diff --git a/scripts/alternate_bulk_formats.py b/scripts/alternate_bulk_formats.py
index 3174f8d..6b60003 100755
--- a/scripts/alternate_bulk_formats.py
+++ b/scripts/alternate_bulk_formats.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import csv
 import json
-from utils import write, format_datetime, load_data
+import utils
 
 def run():
 
@@ -57,15 +57,15 @@ def run():
 
 
 	print("Loading %s..." %yaml_social)
-	social = load_data(yaml_social)
+	social = utils.load_data(yaml_social)
 
 	for filename in yamls:
 		print("Loading %s..." % filename)
-		legislators = load_data(filename)
+		legislators = utils.load_data(filename)
 
 		#convert yaml to json
-		write(
-		json.dumps(legislators, sort_keys=True, indent=2, default=format_datetime),
+		utils.write(
+		json.dumps(legislators, sort_keys=True, indent=2, default=utils.format_datetime),
 		"../alternate_formats/%s.json" %filename.rstrip(".yaml"))
 
 		#convert yaml to csv
diff --git a/scripts/bioguide.py b/scripts/bioguide.py
index 15db1eb..369dbbc 100755
--- a/scripts/bioguide.py
+++ b/scripts/bioguide.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ import lxml.html, io
 import datetime
 import re
 import utils
-from utils import download, load_data, save_data, parse_date
+from utils import download, load_data, save_data
 
 def run():
 
@@ -99,8 +99,6 @@ def run():
             relationships.append({ "relation": relationship, "name": person})
     return relationships
 
-  debug = utils.flags().get('debug', False)
-
   # default to caching
   cache = utils.flags().get('cache', True)
   force = not cache
diff --git a/scripts/committee_membership.py b/scripts/committee_membership.py
index 2889edf..9360436 100755
--- a/scripts/committee_membership.py
+++ b/scripts/committee_membership.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 import re, lxml.html, lxml.etree, io, datetime
 from collections import OrderedDict
 import utils
-from utils import download, load_data, save_data, parse_date, CURRENT_CONGRESS
+from utils import download, load_data, save_data, parse_date
 
 
 def run():
diff --git a/scripts/cspan.py b/scripts/cspan.py
index 08a4647..5f848a3 100755
--- a/scripts/cspan.py
+++ b/scripts/cspan.py
@@ -3,18 +3,14 @@
 # Update current cspan IDs using NYT Congress API.
 
 import json, urllib.request, urllib.parse, urllib.error
-import utils
-from utils import download, load_data, save_data, parse_date
+from utils import load_data, save_data
 
 def run():
-    # default to not caching
-    cache = utils.flags().get('cache', False)
-    force = not cache
-
     # load in current members
     y = load_data("legislators-current.yaml")
     for m in y:
         # retrieve C-SPAN id, if available, from NYT API
+        # TODO: use utils.download here
         response = urllib.request.urlopen("http://politics.nytimes.com/congress/svc/politics/v3/us/legislative/congress/members/%s.json" % m['id']['bioguide']).read()
         j = json.loads(response.decode("utf8"))
         cspan = j['results'][0]['cspan_id']
diff --git a/scripts/historical_committees.py b/scripts/historical_committees.py
index 5d96021..1b61329 100755
--- a/scripts/historical_committees.py
+++ b/scripts/historical_committees.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 # the committees-historical.yaml file. It will include current committees
 # as well.
 
-import re, itertools
+import re
 from collections import OrderedDict
 import utils
 from utils import download, load_data, save_data, CURRENT_CONGRESS
diff --git a/scripts/house_contact_list.py b/scripts/house_contact_list.py
index c35ab70..952ead4 100755
--- a/scripts/house_contact_list.py
+++ b/scripts/house_contact_list.py
@@ -6,15 +6,12 @@
 
 import csv, re
 import utils
-from utils import download, load_data, save_data, parse_date
+from utils import load_data, save_data
 
 
 def run():
   house_labels = "labels-113.csv"
 
-  # default to not caching
-  cache = utils.flags().get('cache', False)
-  force = not cache
   names = utils.flags().get('names', False)
 
   y = load_data("legislators-current.yaml")
diff --git a/scripts/house_contacts.py b/scripts/house_contacts.py
index 8536315..e4b87c3 100755
--- a/scripts/house_contacts.py
+++ b/scripts/house_contacts.py
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@
 # Update current congressmen's mailing address from clerk.house.gov.
 
 import lxml.html, io
-import re, sys
-from datetime import date, datetime
+import re
+from datetime import datetime
 import utils
 from utils import download, load_data, save_data, parse_date
 
diff --git a/scripts/house_history.py b/scripts/house_history.py
index 620972d..871a174 100755
--- a/scripts/house_history.py
+++ b/scripts/house_history.py
@@ -9,20 +9,12 @@
 #  --bioguide: do *only* a single legislator
 
 import lxml.html, io
-import datetime
-import re
 import utils
 import requests
-from utils import download, load_data, save_data, parse_date
+from utils import load_data, save_data
 
 def run():
 
-  debug = utils.flags().get('debug', False)
-
-  # default to caching
-  cache = utils.flags().get('cache', True)
-  force = not cache
-
   # pick either current or historical
   # order is important here, since current defaults to true
   if utils.flags().get('historical', False):
diff --git a/scripts/house_history_gender.py b/scripts/house_history_gender.py
index e47b69e..89d4cd4 100644
--- a/scripts/house_history_gender.py
+++ b/scripts/house_history_gender.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import re, urllib.request, urllib.parse
-from utils import yaml_load, yaml_dump, data_dir
+from utils import yaml_load, yaml_dump
 
 def run():
 
diff --git a/scripts/house_websites.py b/scripts/house_websites.py
index 1553906..cd6414b 100755
--- a/scripts/house_websites.py
+++ b/scripts/house_websites.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 import lxml.html, io, urllib.request, urllib.error, urllib.parse
 import re
 import utils
-from utils import download, load_data, save_data, parse_date
+from utils import load_data, save_data
 
 def run():
 
diff --git a/scripts/icpsr_ids.py b/scripts/icpsr_ids.py
index e578b92..7ddd302 100755
--- a/scripts/icpsr_ids.py
+++ b/scripts/icpsr_ids.py
@@ -7,21 +7,14 @@
 #  --bioguide: load only one legislator, by his/her bioguide ID
 #  --congress: do *only* updates for legislators serving in specific congress
 
-import datetime
-import re
 import utils
-import urllib.request, urllib.error, urllib.parse
-import requests
-from utils import download, load_data, save_data, parse_date, states, congress_from_legislative_year, legislative_year
-import json
+from utils import load_data, save_data, parse_date
 import string
 import csv
 import unicodedata
 
 def run():
 
-    debug = utils.flags().get('debug', False)
-
     # default to caching
     cache = utils.flags().get('cache', True)
     force = not cache
@@ -31,8 +24,6 @@ def run():
     congress = utils.flags().get('congress',None)
 
 
-    filename_historical = "legislators-historical.yaml"
-    filename_current = "legislators-current.yaml"
     data_files = []
 
     print("Loading %s..." % "legislators-current.yaml")
diff --git a/scripts/influence_ids.py b/scripts/influence_ids.py
index 2fce522..714ed46 100755
--- a/scripts/influence_ids.py
+++ b/scripts/influence_ids.py
@@ -7,12 +7,8 @@
 #  --current: do *only* current legislators (default: true)
 #  --historical: do *only* historical legislators (default: false)
 
-import datetime
-import re
 import utils
-import urllib.request, urllib.error, urllib.parse
-import requests
-from utils import download, load_data, save_data, parse_date
+from utils import load_data, save_data
 import json
 
 def run():
diff --git a/scripts/requirements.txt b/scripts/requirements.txt
index 51a0f3a..f301660 100644
--- a/scripts/requirements.txt
+++ b/scripts/requirements.txt
@@ -2,4 +2,5 @@ pyyaml
 scrapelib
 ipython
 lxml>=2.2
-cssselect
\ No newline at end of file
+cssselect
+pyflakes
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/scripts/retire.py b/scripts/retire.py
index c08df4c..8e278c0 100755
--- a/scripts/retire.py
+++ b/scripts/retire.py
@@ -7,8 +7,8 @@
 # python retire.py bioguideID termEndDate
 
 import sys
-
-from utils import load_data, save_data, parse_date, pprint
+import utils
+import rtyaml
 
 def run():
 	if len(sys.argv) != 3:
@@ -17,25 +17,25 @@ def run():
 		sys.exit()
 
 	try:
-		parse_date(sys.argv[2])
+		utils.parse_date(sys.argv[2])
 	except:
 		print("Invalid date: ", sys.argv[2])
 		sys.exit()
 
 	print("Loading current YAML...")
-	y = load_data("legislators-current.yaml")
+	y = utils.load_data("legislators-current.yaml")
 	print("Loading historical YAML...")
-	y1 = load_data("legislators-historical.yaml")
+	y1 = utils.load_data("legislators-historical.yaml")
 
 	for moc in y:
 		if moc["id"].get("bioguide", None) != sys.argv[1]: continue
 
 		print("Updating:")
-		pprint(moc["id"])
+		rtyaml.pprint(moc["id"])
 		print()
-		pprint(moc["name"])
+		rtyaml.pprint(moc["name"])
 		print()
-		pprint(moc["terms"][-1])
+		rtyaml.pprint(moc["terms"][-1])
 
 		moc["terms"][-1]["end"] = sys.argv[2]
 
@@ -45,8 +45,8 @@ def run():
 		break
 
 	print("Saving changes...")
-	save_data(y, "legislators-current.yaml")
-	save_data(y1, "legislators-historical.yaml")
+	utils.save_data(y, "legislators-current.yaml")
+	utils.save_data(y1, "legislators-historical.yaml")
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
   run()
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/scripts/rtyaml.py b/scripts/rtyaml.py
index 3e172f4..2a9e938 100755
--- a/scripts/rtyaml.py
+++ b/scripts/rtyaml.py
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@
 #   more lines starting with a '#', write back out the commend if the
 #   same object is written with rtyaml.dump().)
 
-import sys, re, io
+import sys, re
 from collections import OrderedDict
 
 import yaml
diff --git a/scripts/senate_contacts.py b/scripts/senate_contacts.py
index a697029..f063c5d 100755
--- a/scripts/senate_contacts.py
+++ b/scripts/senate_contacts.py
@@ -3,9 +3,8 @@
 # Update current senator's website and address from www.senate.gov.
 
 import lxml.etree, io
-import urllib.request, urllib.parse, urllib.error
 import string, re
-from datetime import date, datetime
+from datetime import datetime
 import utils
 from utils import download, load_data, save_data, parse_date
 
diff --git a/scripts/social_media.py b/scripts/social_media.py
index ac583d7..46ba3f4 100755
--- a/scripts/social_media.py
+++ b/scripts/social_media.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 
 import csv, re
 import utils
-from utils import download, load_data, save_data, parse_date
+from utils import load_data, save_data
 import requests
 
 def main():
@@ -204,7 +204,6 @@ def main():
           # even though we have their channel ID, do they also have a username?
           if ytobj['entry']['yt$username']['$t'] != ytobj['entry']['yt$userId']['$t']:
             if social['youtube'].lower() != ytobj['entry']['yt$username']['$t'].lower():
-              old_name = social['youtube']
               # YT accounts are case-insensitive.  Preserve capitalization if possible.
               social['youtube'] = ytobj['entry']['yt$username']['$t']
               print("\tAdded YouTube username of %s" % social['youtube'])
diff --git a/scripts/sweep_memberships.py b/scripts/sweep_memberships.py
index f360a51..cdbc4d0 100755
--- a/scripts/sweep_memberships.py
+++ b/scripts/sweep_memberships.py
@@ -1,9 +1,6 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 
-import re, lxml.html, lxml.etree, io, datetime
-from collections import OrderedDict
-import utils
-from utils import download, load_data, save_data, parse_date, CURRENT_CONGRESS
+from utils import load_data, save_data
 
 def run():
     # load in members, orient by bioguide ID
diff --git a/scripts/thomas_ids.py b/scripts/thomas_ids.py
index 8522818..5f67e95 100755
--- a/scripts/thomas_ids.py
+++ b/scripts/thomas_ids.py
@@ -5,10 +5,9 @@
 # IDs because name matching is hard.
 
 import lxml.html, io, urllib.request, urllib.parse, urllib.error
-import re, sys
-from datetime import date, datetime
+import re
 import utils
-from utils import download, load_data, save_data, parse_date
+from utils import download, load_data, save_data
 
 def run():
   CONGRESS_ID = "113th Congress (2013-2014)" # the query string parameter
diff --git a/scripts/untire.py b/scripts/untire.py
index c7034c5..1909ddf 100755
--- a/scripts/untire.py
+++ b/scripts/untire.py
@@ -7,8 +7,8 @@
 # python unretire.py bioguideID
 
 import sys
-
-from utils import load_data, save_data, pprint
+import rtyaml
+import utils
 from collections import OrderedDict
 
 def run():
@@ -19,17 +19,17 @@ def run():
 		sys.exit()
 
 	print("Loading current YAML...")
-	y = load_data("legislators-current.yaml")
+	y = utils.load_data("legislators-current.yaml")
 	print("Loading historical YAML...")
-	y1 = load_data("legislators-historical.yaml")
+	y1 = utils.load_data("legislators-historical.yaml")
 
 	for moc in y1:
 		if moc["id"].get("bioguide", None) != sys.argv[1]: continue
 
 		print("Updating:")
-		pprint(moc["id"])
+		rtyaml.pprint(moc["id"])
 		print()
-		pprint(moc["name"])
+		rtyaml.pprint(moc["name"])
 
 		moc["terms"].append(OrderedDict([
 			("type", moc["terms"][-1]["type"]),
@@ -45,8 +45,8 @@ def run():
 		break
 
 	print("Saving changes...")
-	save_data(y, "legislators-current.yaml")
-	save_data(y1, "legislators-historical.yaml")
+	utils.save_data(y, "legislators-current.yaml")
+	utils.save_data(y1, "legislators-historical.yaml")
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
   run()
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/scripts/utils.py b/scripts/utils.py
index cb88c80..ac720fd 100755
--- a/scripts/utils.py
+++ b/scripts/utils.py
@@ -74,13 +74,11 @@ from datetime import datetime
 import time
 
 import lxml.html # for meta redirect parsing
-
 import yaml
 
 import smtplib
 import email.utils
 from email.mime.text import MIMEText
-import getpass
 
 
 # read in an opt-in config file for supplying email settings
@@ -92,10 +90,6 @@ else:
   email_settings = None
 
 
-def current_congress():
-  year = current_legislative_year()
-  return congress_from_legislative_year(year)
-
 def congress_from_legislative_year(year):
   return ((year + 1) / 2) - 894
 
@@ -103,8 +97,6 @@ def legislative_year(date=None):
   if not date:
     date = datetime.datetime.now()
 
-  year = date.year
-
   if date.month == 1:
     if date.day == 1 or date.day == 2:
       return date.year - 1
@@ -199,7 +191,7 @@ def download(url, destination=None, force=False, options=None):
       else:
         response = scraper.urlopen(url)
         body = str(response) # ensure is unicode not bytes
-    except scrapelib.HTTPError as e:
+    except scrapelib.HTTPError:
       log("Error downloading %s" % url)
       return None
 
@@ -229,6 +221,8 @@ def download(url, destination=None, force=False, options=None):
 
   return body
 
+from pytz import timezone
+eastern_time_zone = timezone('US/Eastern')
 def format_datetime(obj):
   if isinstance(obj, datetime.datetime):
     return eastern_time_zone.localize(obj.replace(microsecond=0)).isoformat()
@@ -337,10 +331,6 @@ def yaml_dump(data, path):
     h = hashlib.sha1(open(path, 'rb').read()).hexdigest()
     pickle.dump({ "hash": h, "data": data }, open(path+".pickle", "wb"))
 
-def pprint(data):
-    rtyaml.pprint(data)
-
-
 # if email settings are supplied, email the text - otherwise, just print it
 def admin(body):
   try:
@@ -356,10 +346,6 @@ def admin(body):
     print("Exception logging message to admin, halting as to avoid loop")
     print(format_exception(exception))
 
-def format_exception(exception):
-  exc_type, exc_value, exc_traceback = sys.exc_info()
-  return "\n".join(traceback.format_exception(exc_type, exc_value, exc_traceback))
-
 # this should only be called if the settings are definitely there
 def send_email(message):
   print("Sending email to %s..." % email_settings['to'])