Thursday, June 26, 2014

Issues

"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, Your Rights, and a Stable and Growing 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. 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 enough funding doesn’t make it to the classroom. I will work to bring more money to the classroom.   

Because of government regulation, teachers are fighting to teach the student. We don't need the anchor of governmental red tape hurting education with oppressive paperwork and a one size fits all approach. I will continue to promote parent and local control of education.

Clean Air and Water
I received an award from Salt Lake Solar Day 2012 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 will 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. We should be good stewards of the land, Extremes on both sides of this issue hurts our ability to live and work in our great state.

Your 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 government continues to trample on this and others of our constitutionally 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. We can't continue to let government take over our lives. We can be safe and free.

A Stable and Growing Economy
Utah is the best fiscally managed state. Utah repeats this year as Forbes top 3 Best States for Business and Careers. Many families are still struggling. 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 for solutions to our challenges.

Solutions not Parties
I have no problem working with different political parties. All four bills that I sponsored that passed the House in 2011 and 2012 were floor sponsored by a democratic 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 bills. 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. A bill has to improve things, however small the steps, or should not pass. 

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. I have continued to be heard and work to protect individual rights and fight against government taking over of our lives and resources.