Response:

The number one issue is accountability. While we go about our day to day business, well funded lobbyists and special interest groups grease the legislative machine to their own favor. We have a banking lobby that writes their own regulations, an insurance and pharmaceutical lobby that drafts our health care laws, we have government contractors who fund our politicians in exchange for no bid contracts in the form of congressional ear marks. At the end of the day this corrupt system of pay-to-play crony capitalism has left our nation bankrupt. We have a 13 trillion dollar debt to contend with, 9.6 percent unemployment, and a legacy of broken government and distrust in our institutions to leave to our children. Members of congress, like Rob Bishop, stood idle while this country's economy was driven off a cliff. If we are ever to get back on track we must change the way we do business in Washington. We can start with campaign finance reform. Publicly funded campaigns would be a good first start. Accountability in our monetary system needs to be addressed. We should begin with reform or replacement of the Federal Reserve. At minimum the Federal Reserve should be audited. We should look to find ways to get back to a sound monetary system and quick playing the smoke and mirror game with our currency like the Fed has been doing for decades. We should hold hedge fund managers and derivative traders accountable for their part in the fiscal crisis. One way to do this is to place a one percent fee on all speculative hedge and derivative trades. Conservative estimates say that we could generate 500 billion dollars per year. That would go a long way to retire the deficit, eliminate the need for raising taxes on anyone, instill confidence in business development, and rebuild our Nation. If we are ever to get back on track we should start with removing incumbents who set us on this course. We start right here. The original tea party threw the tea over board because of taxation without representation. The special interests own their representative. It's time to throw those responsible over board (that includes Rob Bishop) and get our country back to work.

Response:

The disastrous trade policy known as NAFTA plays a huge role in the immigration crisis. NAFTA destroyed America's industrial base, devastated Mexico's small farmers and displaced hundreds of thousands of Mexican workers. Prior to NAFTA, there were approximately 40,000 illegal aliens crossing the border each year, now there are over 500,000. If we do not address the cause there will never be a solution. A strong and prosperous Mexico and a strong and prosperous United States will reduce the numbers crossing the border illegally.

We need to secure our borders for both safety reasons and humanitarian reasons. There are too many people being exploited in the movement of undocumented immigrants across the border. We need to have tough laws on employers who knowingly hire undocumented workers. We also need to provide a more streamlined path for those who want to enter legally. A guest worker program should be considered.

Most importantly, the Federal Government should act now to create a comprehensive immigration reform law. The state-by-state approach will be too costly and chaotic and in the end will not solve the problem.

Response:

The Affordable Care Act needs some serious reforms. There were few cost controls and the insurance industry and pharmaceutical industry had too much influence in the final outcome of the bill. While there are some good measures in this new law, there needs to be more in the way of cost controls, local and regional say in the process. There should be steps to allow insurance purchase across state lines, regional health cooperatives that could cross state lines to encourage competition, and protections for individuals and business so that undue tax burdens not be placed on them.

Response:

I will refer you back to question one. In addition, we need to free up capital to our entrepreneurs, instill confidence in the consumer, and unleash the creative power that American's have always used to pull ourselves out of crisis. We should use tax credits to motivate small business, and have a home based business tax credit to promote home based entrepreneurs.

Response:

Utah has a long history of using public lands for the public good. We are a mines and minerals state and we have vast reserves of fossil fuels that are vital to our current economy. We must carefully balance the need to continue to use these resources while encouraging protection of Utah's natural beauty. Utah has a large ATV using community and they should be allowed access to public lands. We have traditions of ranching on public lands that go back generations. There are sustainable ways to allow both to continue without sacrificing the natural landscape. Our natural landscapes are a huge attraction to tourists from all over the world. We have many national monuments and national parks within our borders for all to enjoy. We should provide access and above all proper stewardship for all of our public lands.

Response:

Embryonic and adult stem cell research should be conducted under the strictest ethical and moral criteria. I would vote to continue funding of this type of research by the Federal Government.

Response:

Yes.

Response:

The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty should be ratified. Any other position would simply be a slap in the face to those in our state who have suffered from the effects of Nuclear testing in the past. We owe it to the "down winders" in Utah and throughhout the world to ratify this treaty.

Response:

There are many people whom I will consult with to develop an opinion. If it is on a topic that requires expert advice, I seek out qualified people in their fields to see what they think on various issues. On political thought my opinions are developed through conversations with many types of people from various political persuasions. Good ideas come from many places. While I do not have direct access to many of these individuals, I think they all have good ideas that in many cases could be synthesized into good policy and direction for the county: they are: Ron Paul, Ralph Nader, Barack Obama, Bob Bennett, Jim Matheson, and others. We can find solutions from everyday people. I have been given many good ideas from people of all walks of life on the campaign trail. A postal worker suggest that we reduce all government backed home loans to 3%, That would help upside down mortgage holders keep their homes and free up some money to stimulate the economy each month. The ideas was so simple and smart that it might have worked. I have several friends that I constantly run things by when formulating opinion. One is a libertarian, another is a progressive, another is a moderate Republican, and there are other friends and associates who are somewhat apolitical. I like ideas and above all I think the best solutions to our problems come from the ground up. I run everything by my wife. She is my best sounding board and is not afraid to speak her mind and tell me what is best. On the big decisions I pray. The creator of the universe is a great source to go to for advise on, well, anything.

Response:

I have an ability to synthesize complex issues, topics, and ideas and communicate them in plain English. Sometimes it takes a while for me to understand the topic, but once I do I can quickly articulate it to others. Stephen Covey has a habit he uses, "seek first to understand and then to be understood". That is a very important concept to me and I think I do a decent job of incorporating that into my way of life. That is why I have been drawn to professions like teaching. That is why I want to represent District One. People need to be heard, understood, and valued. They also want plain answers to what is going on. They want their voices to be heard. I think I can help do that and build bridges of understanding between people.