UTAH CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS- INCUMBENTS AND CHALLENGERS AND WHERE THEY STAND BY RUTH KING
http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/publications/detail/utah-2014-candidates-for-congress-where-they-stand?f=puball
To see the actual voting records of all incumbents on other issues such as Foreign Policy, Second Amendment Issues, Homeland Security, and other issues as well as their rankings by special interest groups please use the links followed by two stars (**).
U.S. Senate
Orrin Hatch (R)Next Election in 2018.
Mike Lee (R) Next Election in 2016.
Primary: June 24, 2014
District 1
Rob Bishop (R) Incumbent
http://www.votebishop.com/ http://robbishop.house.gov/
http://www.ontheissues.org/house/rob_bishop.htm**
Rated -1 by AAI, indicating a mixed Arab/Palestine voting record. (May 2012)
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
ENERGY Voted for construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline without limiting amendments.
Rob believes we can protect our environment while allowing for wise stewardship and multiple uses. Stewardship means respecting and enhancing the land and its natural resources. The prudent development of our natural resources and energy not only adds to our energy independence but also greatly impacts job growth and economic recovery. As the Chair of the Western Caucus, he was the lead sponsor of an all-you-can-create energy bill and has led the fight against the Obama Administration’s anti-energy agenda.
BORDER SECURITY AND IMMIGRATION We need to secure the borders and better enforce the laws already on the books, and that’s the way Rob votes. He is the lead sponsor of HR 1505, legislation ensuring border security takes priority over environmental land regulations. The bill has drawn national attention and is viewed by many as the first critical step in real immigration reform. We must do first things first – and securing our border is that first thing.
HEALTH CARE As a state lawmaker and as a Congressman, Rob has pushed back against an ever-encroaching federal government. He voted against ObamaCare and has voted to repeal it. As the leader of the 10th Amendment Task Force, he continues to champion returning more power, authority and money back to states and individuals.
NATURAL RESOURCES AND PUBLIC LANDS As a member of the Natural Resources Committee, Rob has a strong knowledge of and concern for the use of our lands. He believes in wise management of our lands, which entails protecting private property rights and the Western way of life Utah enjoys as well as using the resources on those lands. With roughly 2/3rds of Utah’s lands controlled by the federal government, the right of our state to control its own destiny, be energy rich, create jobs, and properly fund our education system will always be hampered by the heavy hand of the federal government. Rob is the Chairman of the Public Lands Subcommittee and has consistently fought for our rights and our lands. He helped kill the Wild Lands proposal from Secretary Salazar and called out the Interior Department on their plans to lock up even more land by creating new national monuments using the Antiquities Act. He has been the primary sponsor of the APPLE Initiative and continues to spread the message that Utah needs and deserves more its own land back.
Donna McAleer (D) Challenger
A West Point graduate and president of her class, Donna McAleer served her country honorably as an Army officer overseas at the end of the Cold War before going on to work in both the public and private sectors. During her years in uniform, Donna was stationed in Wurzburg, Germany and served as a platoon leader, company executive officer, and deputy public affairs officer with various units in the US Army’s 3rd Infantry Division and 7th Corps. In 1991, Donna left the service to pursue an MBA at the Darden Graduate School of Business Administration at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. In 2013, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta appointed Donna to serve on the Defense Advisory Council for Women in the Service. In 2012, Donna was the Democratic candidate for Utah’s 1st Congressional District.
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
HEALTHCARE Regardless of where one stands on the spectrum of opinion about healthcare reform, just about everyone can agree that health care costs in the United States are out of control. We have many of the best treatments and services in the world, but also the most expensive. The US spends more on health care than any other industrialized country. More than 16% of Americans (approximately 50 million people) and 14% of Utahns (392,000 people, of which nearly 20% are children) do not have any kind of health insurance. For those that do have health insurance, premiums are expected to reach 24%, nearly a quarter of median family income by 2020!
ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE Climate change is another threat to American security. The Department of Defense calls climate change a threat multiplier, meaning it makes bad conditions worse. Droughts, floods, rising tides, extreme heat and other severe weather phenomena of climate change, and the starvation and massive tides of desperate refugees these conditions cause, lead to abject misery and destabilization around the world They also allow anti-American extremists to gain footholds in nations overwhelmed with disruption caused by massive climate fluctuations. We saw this in the floods of Pakistan in 2011, when al Qaeda took advantage of the chaos to recruit new followers.
Experts may differ on the best formula for reducing carbon emissions, but they all agree that a steady, orderly, planned transition towards a greater mix of traditional and renewable energies is the smartest way to get there. Whether you believe climate change is of human origin or not, reducing carbon emissions can mitigate the trend toward extreme weather. Pretending our actions do not impact the climate fluctuations leading to temperature extremes and violent storms plaguing the United States is irresponsible. We deserve elected officials who care about the lives of our children and our children’s children, and who believe in investments to make our energy economy cleaner, sustainable and more balanced.
Solutions exist to address economic, environmental and security issues associated with energy but such solutions requires a strong and independent person to bring together the stakeholders and agree on these solutions. Job growth, economic development, environmental health and national security are all critical items to the next decade in Utah and the west . Without responsible leadership, these energy issues will be driven by special interest groups seeking their own agendas as opposed to the benefit of all Utahns.
IMMIGRATION The subject of immigration reform over the past several years has produced much rhetoric–and a shocking symbol of our failure as a nation founded by immigrants to rationally address the issue and modernize our system: the border walls along the U.S./Mexican border. There is an equally important practical reason for immigration reform: our economic health. More than ever, in today’s integrated global economy a nation’s best and strongest asset is its people. Immigration reform will strengthen the U.S., attracting the best and the brightest to our country and ensuring we have enough workers in all sectors of the economy to remain competitive and sustain our economy now and for the future. Our immigration laws were last overhauled in 1986. Immigration is a federal issue and I support comprehensive reform. If we want to compete in the 21st century global economy, we need to pass 21st century immigration reform. The stonewalling on immigration exemplifies the political dysfunction and grandstanding in Washington. The current immigration system is complex. Many legislators advocate for simplification and in June 2013, the U.S. Senate passed S. 744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, a comprehensive bill reforming the immigration system, including providing a pathway to citizenship for more than 11 million undocumented immigrants in our country. The bill passed 68 to 32 (Sen. Hatch supported it, Sen. Lee did not). While the bill has good and bad points, it is a step in the right direction. But House Republicans are holding up the process refusing to allow that bill to come to the House floor for debate. Instead many House legislators are calling for piecemeal solutions to immigration reform, including a push for increased border enforcement, instead of passing the comprehensive Senate version. This despite the fact that a coalition group of religious leaders unprecedented in scope–it includes Southern Baptists, conservative Catholics, and religious progressives–is calling for immigration reform.
Most undocumented workers are hard workers who contribute to our economy. They are here for the most noble of reasons: to seek a better quality of life for their families. Their path to residence and citizenship should be simple, straightforward and direct. It is time to bring undocumented workers and immigrants out of the shadows, and offer an opportunity to obtain legal status, even citizenship, if they are willing to pursue it.
District 2
Chris Stewart (R) Incumbent
Elected in 2012
http://www.stewartforutah.com/ http://stewart.house.gov/
http://www.ontheissues.org/house/Chris_Stewart.htm**
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
ENERGY Energy independence is vital to national security. In order to become less dependent on foreign energy, we must be able to pursue responsible development within our own borders. Maintaining a diverse energy portfolio will protect our current and future interests, while creating jobs at home. Utahns, and particularly those within our district, are dependent on energy-related jobs. These jobs are increasingly threatened by poor land management strategies and over-regulation from bureaucrats.
I support the responsible development of oil, natural gas, clean coal, and a variety economically viable renewable energy options. We are fortunate to live in a district full of scenic and natural resources. Multiple use land policies enable their responsible use, while protecting their integrity. I am committed to protecting environmental integrity while also supporting energy development to bring in needed revenue, jobs, and overall security.
Stewart: New EPA Regulations are Pure Fantasy – Jun 2, 2014 Press Release – Today, the Environmental Protection Agency announced new carbon regulations, requiring power plants to cut their carbon emissions by 30 percent by 2030. Following this announcement, Rep. Chris Stewart (R-Utah), former chairman of the House Subcommittee on the Environment, released the following statement:
Rep. Stewart Votes to Move Forward with the Construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline
May 22, 2013 Press Release – Today, Rep. Chris Stewart (R-Utah) voted in favor of the Northern Route Approval Act, which allows Congress to authorize the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline, bypassing the need for approval from the White House Administration. The Pipeline would bring crude oil from the Tar Sands of Alberta, Canada to refineries of the gulf coast in the United States. Stewart released the following statement after the passage of the bill:
HEALTHCARE Our health care and insurance systems need reform. In 2010, Congress enacted the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly referred to as ObamaCare. The Supreme Court ruled in 2012 that the penalty assessed to individuals who fail to purchase insurance is a tax. This makes ObamaCare the largest tax increase on the American people. As your Congressman, I will work to defund, repeal and replace Obamacare. To learn more about what I have specifically done to defund and repeal Obamacare, click here. More on Health Issues
Stewart, Bishop, Chaffetz Vote to Defund Obamacare and Keep the Government Open – Sep 20, 2013 Press Release – After voting to support the Continuing Resolution to fund the government and defund Obamacare, Reps. Rob Bishop (UT-01), Chris Stewart (UT-02) and Jason Chaffetz (UT-03) released the following statement:
Rep. Stewart Votes to Repeal Obamacare – May 17, 2013 Press Release – Today, Rep. Chris Stewart (R-Utah) issued the following statement after the House voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act:
Luz Robles (D) Challenger
http://www.roblesforcongress.com/
District 3
Jason Chaffetz (R) Incumbent
http://www.jasonforcongress.com/ http://chaffetz.house.gov/
http://www.ontheissues.org/house/Jason_Chaffetz.htm**
Rated -6 by AAI, indicating anti-Arab anti-Palestine voting record. (May 2012)
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT Voted for construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline without limiting amendments. Utah’s energy and environmental future is perpetually connected to federal land management agencies and their policies. The federal government owns 69% of the land within the state of Utah. These 37 million acres are primarily managed by three federal agencies – the Bureau of Land Management, US Forest Service, and the National Park Service. The lands managed by these agencies have the potential to generate economic activity in the form of energy and mineral development, agricultural use, recreation, and tourism. Federal decisions must be guided by logic and commonsense. Federal policies that restrict access, limit uses, or delay progress harm local economic activity, job creation, and public education. Misguided decisions are generally made because Washington DC bureaucrats often wield more power than those on the ground. Local and state leaders should not be trumped by out-of-state officials.
Federal decisions guided by logic and local support can positively impact public lands states. In FY2010, BLM lands contributed $112 billion in economic activity to the national economy. The multiple-use nature of BLM lands is largely responsible for this contribution. BLM lands provided $814 million worth of timber-related economic activity in 2010; $540 million in grazing-related benefits; recreational visits generated $7.4 billion in economic activity; and amazingly, BLM lands generated $40 billion worth of energy and mineral activity. Federal policies should be enacted that allow for the continued development of energy resources while also preserving lands worthy of protection. Achieving these two goals is not mutually exclusive. Through collaboration and open communication, public lands in Utah can be accessed and enjoyed by all.
IMMIGRATION I have long believed that solving illegal immigration starts with fixing legal immigration. Our immigration system is completely broken and in desperate need of reform. The borders are not secure. We do not have a functioning entry-exit system. We have an inept guest worker program, no national e-verify system, and we educate extremely smart and talented high-skilled people only to send them back to their home countries instead of allowing them here to contribute to our economy. Each of these issues needs to be addressed on its own merits. I am very hesitant to pass one massive comprehensive bill. “Comprehensive” is slowly becoming a code word for amnesty. History has shown that massive legislation tends to collapse under its own weight because inevitably it contains something for everyone to disagree with. For that reason I prefer a step-by-step, incremental, one-issue-at-a-time approach. Listed below is incremental, commonsense legislation that I support that advances the mission of fixing legal immigration:
- The Fairness for High Skilled Immigrants Act (Original Sponsor)
- In the 112th Congress I introduced The Fairness for High Skilled Immigrants Act. This bill would eliminate the per country numerical limitation for employment-based visas and adjusts the limitations on family visas without increasing the total number of available visas.We need to continue allowing highly skilled and educated immigrants to contribute to this country.
- The language in the bill is included in Rep. Issa’s Skills Act (see below), and in the Senate’s “Gang of Eight” immigration bill.
- HR 2278, Strengthen and Fortify Enforcement Act (Cosponsor)
- The SAFE Act improves the interior enforcement of our immigration laws by granting states and localities the authority to enforce federal immigration laws.The bill strengthens national security by increasing border security, making it more difficult for foreign nationals who pose a national security risk to enter and remain in the U.S., improving visa security in high risk countries, and protecting American communities from dangerous criminal aliens.
Brian Wonnacott (D) Challenger
No website
District 4
Jim Matheson (D) Retiring in 2014.
Doug Owens (D) Challenger
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
IMMIGRATION America’s immigration system is broken.
Achieving meaningful immigration reform in Congress is a key priority of Doug’s campaign and legislative agenda. When elected, Owens pledges to take immediate action to fix America’s broken immigration system. Business, community, and religious leaders are standing together, calling for action. It’s time for Congress to set aside party politics and work together to pass real reform to our Nation’s antiquated, ineffective immigration laws. Doug supports a common-sense approach to immigration reform that will:
- Strengthen the security of our borders
- Uphold the law and require everyone to play by the same rules
- Keep Utah families together
- Protect the well-being of our children
- Respect the rights and dignity of those who contribute so much to our economy
- Provide a way for undocumented immigrants to square themselves with the law and continue contributing to our economy and communities
- Include a potential, non-amnesty path to American citizenship, when appropriate and once fines and penalties are paid in full. Those who emigrate legally in the first place should always take precedence.
JOBS AND ECONOMY Creating good jobs and strengthening our economy is central to restoring the American Dream and fortifying the middle class. Income and wages have been stagnant for three decades. In the last six years alone, one in ten Americans has fallen out of the ranks of the middle class. This is not a political issue; it is a serious problem that impacts all of us. We cannot let the American Dream fall victim to partisan politics. Federal tax law is unfair, unnecessarily complicated, and in dire need of reform. We need to lower taxes on hardworking Utahns. Small businesses are the engines that drive job creation. Now more than ever, we should help aspiring entrepreneurs follow their dreams and create jobs. We need to cut taxes and enhance access to credit for small businesses. We need to reform the tax code and eliminate barriers that hinder small businesses from growing and hiring. To strengthen our economy today and ensure it remains strong tomorrow, we must invest in our nation’s crumbling infrastructure. It’s time to put Utahns back to work, repairing and upgrading our highways, bridges, airports and mass transit systems.
To create jobs and strengthen the economy, Doug will support measures that:
- Ensure Utah children receive a world-class education that prepares them for tomorrow’s jobs
- Reform the Federal tax code and reduce taxes on hardworking Utahns
- Reduce corporate taxes by 33%
- Eliminate barriers that prevent small businesses from growing and hiring
- Enhance access to credit for small businesses
- Invest in our nation’s infrastructure
Mia Love (R) Challenger
HOT BUTTON ISSUES
HEALTH CARE Incentivize shared decision making between patients and health care providers
Eliminate barriers to purchasing health care coverage that best suits an individual’s or family’s personal needs by allowing people to purchase the insurance of their choice across state lines
Align incentives for health care providers with the outcomes they provide
Provide for the portability of individual health care plans (e.g., allow people to carry plans from employer to employer)
- Support tax-free savings for health needs
- Cut out fraud and bureaucratic waste, and protect benefits for those who qualify
- Support tax incentives aimed at extending private insurance coverage
- Improve individual control over health care decisions by supporting consumer-directed health care options, health reimbursement arrangements, health savings accounts, and other free market options
- Oppose taxpayer-funded abortions
- Support the ability for states to develop consumer-based health care models that allow for customized solutions to their citizens’ health care needs
- Repeal Obamacare because more government, greater bureaucracy, and higher taxes are not the answers to our health care problems. If there is ever a chance to repeal Obamacare, you can count on my vote to do so.
IMMIGRATION
- Secure the border – and not just for the purpose of preventing illegal immigration, but also to stop the flow of illegal drugs, illegal weapons, and possible terrorism from coming into our country
- Support meaningful immigration reform and rules of naturalization that result in clear, straightforward, fair, and thorough rules that will allow immigrants to participate in the American Dream while protecting the best interests of American citizens
- Incentivize good behavior and our ability to track who enters and who leaves our borders by charging a fee (perhaps of a few thousand dollars) to people who come to America on visas, and then refund that money when they leave
- Support the SKILLS Act, which will help the American economy by incentivizing highly skilled foreign students who graduate from U.S. colleges with advanced degrees in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to work and remain in America by making it easier for employers to grant them green cards and H-1B visas
TAXES
- Vote against all net tax increases
- Support a simpler tax system that reduces the tax burden for working Americans
- Eliminate the federal death tax (also known as the estate tax)
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