Utah taxpayer-funded lobbying

1 Issues
2 Disclosure
3 Taxpayer-funded lobbying associations
4 References

Taxpayer-funded lobbying is government to government lobbying. counties, cities, school districts, public facilities, and associations of public employees frequently use public funds to influence legislation and appropriations at the state and federal levels.

This practice is controversial because public funds are spent to lobby for an agenda not subject to direct approval by voters, and outcomes may be contrary taxpayers benefit.

[edit] Issues

Several Utah city mayors, including Eagle Mountain Mayor Heather Jackson, Saratoga Springs Mayor Tim Parker and Lehi Mayor Howard Johnson, lobbied the federal government in 2008 for infrastructure funds.^[1] Specifically, the mayors wanted funding for east-west roads through cities on the west side of Utah County without having "to be completely dependent on the state" for funding.

The federal lobbying disclosure for Park City shows bills the city lobbied for include increasing funds and power of the city, as well as one bill having to do with West Virginia's "special places."^[2]

[edit] Disclosure

Sandy City discloses that it has lobbying representation through three taxpayer-funded lobbying associations. ^[3] Utah's lobbying disclosure laws were rated as "barely passing" in 2003, but this still placed the state as 8th in the nation. ^[4]

[edit] Taxpayer-funded lobbying associations

The following is a list of Utah taxpayer-funded lobbying associations by type:

[edit] County

[edit] Emergency services

[edit] Justice

Utah State Bar Association

[edit] Municipal

Utah League of Cities & Towns

[edit] School

[edit] Other

[edit] References

Utah taxpayer-funded lobbying associations

Salt Lake County Sheriff's Association • Utah Association of Collectors • Utah Association of Conservation Districts • Utah Association of Counties • Utah Association of Public Charter Schools • Utah Basin Association of Governments • Utah Chiefs of Police Association • Utah Highway Patrol Association • Utah League of Cities & Towns • Utah School Boards Association • Utah Sheriff's Association • Utah State Bar Association • Utah State Board of Regents • Western Counties Alliance

	v • d • e Lists of taxpayer-funded lobbying associations
By type	National organizations Cities • Counties • Schools • Police • Universities
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	v • d • e State of Utah Salt Lake City (capital)
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