- United States
- Utah
- Letter
The Citizens of Utah deserve transparency and openness from their government. Recent actions by the legislature, such as disbanding the independent State Records Committee and blocking the release of public records like Garrity Statements and officials' work calendars, undermine the public's right to access information. Replacing the Records Committee with a governor-appointed director reduces accountability. Keeping such records secret erodes trust in government processes. The legislature should uphold democratic principles of transparency rather than repeatedly finding new ways to conceal information from the very people they serve. Reversing these troubling measures would demonstrate a genuine commitment to open government and renew public confidence. Utah cannot claim to be the "best run state" while simultaneously earning a reputation for secrecy and obstructing citizen oversight. The people's right to know must be protected.