1. In general, what are the two major issues facing the United States and your specific House district today, and how would you address them?
It's tough to just peg two issues as the most important. Clearly, the war on terror, whether it be our efforts in Iraq or the challenge of securing our homeland, is the critical priority of our time.
Without a doubt, however, immigration is an issue that demands our attention and real solutions, and is a key component of homeland security. My position on immigration is very clear. We need real reform that secures the border without destroying our economy in the process.
2. Would you over the next two years in office ever vote for a tax increase? Yes. No. Explain.
I have always opposed tax increases and will oppose tax increases because I have yet to see the benefit from saddling families with higher tax obligations.
The tax cuts proposed by President Bush have strengthened our economy, and I have strongly supported them. I will continue to support tax cuts that are well thought out and economically mindful. My long-held view is that the problem with government is not that people are undertaxed but that government spends and does too much.
3. Before the United States invaded Iraq; did you favor or oppose the U.S. taking new military action in the country?
I supported the war in Iraq and continue to do so.
4. In your opinion, what should the U.S. now do in the Iraq war? (Please be specific, should we withdraw immediately, set a time-line for withdrawal, stay-the-course as President Bush advocates, etc.)
I feel that any specific timetable would be detrimental to our effort in Iraq and dangerous to our troops. I want to see our troops come home safe but not before the job is done. We have seen Iraq make dramatic steps in terms of forming the basis of a government but we have also seen sectarian violence. It is essential that we provide the Iraqi government and Iraqi security forces the time they need to function in an effective manner before we leave the region. If we pull out too soon, the region with devolve into a breeding ground for hate and anarchy, and no society will be safe.
5. Should Democrats take control of the U.S. House after the November elections, predict three things that will happen over the next two years because of the power shift.
1) Nancy Pelosi will become speaker of the House of Representatives and third in line for the presidency.
2) House Democrats will spend the next two years attempting to undermine the work of the president and Republicans in Congress to secure the nation and combat terror.
3) House Democrats will hamstring our efforts to develop the resources we so desperately need to achieve greater energy independence and to fuel continued economic growth.
6. Considering that the U.S. budget will be in deficit again, do you favor or oppose making the current tax cuts permanent?
As stated earlier, I favor making the current tax cuts permanent. I feel the best way to combat the deficit is to take a hard look at what our government is spending and increase the level of oversight. I also favor cutting wasteful and useless programs and departments. Deficits cannot be solely attributed to tax cuts. The nation has been through 9/11, a war on terror and hurricane Katrina. All of these contribute to the deficits. However, it is important to note that even though these major issues have had a profound effect on our nation, deficits have actually been less than projected and unemployment is virtual nonexistent. I contend that the tax cuts have helped keep our economy moving forward, and making the tax cuts permanent will only propel the economy because businesses will be able to operate and project their expansions in a stable climate.
7. Please give your specific stands on the following issues, which some term as moral issues:
— Stem cell research. I favor stem cell research which does not destroy life in the process.
— Cloning of human cells. Again, as long as the research does not create life for the purpose of destroying it, I do not oppose it.
— Abortion. I am pro-life and anti-abortion.
— Capital punishment. We are all given the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Unfortunately, some in our society choose to commit crimes so heinous that they forfeit those rights.
— Same-sex marriage. Marriage is between a man and a woman.
8. Specifically say how you would "solve" the immigration problem in the short and long term, what programs would you begin, what would you do with the current 11 million estimated illegal immigrants now in the U.S.?
"Solving" the immigration problem is simply too complex to accomplish in one paragraph. Without question, the federal government must fulfill its duty to secure the borders. We must also put in place laws and policies that allow immigrants to legally help us meet the needs of a growing economy. As demonstrated by my Immigration Advisory Committee, what must happen is that reasonable people must put the sound bites aside and rationally identify reforms that will work.
9. What is the one area where you see a real difference between you and your major party opponent?
There are many differences. I have served the people of the 3rd Congressional District and I have the experience and seniority to get things done for Utah. I am a leader on issues ranging from immigration to telecommunication technology. I will not vote for Nancy Pelosi for speaker, but will continue to serve as a Republican.
10. Responses to questions from Democratic candidate Christian Burridge:
1. Do you believe America has a problem with the outsourcing of American jobs overseas? If no, explain why it is not a problem. If yes, explain your solution to the problem.
"Outsourcing" has, unfortunately, become a word that is bandied about in order to create a negative impression right from the get-go, much like "amnesty" has in the debate over illegal immigration. The Nation's unemployment rate has fallen to a very low 4.7 percent, even as our population increases, and Utah's unemployment rate is among the lowest.
Is it a problem when jobs are shipped overseas? Yes it is. However, outsourcing is not the problem some would make it out to be. Much of what is considered "outsourcing" is actually the result of rising productivity and greater efficiency, which create greater opportunities for all who choose to take advantage of them.
If you are interested in identifying the major reasons why outsourcing occurs you need to look no further then the policies advocated by the Democratic Party. Over-regulation and abusive lawsuits have led many companies to leave or at least investigate leaving our country. It is the Republican Congress and the president who have stymied outsourcing by passing tort reform and reducing burdensome and unnecessary regulations. For instance, if it wasn't for the work of my subcommittee and the Republican Congress, trial attorneys would have sued American gun manufacturers resulting in the importation of weapons for our military and the "outsourcing" of American jobs.
2. Do you favor capping interest on government-backed student loans at 4 percent?
College education is expensive. I know that first-hand. However, I don't support having the government step in and tell lenders what they can and cannot charge. I support a reasonable solution that would require students to either continue paying a variable rate after they consolidate their loans or pay a premium for locking in a fixed rate, as happens in the private sector. Private lenders would then have the incentive to continue to make funds available to students who need and deserve a college education. The two areas that government is most involved in are education and health care, and both of those sectors of our economy have surpassed any other in terms of expense. Government should not be so intricately involved in the marketplace because when they meddle, our costs rise.