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(Salt Lake City-AP) -- The nation's first porn czar will be losing her job as of April first.
Paula Houston says she was told yesterday that the job was cut due to budget constraints. Houston was believed to be the nation's first state official whose role is solely to fight pornography.
The Republican-dominated Legislature created the Obscenity and Pornography Complaints Ombudsman two years ago. The job was meant to give legal guidance to local governments and community members worried about smut.
Houston fielded numerous calls daily from Utah residents concerned about pornography.
She has prosecuted three cases and has a current caseload of 15 other cases moving through the judicial system. Those cases will be absorbed by other attorneys at the Utah Attorney General's Office.
When first appointed, critics worried about free-speech implications of the job.
However, today, Dani Eyer, director of Utah's American Civil Liberties Union, said the job has been a non-issue for the organization.
