These are classic discussions published back in July 2005
Abortion and Stem Cell Research
Conservatives must guard the moral underpinnings of the pro-life stand. That stand is: LIFE DOES NOT BEGIN AT BIRTH. Pre-birth creation is sacred.
Will pro-life conservatives surrender their stand to a frontal attack? Of course not. But, are pro-life conservatives adequately guarding their flanks? No.
Abortion advocates will not convince a majority of Americans that abortion on demand is acceptable – at least not immediately. So, they seek ways to suggest that pre-birth creation is not always sacred. They argue that sometimes an embryo is nothing more than a farm product – a mere commodity to be harvested and used.
What if abortion advocates could get the federal government to officially recognize that position – that pre-birth creation is not sacred? That would undercut the pro-life stand.
Currently, the greatest threat to the pro-life stand is the effort to use taxpayer money to conduct scientific experiments on human embryos. Once the federal... (read more)
Positions
Before I post them on the website, I will post position statements on this blog. Feel free to poke, massage, critique or otherwise provide input. Together, we’ll figure out the best way to phrase and present the conservative message. Thanks!
Black Gold, Texas Tea
With oil and gas prices so high, many wells are being drilled in Utah. This is great for Utahns who work in the industry and for local economies. Also, this is great for the State’s economy and the State’s tax revenues.
As I’ve written several times before, the key to increasing funds for government-provided services, like public education, is not to take more money from people. Our taxes already are too high. Taking so much money discourages productivity. The key is to decrease the tax burden and grow the economy.
I’ve already heard that my campaign’s emphasis on RESPONSIVENESS TO UTAH ISSUES is boring. So be it. Splash often obscures substance, but that doesn’t mean substance is unimportant. Let me give an example.
Here is an article charging that BLM personnel are not taking enough time to review environmental impacts before drilling permits are issued in the Uintah Basin. Obviously, such charges... (read more)
Pioneer Day
Happy Pioneer Day! My wife’s grandfather (several greats), John Pack, was in that first hardy group to enter the Salt Lake Valley. He was an advance scout and later hosted the establishment of the University of Utah in his living room. It’s fun to have married into that heritage.
We were up in Cache County yesterday and ended up campaigning another of John Pack’s descendents. Small world.
We watched the Great Race in Mendon. The many legs included grandmas on scooters, stick horse racers, a riding lawn mower grand prix (I had never before seen a mower with a tachometer and wheelie bar — which actually was needed when the clutch was popped), a log saw, a dunking booth, sack race, three-legged race, many other marvels, and, lastly, a pie-eating contest (whole cherry pie). The red team came to the pie-eating stage in fourth place out of four, but pulled out the victory when some young... (read more)
Off and Running
Wow! Day 3 and the pace already is frantic.
We received an e-mail that said, “Let me know what I can do to help. I’ll definitely vote for you, and I’ll get everyone I know to vote for you.”
If this guy knows 2,000,000 people, I’m set.
We’re collecting volunteer information at the campaign website. If you have offered to help, we will contact you shortly. The response was bigger than we expected, and we’re trying to get our arms around it.
Here is why we will win. Yesterday, someone asked if he could volunteer. He then handed me a detailed campaign plan and promotional material he had obviously spent a chunk of time putting together. “We need a change,” he said. There are people who believe we can do better, and they are approaching me with their talent and energy.
Here is how this is shaping up. They have money (gobs and... (read more)
United States Senate
I’m running for the United States Senate. We need to swing wide the doors to the federal government and let people have a look and a say. It’s time for change.
For more details, please go my campaign website.
Medicaid Prescription Drugs
Medicaid is the fastest growing part of Utah’s budget. A few facts: Medicaid is state health care for the poorest segment of our population; Medicaid involves significant federal matching funds (about $3 from the feds for every $1 Utah spends) — though these matches likely will shrink, if the feds get serious about balancing the federal budget (as they should); and the system needs reform. On this last point, former Gov. Leavitt (current federal Health and Human Services Director, of course) and legislators like Rep. Becky Lockhart get high marks for putting a good system in place for Utah: better than most, but still in need of reform.
While health care costs in general are skyrocketing, the greatest increase is for prescription drugs. State Health Director Dr. David Sundwall proposes to reduce Medicaid prescription costs in Utah by using a Preferred Drug List (“PDL”). On a trial basis, the Health Department (“Health”) would determine which drugs perform the same function for... (read more)
Podcasting and Technology