While the initial proposal by President Bush was well intentioned and far better than the end product to come out of the divided Senate, I would not have voted for the final legislation. As a full-time public high school teacher for 28 years, I have seen many education ideas come and go, but the only ones that work are those that empower parents, give teachers and schools flexibility to meet the needs of kids, and actually benefit the students in the classroom. Education is a local issue. I would support changes to the law that would turn more power over to the state and local districts, and I applaud the administration and Department of Education for recent efforts to alter and adjust rules and regulations that strive to do that.

11) Should high-level nuclear waste be stored in Skull Valley? Why or why not?

No. If the waste can safely be stored above ground, Congress should amend federal law and President Jimmy Carter's executive order to allow it to be stored where it was generated.

12) Should the types of waste Envirocare receives be reduced or expanded? Reclassified? Or is what they receive fine and nothing about their business should change?

The first and paramount issue when it comes to waste is safety. The wastes currently stored there are clearly being stored safely. The second issue is decisionmaking control. I am pleased our office was involved in helping broker the deal that gave Utah primacy on this issue. From now on Utah, and not federal regulators, will decide what Utah will and will not accept. That fits with my overall goal of losing power by moving decisionmaking from federal agencies to the state of Utah.

13) The 1st Congressional District is expansive and includes a mix of rural and urban constituents. Do those two groups have conflicting needs from their federal representatives, and if so, how can those conflicts be balanced?

There will always be different types of "groups" in every congressional district. Since Utah lost its bid for a fourth seat, we currently have the largest districts in the nation. So a mix of rural and urban in our district is inevitable. I consider the needs of rural and urban areas to be more different than conflicting. Representing all types of areas can be a good thing, encouraging representation that benefits all Utahns and is in the best interests of the entire state. Congressional districts that mix urban and rural portions mean there should be three congressmen united to help rural Utah, with the same three working together on urban issues. This has not always been the case in the past. But senators, governors and county commissioners are expected to balance both needs and represent both groups; so can a congressman.

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