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Letter: If Cox truly opposed the anti-union bill, he would’ve vetoed it

(Kristin Murphy | Pool) Gov. Spencer Cox speaks with members of the media during the PBS Utah Governor’s Monthly News Conference at the Eccles Broadcast Center in Salt Lake City on Thursday, April 17, 2025.

Gov. Spencer Cox recently admitted he didn’t support HB267, saying, “I said from the beginning I didn’t like the bill. It wasn’t something I was interested in, not something I would run.”

Yet he signed it into law anyway. HB267 bans public entities from negotiating contracts with union representatives — an unprecedented attack on labor rights in Utah. Now that backlash is mounting, the governor’s attempt to distance himself from the bill feels disingenuous.

If he truly opposed HB267, he should have vetoed it. That’s what leadership looks like.

I used to believe Gov. Cox had integrity and an independent voice. But his recent actions suggest a troubling shift — one that increasingly echoes the anti-labor, Trump-aligned wing of his party.

Utahns deserve better than political hedging. We deserve honesty, courage, and elected officials who stand by their principles — not just when it’s easy.

Dale Palmer, Sandy

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By Dale Palmer | The Public Forum