Rob Bishop answers Deseret Morning News questionnaire

1st Congressional District

Deseret Morning News

Republican incumbant Rob Bishop

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

The largest issue is the upcoming round of Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) and defending all the military installations in our district, while at the same time supporting our troops at home and abroad. This issue probably dominates most of my time. I will continue to secure funding for programs at our installations, to work with our delegation and the Utah Defense Alliance to defend Hill AFB and our other installations, and to spread the message of our incredible work force and what Utah offers our national defense. We also should not be merely defensive. We will explore ways to expand military projects for Utah.

Finally, I will keep promoting any and all measures to support our fighting men and women and give them the resources they need and deserve to defend our freedom. Fortunately, as a member of the House Armed Service Committee, I am in the right position at the right time to do the most to defend Utah's military interests.

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 voted in favor of the constitutional amendment defining traditional marriage. Earlier this year, I also voted for and co-sponsored what I think is an even better solution. That bill, HR3313, recognizes the traditional definition of marriage but more importantly uses Article III of the Constitution to remove jurisdiction over marriage definitions from the courts. This bill, if enacted, rights the balance of power that should exist between the legislative and judicial branches and would prevent activist judges and rogue courts from redefining marriage and forcing marriage policies on individual states. More importantly, it sets a constitutional standard to be used in a multitude of similar issues.

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 U.S.?

Less than one year ago, Congress took a major step in reducing the costs of prescription medicine by improving Medicare and adding to it a prescription drug benefit for seniors. This historic move will allow seniors to more easily afford life-saving drugs. Reimportation of drugs from Canada or elsewhere only imports that foreign government's price controls or supports and is, at best, a short-term solution that does not create the market environment needed for a permanent solution to this and other health care issues.