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SD public defense duties shift from counties to state; SCOTUS appears skeptical of restricting government communications with social media companies; Trump lawyers say he can't make bond; new scholarships aim to connect class of 2024 to high-demand jobs.

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The SCOTUS weighs government influence on social media, and who groups like the NRA can do business with. Biden signs an executive order to advance women's health research and the White House tells Israel it's responsible for the Gaza humanitarian crisis.

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Midwest regenerative farmers are rethinking chicken production, Medicare Advantage is squeezing the finances of rural hospitals and California's extreme swing from floods to drought has some thinking it's time to turn rural farm parcels into floodplains.

Group says Former AGs' Arrests Show Utah Politics Need Reform

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Wednesday, July 16, 2014   

SALT LAKE CITY - The arrests of two former Utah attorneys general show the need for stronger ethics laws, and campaign finance and election reforms, according to the Alliance for a Better Utah.

The nonpartisan government watchdog group filed the election-law complaint that ended in former Attorney General John Swallow's resignation late last year.

Maryann Martindale, the group's executive director, said there could be more arrests as the corruption probe continues.

"As they work through this case, there may be additional charges," said Martindale. "There may also be other people charged. We haven't seen the end of this, I think this is still going to reach a little bit farther than where it's gone."

The Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office filed multiple felony charges against former Attorneys General John Swallow and his predecessor Mark Shurtleff, alleging they received or solicited bribes while in office.

Both deny the allegations.

Martindale said Utah voters don't currently have the ability to recall elected officials, so election reform could include passing such a law. The state also has no limits on political donation amounts, as long as they are publicly disclosed.

Martindale said both are areas of concern for which her organization has long recommended changes.

"With these charges, I'm hopeful," said Martindale, "and it's something that we're certainly going to push for, the Legislature will be even more open to listening to this kind of pressure, and to pursuing these kinds of laws during our next session."

She added that limiting campaign donation amounts by law could help certain elected officials turn down large contributions, which in some circumstances could be considered bribes.


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