Utah State Legislative Election 2018 Political Courage Test

Abortion & Reproductive

1. Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
- Pro-life

2. Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
- Yes

3. Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions?
- Yes

4. Other or expanded principles
- I am opposed to the Federal Government dictating how this matter is handled. I also strongly oppose State Government putting their nose into very private matters. Under no circumstances may the federal government fund or otherwise support any state or local government or any organization or entity, foreign or domestic, which advocates, encourages or participates in the practice of abortion or the prohibition of abortion either. Some things must be left to the people to decide for themselves.

Budget, Spending, & Tax

1. Reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions?
- Yes

2. Instituting mandatory furloughs AND/OR layoffs for state employees?
- Yes

3. Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients?
- Yes

4. An income tax increase on any tax bracket?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- Utah is an unusually responsible state but recently I see a shift that is dangerous toward more government and governmental welfare. We need to remember that this is a method of force. We need to be careful not to get to carefree about sticking our hands into other peoples pockets to pay for things they may not even want. There are almost always better options than having government doing it. Whatever the it might be. As a legislator I will always be asking, "What if the Government didn't do that"

Campaign Finance & Government Reform

1. Do you support any limits on campaign contributions to state candidates?
- No

2. Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
- Yes

3. Do you support the use of an independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting?
- Yes

4. Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
- Yes

5. Do you support using primary conventions as the sole method of selecting political party nominees?
- Yes

6. Other or expanded principles
- I believe Candidates for any office should get their contributions from individual people not PACs, Corps, Unions, special interests, or entities that would make our government more about power and agendas and less about public service and administering municipal services. It is a privilege to live in a free society with a right to vote. We must protect that right and our system from corruption.

Crime & Public Safety

1. Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
- Yes

2. Do you support the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes?
- No

3. Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
- Yes

4. Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- I believe that some crimes are bad enough that making law abiding citizens pay to keep these criminals alive is insult to injury. No responsible society needs to recreate by getting high. I also feel that we shouldn't be forced to waste money on a war against drugs. It is a tricky situation that needs some careful consideration. I am not ready to say exactly what I would do but I am willing to listen and learn.

Economic

1. Do you support state government spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- No

2. Do you support lowering state taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
- No

3. Do you support reducing state government regulations on the private sector?
- Yes

4. Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits?
- No

5. Do you support requiring welfare applicants to pass a drug test in order to receive benefits?
- Yes

6. Do you support an increase of the minimum wage of Utah?
- No

7. Other or expanded principles
- I believe when the government protects people from corruption and crime. People should take responsibility for personal prosperity. The Governor as the ambassador of our state should be able to attract business to our state by bragging up the people, places, and opportunities the state can provide without putting us all "on sale" or promising free ice cream to anyone who will set up shop. Save a company money and grief by minimizing regulation and taxes. Welfare and charity are best given for individuals by individuals, churches, and associations. Government is a poor middleman.

Education

1. Do you support adopting federal education standards in Utah?
- No

2. Do you support state funding for charter schools?
- Yes

3. Should immigrants unlawfully present in the United States who graduate from Utah high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
- No

4. Do you support increasing the state gasoline tax to fund the education budget?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- Education is best served locally. The federal government has no place in education. State government find a way to give the responsibility to the local governments. Local governments should push it back upon the people and all governments should do the honorable thing and give back all the money they currently tax people for education. If this happened, people would have plenty of options and money to pay for it.Illegal immigrants should have a path to follow that leads back to their home country, jail, or legal citizenship, not cheaper school on the backs of tax paying citizens.

Environment & Energy

1. Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
- No

2. Do you support state government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions?
- Yes

3. Do you support increasing state funding for clean drinking water initiatives?
- No

4. Do you support increasing state funding to improve air quality?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- This is one of those areas where people should be taking most of the responsibility and initiative upon themselves. Government is best when governing the least. As a legislator why would I want to tell you how to power your life and keep your air and water clean. Couldn't people figure out how to do that better, cheaper, and for half the price? I am willing to give you a chance.

Gun

1. Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
- No

2. Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
- No

3. Should teachers be allowed to bring guns into the classroom?
- Yes

4. Should a license be required for gun ownership?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- I am a firm supporter in all 2nd amendment rights.

Health

1. Should the state government increase funding for treatment facilities to combat opioid abuse?
- No

2. Do you support Medicaid expansion through Utah's health care programs?
- No

3. Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance?
- No

4. Do you support legislation that grants citizens the right to choose to die through euthanasia?
- No

5. Do you support eliminating religious exemptions for vaccinations?
- No

6. Other or expanded principles
- I strongly oppose the government getting into these personal issues. I strongly oppose the idea that government be the provider of health care. I strongly oppose the government telling anyone what they have to put into their bodies.I strongly oppose the government thinking it is a good provider of addiction recovery. All these things can be done in the private sector.

Social

1. Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Utah's anti-discrimination laws?
- No

2. Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Utah's anti-discrimination laws?
- No

3. Do you support greater efforts by Utah state government in closing the pay gap between men and women?
- No

4. Other or expanded principles
- One of the slipperiest slopes government gets into is trying to legislate utopia for its citizens. Layers and layers of laws that supposedly protect one segment of the population often have many negative unintended consequences. People can do a much better job of righting these problems at a private citizen level. The government is here to protect not direct. There is a difference. In life everything will not always be fair. Some people are just bad. Good people are more powerful.

Legislative Priorities

In the following area, please explain in a total of 100 words or less, your top two or three priorities if elected. If they require additional funding for implementation, please explain how you would obtain this funding.
- My goal in the legislature would be to curb spending and find ways to give the private sector more freedom, less tax, and greater incentive to develop their state the way they see fit. I have promised to find two laws to repeal for every law that I may vote for.