Utah’s land is just that – UTAH’S land. It is not the federal government’s. That is why John Swallow continues to fight for Utah’s land.  Here is what John is doing right now to fight for our land.

Legislative bills tell federal government to give up public land in Utah

From the Deseret News, Written by Amy Joi O’Donoghue

A legislative committee Tuesday endorsed four public lands bills that demand the federal government relinquish title to lands it owns in Utah.

The bills let the federal government retain control of the state’s five national parks, set up a public lands commission and provide for funding for the state to force the action in federal court.

Despite questions over their constitutionality, the bills now advance for additional consideration.

Utah’s Chief Deputy Attorney General John Swallow said his office stands ready to defend the bills.

“There’s never an opportunity to go into battle, never an opportunity to assert a right  where there is not a little risk,” he said, adding it is time to “tear down the metaphorical walls the federal government has built around our state’s resources.”

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Written by Kevin Jenkins

ST. GEORGE – The Washington County Republican Party’s leadership welcomed the organization’s members to the annual Lincoln Day Breakfast fundraiser Saturday to kick off the election season and energize activists at the grassroots level.

“Since I’ve been in this office, I have seen the escalation of federal control over our lives, and it is very alarming,” said Chief Deputy Utah Attorney General John Swallow, speaking as a representative for his boss, Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff, whom Swallow hopes to succeed when Shurtleff retires at the end of the year.

Swallow directs Utah’s legal battles with the federal government over public lands ownership and natural resource development, a subject dear to many of those in attendance at the event.

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A $25 billion joint federal-state agreement was announced Thursday over foreclosure abuses, fraud and unacceptable nationwide mortgage servicing practices.

Over 40 states have signed onto this agreement and Utah is estimated to get over $171 million in total benefits.  This total includes $45 million in direct relief to Utah homeowners and $102 million indirect relief for the state, according to a press release from the Utah attorney general’s office.

The agreement also addresses future mortgage loan servicing practices.  Currently it is estimated that 23% of Utah homeowners are underwater.

The federal and state governments hold banks responsible for taking illegal shortcuts during foreclosures and other deceptive practices through this agreement.

“It’s important to hold some of these national banks that are doing these wrongful deeds and the duel track issue where they are kinda deceptively foreclosing.  They need to be held accountable and put on notice and I think this sends a strong message to them and the other lenders that service throughout the country that they can’t play tricks with homeowners,” said Chief Deputy John Swallow, of the Utah Attorney General’s Office.

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Salt Lake City, UT – Today, Chief Deputy Attorney General John Swallow announced his candidacy for Utah Attorney General. He was joined by United States Senator Mike Lee, Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff, and other state and local elected officials.

Swallow kicked off his campaign by stating, “My goal is to protect Utah’s families, lands and freedoms. As Attorney General, whenever Washington D.C. attempts to hamper our rights to life, liberty, or our property, I will fight against it.  I have seen the federal government’s intrusion into our lives at almost every level and am committed to putting an end to it. From seizure of our lands and resources, to unconstitutional mandates, I want to fight for Utahn’s freedoms.  I pledge to use the resources and tools available to the office to push back against this violation of freedom at every turn.”

Senator Lee stated, “I know and trust John as a conservative leader who will fight for a constitutionally limited government at every level. He has already been working to see Obamacare struck down in the Supreme Court and is a defender of our freedoms. Utahns who want our land and resources unlocked from an over-reaching federal government have no better friend than John Swallow.”

Mark Shurtleff also commented, “John has been a true asset to this office. I know that he will fight to keep our children safe from Internet predators. He will stand up against federal intrusion into our lives, and I know that he will lead the A.G.’s office with integrity.  Utahn’s are lucky to have John Swallow defending our freedoms. John has real experience on these issues and has proven to be a real conservative.”

John Swallow is currently Utah’s Chief Deputy Attorney General of the Civil Division and is overseeing Utah’s effort to strike down the controversial health care bill requiring citizens to buy health insurance.  Swallow is also spearheading Utah’s legal land battles against the federal government’s land-grab of our state’s resources. He was appointed by Mark Shurtleff in 2009.  Swallow also served in the state legislature from 1997- 2002, where he sponsored and passed legislation to lower taxes, help communities reduce crime, and defend Second Amendment rights.

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A straw poll for the U.S. Senate, governor and attorney general races was conducted during the Box Elder County Republican Party’s annual Lincoln Day dinner last week.

According to the Box Elder News Journal, the results were: U.S. Senate–incumbent Orrin Hatch 79 votes, Dan Liljenquist 81 votes, Chris Herrod, 34 votes.

For the governor’s race the results were: incumbent Gary Herbert 141, Morgan Philpot 52, Ken Sumsion 17 and David Kirkham 2 votes.

For the attorney general’s race John Swallow received 175 votes and Sean Reyes 34. Candidates were all given four minutes to speak before the straw vote was taken.

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