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Show Page 14 THE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Volume III, Issue I November 1, 2000 U.S. Senate Questions Posed : 1. Goals. As a member of Congress, what two things would you most want to accomplish for the people of Utah? 2. Campaign Finance. The League of Women Voters believes democracy is working when all voices are heard. Is campaign finance reform needed to assure that democracy works? If so, what do you believe are the necessary elements in effective reform? For example: changing limits on contributions from organizations, businesses, individuals or candidates themselves; eliminating soft money contributions to parties; placing limits on issue ads that name candidates; reducing media expenses; providing incentives to reduce spending such as public funding; requiring fuller disclosure. Please be specific. 3. Corrections. Our country imprisons up to six times as many people as other industrialized nations. Many have been sentenced to prison for drug possession and other non-violent crimes. Are there more effective and less costly ways to insure public safety? Why or why not? 4. Health Insurance. About 44 million Americans (18 percent of the population under age 65) are without health insurance. In Utah about 240,000 people, (11 percent of the population) mostly from working families are without health insurance. Should the government help people who are uninsured? Do you favor a specific proposal to address this problem? 5. Wilderness. Utahns continue to debate the amount and location of land that should be designated as wilderness. The amount suggested by the BLM and citizen groups ranges from 3 to 9 million acres. Recently less restrictive plans, such as the San Rafael Legacy District, which does not include wilderness areas, have been proposed. Relative damage from oil and mineral exploration, grazing, and off-road vehicles are some of the issues. What is your solution to the wilderness debate? What would you do to advance your proposal and how would you make it work for all Utahns? Carlton Edward Bowen Independent American and Midvale City. Salt Lake County Republican Party Central Committee, Independent American Party State and County Delegate, Salt Lake County Republican Delegate, Republican Neighborhood Caucus Chairman. P.O. Box 112, Midvale, UT 84047-0112 Telephone: (801) 565-0580 E-mail: carlton@inconnect.com Web: www.carltonian.com Occupation: Information Technology Consultant Education: Graduate, Cum Laude, Weber State University; Bachelor of Science in Economics, minor in Political Science, June 1996. Graduate, Community College of the Air Force; Associates of Applied Science in Intelligence and Imagery Analysis, March 1994. Graduate, Honor Flight, Airman Leadership School, April 1992. Graduate, Hillcrest High School, June 1987. Prior Community Experience: Publicity Chairman for non-profit group TRIM, (legislative report card for Utah's 2nd Congressional District) Leadership positions with LDS church 1. Goals: My first and foremost objective as a U.S. Senator will be to limit the federal government to its constitutionally authorized role. Second, I will work to restore and preserve individual and states' rights, including the right to keep and bear arms and the right to life. Jim Dexter Libertarian 5718 South Dynasty Oaks, Taylorsville, Utah 841182675 Telephone: 801/963-1028 Fax: 801/968-8133 E-mail/web: jimdex@inconnect.com/www.lputah.org Occupation: Marketing Communicator (selfemployed) Education: Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts (English/Drama) U.S. Army Language School, Monterey, California (Diploma, Chinese-Mandarin) Monterey Peninsula Institute of Foreign Studies, Monterey, California (Modern China) Hunter College, New York, New York (Foreign Languages) Prior Experience: State Vice President, New Jersey Jaycees. United States Director, New Jersey Jaycees. State Chair, Libertarian Party of Utah since 1996. Prudential Community Service Award. Twice named an "Outstanding Young Man of America." Orrin G. Hatch Republican P.O. Box 112398, Salt Lake City UT 84147 Telephone: 801/994-2000 fax: 801/994-7995 www.orrinhatch.org Occupation: U.S. Senator Education: B.S., BYU; LL.B. University of Pittsburgh Community Experience/Elective Offices Held: U.S. Senator 1976-present. Active in local church. 1: Goals. First, I want to empower families. Families need more control over their lives, over their own incomes. . . and they need to feel more secure about the safety and education of their children. Second, I want to protect American's future, morally, militarily and fiscally. I want to safeguard Social Security Scott M. Howell Democrat 2056 S. 1100 E., Salt Lake City, UT 84106 Tele: 801/486-4662 Fax: 801/486-4844 E-mail/web: www.scotthowell2000.com Occupation: IBM Executive Education: Skyline HS; football scholarship, Dixie Jr. College; B.S., Univ of Utah Prior Experience: Information Technology Association Board of Trustees 1993-present; Utah Symphony Board 1994present; United Way "Success by Six” Blue Ribbon Committee, 1993-present; Intermountain Health Care Salt Lake Valley Board, 1996-present; State Legislative Leaders Foundation Board, 1997-present. 1. Goals: 1) Education, as always, will be my number one priority. Education is our children's only security as they confront this very insecure world and a global economy. Our responsibility is to provide the highest quality of education to ensure their success. 2) I will promote E-government to lower longterm government costs and make life more efficient and effective for all Americans interacting with their government. 2. Campaign Finance: The campaign finance reform I favor is a free and open process. We need to end government regulation of political speech by repealing the 1972 campaign finance reform legislation. Additionally, I don't believe individual taxpayers should be compelled to fund political speech, which they may find to be very offensive. damental unit of society should be encouraged and promoted. Our prisons are full because our families are under attack. 4. Health Insurance: I strongly believe the greatest quantity and quality of health care will be achieved through the free market mechanism and not through government regulation. Individuals and families, NOT governments, are responsible for their health and well being. I oppose government funding of health care. 5. Wilderness: Earth was created for the benefit of man and not vice versa. There is great danger in over restricting the use of land and thereby denying its intended purpose. I am also very concerned by federal government attempts to deny Utah counties and citizens their legal rights involving public lands. 3. Corrections: The best way to ensure public safety is to have a moral citizenry. Ultimately, this is the responsibility of the family. Those measures strengthening the family as the fun1. Goals: (a) Complete abolition of the onerous, odious and intrusive income tax by starting the process to repeal the 16th Amendment. (b) Use the office to help Utahns who have difficulties with the federal government. 2. Campaign Finance: No. The effect of most campaign finance reform schemes is to deny certain segments the freedom to express political preferences in a meaningful way and so violate the First Amendment. They also tend to corrupt elected officials by forcing them and their contributors to find devious ways around the laws. 3. Corrections: The insane, failed war on drugs is a "cure" far worse than the disease. Nonviolent "offenders" are locked up for years. Every one of our basic, Constitutional rights has been nullified in the fruitless pursuit of the drug war. Worse, those who want to get off drugs are afraid to seek help because they might be arrested. and Medicare. 2. Campaign Finance: Effective campaign finance reform will not substitute government regulation for the judgment of voters themselves or increase the influence of special interests by hindering political parties. I favor disclosure of contributions and expenditures over the internet, updated more frequently than currently required, and increased limits for individual hard money contributions. 3. Corrections: I disagree with the premise of your question. The majority of state prisoners are either violent or repeat offenders. That being said, I have authored legislation to put more emphasis on prevention, as a deterrent to crime and repeat offenses. 4. Health Insurance: Government mandates are largely responsible for making basic health insurance so unaffordable for the average family. Government guaranteed payment schemes, such as Medicare, have greatly escalated the cost of health care. Get the government out of the insurance business and a competitive, free market will provide (for those who want coverage). 5. Wilderness: While certain areas (e.g., Bryce Canyon, Monument Valley) are so spectacular that they deserve perpetual preservation in a natural state, most land denied to the people is pretty ordinary and not worthy of special status. Sell those lands and pay off the national debt. (Imagine the money we could raise selling all or part of Lake Powell's 1900 miles of shoreline alone.) businesses to offer health insurance, either through tax breaks or the creation of small business purchasing pools. This will make insurance more affordable and available. 5. Wilderness: Rather than advocating a particular acreage number, I believe Utah citizens and their local elected officials should have a principal role in formulating wilderness plans for their regions, to make sure we take a balanced approach that does protect Utah's truly pristine areas. 4. Health Insurance: The government should help the uninsured, many of whom work for small businesses. I want to make it easier for 2. Campaign Finance: To create a level playing field, I support legislation banning "soft money." However candidates and donors circumvent such reforms by using other types of contributions, such as self-financing by millionaire candidates and "issue" ads that attack opponents. Possible solutions: public financing through an "endowment" contributing interest from tax-preferred contributions to Congressional candidates, allowing candidates to opt out of the current system, and mandatory free TV for candidates attacked by "independent" groups. 3. Corrections: Government's first responsibility is public order and protecting citizens against criminal violence. Traditionally the "right" focuses on maximum incarceration, while the "left" fixates on root causes of crime. Current American policing emphasizes rapid 911 responses and arrest rates. I support a preventive approach, extremely effective in Maryland, where police are continuously visible in "hot spot" neighborhoods and work with citizens to identify conditions that produce crime. 4. Health Insurance: Proposed health insurance tax credits are receiving bi-partisan support. They would offer public financing to help millions of uninsured Americans buy essential private health insurance rather than create a more costly bureaucratic entitlement. Credits would also benefit insured Americans by offering a choice between employer plans and plans employees could purchase on their own. 5. Wilderness: I support acquisition of lands that meet the criteria of true wilderness to benefit future generations. Oil/mineral exploration and grazing produce many necessities of life but also harm the environment. I support negotiation between government and business to lower taxes and lengthen permit periods in return for anti-pollution methods and complete restoration of used land. Environmental damage and transaction and compliance costs would decrease, and technological advancements would increase. Information provided courtesy of Utah State League of Women Voters. |