The only State porn czar in the nation will lose her job on April 1 as a result of Utah's budget crisis, which has required the Attorney General's office to reduce its staff. rnrn
Paula Houston, Utah's Obscenity and Pornography Complaints Ombudsman, stepped into the post two years ago after Utah lawmakers funded what is believed to be America's only state-employed anti-porn prosecutor. rnrn
Although Houston, 43, wants to "stay involved" in stamping out pornography, she said, "I have lots of options and I'm keeping them all open. I'm not worried. I certainly hope I never have to look at pornography again." rn rn
Houston belongs to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which asks members not to view R-rated movies. rnrn
The state allotted her office $150,000 a year to cover Houston's salary, clerical help and expenses. rnrn
Houston fielded thousands of phone calls her first year, mostly from concerned parents and businesses about how to fight elicit and unsolicited e-mail. She posted a Frequently Asked Questions list on the Internet. rn rn
Houston has 15 pornography cases moving through the courts -- "she recently won three, primarily child pornography, cases, that will have to be absorbed by other prosecutors in the office," said State Attorney General Mark Shurtleff. "We hope pornographers won't see this as a sign we're giving up." rnrn
That is not a burning concern for city and county prosecutors, who have filed and prosecuted pornography cases without assistance from the Attorney General's Office since Houston's arrival. rnrn
This spring, lawmakers cut the $150,000 funding for the porn czar as they worked to fill shortfalls in tax revenue. Shurtleff raided his budget to keep Houston on board but relented after cuts mounted to $750,000. rnrn
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