I favor restoring full funding to the Centennial Highway Fund. It must fulfill its intended purpose, to prepare for infrastructure growth. We have not kept up in recent years with the growth our transportation infrastructure needs. As governor, I would first commit to allow no diversions in the future, and second, would commit a portion of the general fund and earmark it for transportation projects. We cannot continue to hack, slash and postpone road improvements while bemoaning traffic problems. Roads must be finished as planned and projected. We should also reassess our priorities so we can better direct our road monies. Those areas that are priorities deserve our immediate attention. I will also work with Sen. Bennett, Utah's able and well-positioned representative on the Appropriations Committee. Working with Sen. Bennett, we can more aggressively fund improvements in Utah through federal money.

11. Do you believe the state gasoline tax must be adjusted upwards for inflation during your first term in office?

At this point, I would oppose an increase. Our spending priorities and economic plan need time to work before I would consider an increase.

12. Utah is in its sixth year of drought. Water development is a long-term effort. Specifically, what would you do to conserve water, to develop more fresh water? Should the current state sales tax dedicated to water development be removed, as former governors have suggested, and thus local water districts take on more of the development effort?

We must concentrate on developing our currently untapped resources into usable resources, recycling reusable water (or gray water) for non-potable water uses — such recycling efforts will effectively reduce production demands on Utah's water systems and on promoting conservation of water. Such measures will be vital to accommodating future growth. Utah citizens use an average of approximately 321 gallons per person per day. That represents more water per person than any other state in the nation except Nevada, and yet Utahns pay some of the lowest fees for their water —lower than the national average and the Western city average with Utah's average at $1.15 per 1,000 gallons. We can ill afford to continue using this precious resource at such high rates, but we also need to recognize where the majority of water in residential areas is used: outdoors.