Steve Thompson answers Deseret Morning News questionnaire

1st Congressional District

Deseret Morning News

Democrat challenger Steve Thompson

1. What is the major issue facing the 1st District today and how would you deal with it?

As your congressman, I will focus on job creation and retention, maintaining the great-paying jobs we have — Hill Air Force Base, for example — and creating living wage jobs through investment in small business is critical. I will work to increase federal funding for research and technology transfer at our University's Innovation Campuses. Transferring technology to the private sector is key to our economic future and will create new high-paying jobs for Utah families.

2. Do you favor or oppose a U.S. constitutional amendment that would define marriage between a man and a woman? If yes, why? If no, why?

I support the traditional definition of marriage. However, I would not support amending the Constitution of the United States to discriminate against any class of Americans.

3. Do you favor or oppose allowing U.S. citizens to buy prescription drugs from other countries, like Canada? If not, what can be done to quickly reduce the cost of prescription medicine in the United States?

Favor. I will sponsor legislation enabling American consumers to buy prescription medications from Canada and other countries where prices are between 30-80 percent lower than in the United States.

4. How much longer should U.S. troops be in Iraq?

I would listen to our generals and not suppose that I know the answer because I do not know the dynamics of the situation in Iraq. However, we cannot allow the Iraq situation to become a war controlled by politicians.

At this time, do you favor or oppose spending as much money as President Bush requests on the Iraqi war?

We should spend more. We must support our troops with the equipment and manpower necessary to do their job. The language of the terrorist insurgents is death and destruction. We should speak their language and deal with them proactively and aggressively. Then get our troops out of harm's way.

5. Do you favor or oppose the United States remaining a member of the United Nations?

Favor.

6. As gasoline prices continue to rise in the United States, do you favor or oppose releasing some of the federal government's huge oil reserves in an attempt to drive down gas prices?