If you’ve driven into Utah from any bordering state, you’ve probably seen a “Life Elevated” billboard. That isn’t just a play on words or a slogan on a sign – it’s a frame of mind. Utahns have high expectations of themselves and their government, and those expectations make a difference, leading to remarkable results when metrics are compared across states.
The people deserve the credit for the many honors we receive as a state. Utahns have accomplished great things by demanding accountability and transparency, and at election time, they carefully select individuals who will advance their interests at the Capitol without capitulating to lobbyists or outside special interest groups.
Very effective safeguards are in place in Utah to prevent corruption and the misuse of power, but many voters do not know what those safeguards are or how to access them.
Every year, the Utah House Majority strives to expand and refine the tools in our accountability and transparency toolbox, demonstrating our commitment to accountable government.
Utah government transparency tools
Legislation is one of the tools available to Utah voters through their elected representatives. This year we will see bills enhancing election integrity to shore up confidence in our voting system. Other bills will address the accountability of judges in retention elections and improve public access to the court system and its records. We will strengthen representative democracy by reinforcing the constitutional roles of all three branches of government to clarify that only duly elected officials may enact laws. That isn’t a territorial thing — it’s a constitutional thing, because voters cannot hold judges and special interest groups accountable at the ballot box. Only elected officials can be made to pay for bad decisions. Such accountability is critical to our system of governance.
Utah voters have an array of transparency tools available to them at our state-of-the-art website, le.utah.gov, which surpasses CSPAN and every other transparency tool on the national level. Anyone wishing to follow the evolution of a bill can do so on the website. Voters can watch proceedings and offer public comment live at the Capitol or remotely online. The website is especially useful for anyone wishing to understand why a majority of legislators voted for or against a bill. The audio-video history of a bill, preserved on the website in perpetuity, provides more clarity on points discussed in committee hearings and in floor debates than any media source could provide.
Financial accountability and transparency are also very important to Utah voters. Fortunately, every dollar allocated is accounted for at cobi.utah.gov. This takes the guesswork out of the question “Where do taxpayer dollars go?” Detailed spreadsheets and spending explanations with intent language are available 24/7, 365 days a year on the website. Appropriations meetings are also open to the public and available online.
Utah voters also have access to legislative audit reports, which provide in-depth analyses on multiple subjects to improve programs, reduce costs, make recommendations and promote accountability.
Other tools in the toolbox include annual ethics training, frequent financial disclosure requirements and strict penalties for violations of public trust. These provisions in the Utah Code ensure that officials at every level of government are aware of their responsibilities under the law. Strict rules of conduct extend even to Utah lobbyists, who are not allowed to provide false information to legislators.
Utah voters deserve and demand a government that reflects their integrity and hard work. They deserve to know how decisions are made, which initiatives are prioritized and how scarce resources are allocated.
Public oversight is important. Public confidence is critical. That’s how government “of the people, by the people, and for the people” gets things done.