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Positions
Declaration of Independence & Constitutions
Education
Good Government
Economy
Crime
Values
Adoption
1st
Amendment
The Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution & Utah's Constitution
I am a student of these documents. So many of our current problems would be rectified if we would return to the truths inscribed therein. I will
uphold, defend and support those precepts. Lincoln was correct when he said:
"Let [the Constitution] be taught in schools, in seminaries, and in colleges; let it be written in primers, in spelling books and in almanacs, let it be preached from the pulpit, proclaimed in legislative halls, and enforced in courts of justice. And, in short, let it become the political religion of the nation."
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Education
Local control of our schools is paramount. I will work to establish
programs which will encourage students to be better prepared to enter
Utah's workforce and to ensure that funding for education gets where
it is needed most so we can reduce classroom sizes. Parents need
flexibility, accountability, and more control regarding their
children’s education. Public education is mandated in Utah's
constitution. Let us take care of it and make sure it is not weakened
in any way.
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Good
Government
Thomas Jefferson said it best, "The best government is that which governs least." Utah's population is growing quickly, yet our government has grown at an even higher rate. Our budget in 1992 was 3.6 Billion; in 2002 it is 7.6
Billion - an average annual increase of $400 million, which has far exceeded the population growth rate and inflation. From 1995 to 2000, state spending grew 44%. Compare this to the federal budget, which grew only 18%.
Utah citizens live in the 9th highest taxed state in the nation and
our average wages are at the bottom (43rd). Granted, we live in the most beautiful state, and we need to sacrifice to pay for our children's education, however,
let us be prudent as we allocate tax monies and use them only for basic essential public needs.
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Economy
We can rebuild confidence in the economy by exposing corruption and
fraud. White collar crime must be prosecuted. Utah leads the country
in per capita bankruptcies. It is time to work to establish long-term
financial goals ensuring a healthy economic future, and to reduce the
regulations restricting the growth of small business. Utah is
struggling to attract new business as the cost of doing business in
Utah (due to its State income tax) is much higher than other western
states.
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Crime
I will work to ensure that law enforcement officers have the resources
they need to do their job; get citizens involved in creating safe
communities, hold criminals accountable for their crimes, and see that
they are punished accordingly. Utah’s criminal justice system must
be changed. Controlling violent crime is a state and local issue. As your State Senator I will work to expose evil and corruption. In 2001, Utah set a record for most homicides ever in our states' history. Tough laws (and their enforcement) will always be a deterrent to crime.
Let's restore safety to our homes and neighborhoods.
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Values
The values that have made America and Utah great are: Freedom, Faith, Family. I will continue to teach our citizens that "freedom isn't free." We must all remember that "we all drink from wells we never dug and are warmed
by fires we never lit." Yes, our founding fathers left us a legacy of freedom. However, there is a condition - vigilance. We all have a sacred American duty to stand up and be accounted - to vote and participate in the greatest experiment (our democratic-republic) the world has ever known. The Faith of our
founding fathers must be encouraged and that faith is found inscribed in The United States Constitution and Declaration of Independence for which they pledged "their
Lives, their Fortunes and sacred Honor."
Families must be protected. I will fight to push for government policies that encourage families and marriage instead of tearing them down. I will fight against those who would strip our references to God from our public schools, forums, and buildings.
We must all be men and women of integrity and character. Many argue that we should not legislate values or teach virtue in public schools.
However, we must teach America's virtue. John Adams said, "The Constitution was only made for a moral people." And his cousin, Sam Adams said, "Neither the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and happiness of a people whose manners are universally corrupt."
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Adoption
I am pro-life and opposed to abortion except in the case of rape, incest or the life of the mother being endangered. The real choice is adoption, not abortion. Let's encourage our citizens towards that end.
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1st
Amendment
I am against the recent Supreme Court ruling that protects virtual child pornography.
Virtual child pornography isn't protected speech under the 1st Amendment and I respectfully disagree with our Justices. Their decision was misguided and, simply put, wrong. Let's stand up for decency and morality. None of our basic constitutional rights are unconditional. For example, the 1st Amendment doesn't give you the right to enter a crowded theatre and jokingly shout, "fire," causing a stampede.
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