the Salt Lake Tribune, Insight Terminal

Prioritizing people during a pandemic

Better Utah July 22, 2020

Chiara Kim is a policy intern with Alliance for a Better Utah. My non-verbal, autistic brother moved into a group home when he was 14. In the six years since, my family has been grateful for the services that state funding has helped provide. The residential staff, behavioral therapist, day program, and disability services all

Oklahoma, Utah face scrutiny over malaria drug purchases

Better Utah April 28, 2020

This article originally appeared on PBS. Read it in its entirety here. OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Republican state leaders in Oklahoma and Utah are facing scrutiny for spending millions of dollars combined to purchase malaria drugs promoted by President Trump to treat COVID-19 patients that many other states obtained for free and that doctors warned shouldn’t be used without more testing. While governments in at least

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