I am strongly in favor of ethics reform. Last session the Legislature began the process by passing several bills, but the public outcry mirrors the legitimate need for additional and significant changes. There is much work left to do in our effort to tighten up campaign finance laws, ethics laws, lobbying regulations, election procedures, and a code of conduct for elected officials. The ethics initiative sponsored by the group “Utahns for Ethical Government ” is an outgrowth of the public’s demand for action not happening on a legislative level. While no initiative or bill is perfect, the support they have speaks to the immediacy of the need for action. As a Legislature we have a unique mandate and opportunity this session to see if we will adequately address these issues on our own, with the help of a newly formed Interim Ethics Committee, or if the need will remain following the session and it is left for the citizens of Utah to take this to the ballot next fall.
2. How would you rate last year’s health care reforms? What may happen this year?
There are two components to health care reform. One is increasing coverage and the other is bending the cost curve. Last year the focus of Utah’s health care reform was to broaden coverage, specifically in terms of availability for uninsured individuals and small businesses. The implemented Utah Health Exchange program, rolled out in August 2009, is still in it’s infancy and is struggling to balance market forces with the need for financial sustainability. Therefore, new legislation will be presented this year with the sole purpose of creating a statewide health insurance risk pool for small businesses.
3. What is right or wrong with national health care reform plans?
The national debate focuses on two plans: one in the House and one in the Senate. Both plans currently appear to be moving targets as compromises and partisan politics continue to shape what the ultimate outcome will look like. Only when the final product emerges will we be able to determine the effects it will have on the 30 percent of uninsured or underinsured Utahns, as well as on the 70 percent with current coverage for whom health care costs continue to rise to unsustainable levels.
4. What proposals to balance the state’s budget do you favor?
I hope as the budget discussion ensues this session we will be guided by the principles of recognizing the long-term consequences of prudent cuts in programs, finding efficiencies in services, and striving to maintain the appropriate size and role of government. Our goal should be to emerge from this recession better positioned and stronger as a state. Public and higher education are critical to our economic recovery and should receive our highest focus. I support using a significant portion of the rainy day fund and an increase in the tobacco tax as partial solutions.
5. Do you agree with the Fair Boundaries plan to change legislative redistricting?
Utah voters deserve nothing less than districts drawn in an impartial manner, based on geography and population, without regard to saturation of party affiliation in certain areas. In addition to being the name of the initiative group, “Fair Boundaries” should be the goal of any redistricting effort. When voters have confidence in the process of redistricting they are more likely to become actively involved in the political process.
6. What legislation do you support regarding nondiscrimination in employment, housing, etc.?
Panta metrios is a greek aphorism that means “all things in due proportion.” The recent Salt Lake City nondiscrimination ordinances appear to achieve such a balance between fairness in housing and employment rights and the religious rights of others in the community. The principles behind the ordinances are reasonable and fair and are supported by the majority in District 20.
7. What should be done on the state level with respect to climate change?
Good policy should be driven by good science. The recent controversies surrounding some of the climate change science have given political fodder to both sides of the debate. The science that drives any legislation this session needs to be collaborated and validated. It is time to take the politics out of the science so the science can guide effective policy.
We have plenty to work on here in Utah that sits outside the climate change debate – common sense solutions to the issues of the economics of energy and the environment, the challenges of energy development, production, reliability, use and environmental protection. That is where our focus should be.
8. I am currently working on the following bills for the 2010 session:
Refinery safety and inspection process (with Rep. Roger Barrus)
Amendments to the composition of the Air Quality Board, as part of the Department of Environment Quality
Recycling of e-Scrap materials
Autism funding through a special Autism license plate
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