Q: If Budget cuts or tax reforms are implemented in your
state, how will you ensure that any such changes avoid hurting low and moderate
income populations while also safeguarding the financial security of the 50+
population? Will you oppose tax and expenditure limit initiatives?
A: I favor lower taxes. The
Legislature is required to balance the budget. Lowering taxes hasn't been
proposed, but cuts in retirement and insurance benefits in the past have
followed a simple concept, keep the promises made, and don't promise something
you can't fulfill. That has decreased the benefits for new state employees
(including the Legislature).
Last year I fought raising the
tax on food to lower the overall sales tax rate. I felt that doing that now was
a mistake. I knew too many people that didn't have enough money for food and
shelter as it was. We were successful in stopping a food tax increase.
Q: What programs would you support to improve the quality
and lower the cost of health care in your state?
A: Anything Utah can do to encourage free market insurance competition
across state lines and to remove pre-existing conditions limitations would be
helpful.
Removing the requirement of
non-emergency care to be provided at emergency rooms and encouraging limitation
of liability clauses and non-binding mediation alternative dispute resolutions
will help lower the costs associated with medical care and will stop the
defensive care practices helping fuel the upward spiral of costs. 
Q: What steps would you take to assure quality, affordable
health insurance for individuals and small businesses in your state? Do you
support efforts to require rate reviews on unjustified health insurance premium
rate increases?
A: The Supreme Court could not
agree that Congress has the constitutional power to require individuals to
purchase their specified health care insurance, but that Congress can tax us. I
will work to continue to exclude Utah from this expansion of Federal intervention into our
lives.
I will continue to work to
promote free market competition. Health Savings Accounts should be encouraged
and not stopped.
As someone that purchased Health
Insurances as a small business owner for many years, I will continue to work to
promote fairness, without more government regulation. Competitive options are
needed.