"I believe we must stand up and be
heard or watch our constitutionally protected rights disappear. As a
former member of the State House for 2011 and 2012, I have been heard,
standing up to protect your rights. That fight continues. "
Education Excellence, Clean Air and Water, States Rights and the Economy
Education Excellence
As a taxpayer and architect, I see the money spent on buildings and will continue to advocate for an improved balance between cost savings and quality to the process. I would hope we can reduce costs while still maintaining the quality.
Teachers often do not have the supplies they need, and in most cases deserve more pay for the critical work they do. Education Funding is too complex and funding doesn’t seem to make it to the classroom. We need to work to help make that better.
Education Excellence, Clean Air and Water, States Rights and the Economy
Education Excellence
As a taxpayer and architect, I see the money spent on buildings and will continue to advocate for an improved balance between cost savings and quality to the process. I would hope we can reduce costs while still maintaining the quality.
Teachers often do not have the supplies they need, and in most cases deserve more pay for the critical work they do. Education Funding is too complex and funding doesn’t seem to make it to the classroom. We need to work to help make that better.
Clean Air and Water
I was the Salt Lake Solar Day 2012, "Greenest Republican in the State" for sponsoring 2012 H.B. 262 Building Code Amendments, and continued working to adopt the current IECC (energy code for houses and buildings) during the 2013 session. That bill passed and the current code is expected to be effective July 1, 2014. The amount of energy use and pollution caused by buildings is critical. I also worked for over a year to increase flexibility and ability for property owners to capture and use storm / rain water. At the end of the 2013 session, that bill passed the House, 75 to 0, and was signed by the Governor.
I was the Salt Lake Solar Day 2012, "Greenest Republican in the State" for sponsoring 2012 H.B. 262 Building Code Amendments, and continued working to adopt the current IECC (energy code for houses and buildings) during the 2013 session. That bill passed and the current code is expected to be effective July 1, 2014. The amount of energy use and pollution caused by buildings is critical. I also worked for over a year to increase flexibility and ability for property owners to capture and use storm / rain water. At the end of the 2013 session, that bill passed the House, 75 to 0, and was signed by the Governor.
States Rights
The US Constitution specifically states: "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people". The US Government continues to trample on this and others of our constitutional protected rights. The government powers are not only separated in 3 branches, but between the Federal and the States. This is an area that is worth fighting for Utahns.
The US Constitution specifically states: "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people". The US Government continues to trample on this and others of our constitutional protected rights. The government powers are not only separated in 3 branches, but between the Federal and the States. This is an area that is worth fighting for Utahns.
Economy
Utah is the best fiscally managed state. Utah repeats this year as Forbes top 3 Best States for Business and Careers. We need to continue to improve. The Economy will grow when Government will allow it. In many cases Government is holding business growth back through too many regulations.
Utah is the best fiscally managed state. Utah repeats this year as Forbes top 3 Best States for Business and Careers. We need to continue to improve. The Economy will grow when Government will allow it. In many cases Government is holding business growth back through too many regulations.
Civility
We should play a role as responsible citizens in our communities, including becoming informed about issues and voting in elections.
We should engage in the political process in an informed and civil manner, respecting the fact that others come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences and may have differences of opinion in partisan political matters.
Parties
I have no problem working with both parties. All four bills that I sponsored that passed the House in 2011 and 2012 were floor sponsored by a democrat senator.
I was the only member
of the Legislature that sponsored a
bipartisan congressional redistricting map, co-sponsored by a member of
another
party.
I don't look at bills
as republican or democrat sponsored. I
vote on bills based on what the bill says and would do, and I have
spoken
against bills and spoken for bills based on the bill and not the
sponsor or
party.We should play a role as responsible citizens in our communities, including becoming informed about issues and voting in elections.
We should engage in the political process in an informed and civil manner, respecting the fact that others come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences and may have differences of opinion in partisan political matters.
Parties
I have no problem working with both parties. All four bills that I sponsored that passed the House in 2011 and 2012 were floor sponsored by a democrat senator.
Continuing Work
For the 2013 Session, I had prepared several bills. Due to the results of redistricting and the 2012 election I was able to transfer 4 bills to other legislators, and help to get those bills though both Houses and signed by the Governor. One bill was dropped when the state agency reversed their policy and it was no longer needed. A sixth bill was not needed when a similar bill was passed and signed into law.
During the last year I have actively fought to improve our current system of elections and to educate those that the proposed initiative is flawed and will favor incumbents, wealthy and famous and will not improve our elections. For more information on this subject see my other blog:
http://fairelectionsutah.blogspot.com/