UPDATE: Real quick. Something I didn’t highlight is that I noticed Edwards said she would legislate behavior based policies for insurance companies. That is problematic to me. That should be left up to the companies. Also, I noticed that Moultrie sent out a mailer. While the lower interview is more detailed, you can also see his mailer on the blog he has set up (many are probably not aware of it). Finally, PLEASE call the candidates on your own. I’ve always found candidates to be friendly and easy to talk to. Just ask open ended questions and do not give away your position on issues (also don’t hesitate to ask more detailed questions if they are avoiding a direct answer).
Thought this might be of value to folks. These are some questions/responses by candidates for Utah House District 20. I’m with Moultrie – certainly the conservative candidate. While I disagree with Roberts, I like the fact that he directly answered questions. Edwards was elusive (hence the follow ups) and effectively dodged answering a couple of questions. Personally, I would prefer someone who is ready to clearly state their positions, even if I disagree – at least I know where my battles will be with them rather than having to constantly watch every vote they make once in office. Anyway, here they are:
Robert Moultrie 298-0700
1. [Special Interests] Many will ask for appropriations and favors. How do you decide when a proposal is deserving of spending and/or your support?
Would use the following to decide:
Does it harm or not protect private property rights?
Does it curtail freedom, safety, or peoples’ individual beliefs?
Does it lowers taxes?
Does it give an advantage to one business over another?
Is it based on the free market?
Does it increase government power?
Has not problem with lobbyists if they represent a group that is willfully providing funding to the lobbyist, but no lobbyists should have tax exempt status.
2. [Illegal immigration] A proposal in the past session addressed illegal immigration and would impact undocumented workers. How do you feel about such legislation?
Illegal immigration is a problem. Business should use the free e-Verify program in the legislation.
Has no problem with legal immigration. Illegal immigration is problematic as it imports an attitude that it is ok to break the law. Illegal immigration is not a victimless crime as several felonies are committed when an illegal immigrant gets a job, on of which is identity theft. This can be tackled by checking identities with e-Verify.
Has an East German friend who immigrated after the wall came down. He (the friend) was held in prison for opposing the communist government. After arriving he had to work 10 years and work long and hard to qualify for and gain citizenship. He (friend) resents that others can be granted citizenship while breaking the law. Moultrie also feels that is not correct.
3. [Firearms] When should firearms be restricted? Schools? Universities?
Schools and Universities run by the government should not ban firearms.
Doesn’t believe that guns should be restricted except on private property at the owner’s discression.
4. [Health Care]. A lot of people are not covered and it is getting harder to afford. How would you address this?
Would look for ways to deregulate the industry but also not let government increase it’s control. Government should not take over health care. Means deregulation in terms of designing rules to prevent companies from influencing government to hinder competition.
The FDA often seems to protect pharmaceuticals and they (pharmaceuticals) should compete. We need to protect the public and have regulations but the public should also be allowed to make choices and inform themselves. Pharmaceuticals uses the government to squeeze competition out. Government should ensure that competition can exist.
Kyle Roberts 296-2425
1. [Special Interests] Many will ask for appropriations and favors. How do you decide when a proposal is deserving of spending and/or your support?
Lobbyists have a role but can get out of hand. We need greater transparency with donations.
Will vote according to own principles and constituents by looking at each proposal and also use his blog to get feedback from constituents. Will also use other legislators as mentors.
2. [Illegal immigration] A proposal in the past session addressed illegal immigration and would impact undocumented workers. How do you feel about such legislation?
Was unfamiliar with the legislation, it was new to him.
Would take a two fold approach:
1. Shut down the borders
2. There needs to be a way to legalize those here to allow them to work but more policing/enforcement is needed.
We need to make sure those who can legally work here and those illegally here do not work.
There are so many here illegally that it is hard to enforce the laws, we are overwhelmed. Things are not working at this time. Let those already here pay a fine and legalize them, however, prevent more from entering and enforce the laws. Also, businesses should be fined when caught hiring illegal
workers.
3. [Firearms] When should firearms be restricted? Schools? Universities?
Tend to leave that up to agencies such as the individual schools to decide. He would have left it up to the UofU president to decide what was appropriate.
In terms of K-12 schools, no guns should be permitted only resource officers should be allowed to possess firearms in schools.
4. [Health Care]. A lot of people are not covered and it is getting harder to afford. How would you address this?
System is failing and not working for everyone. Need a task force to study the issue, however, health care should not be turned over to the government. The government does not have the right to take over health care – it would make things worse, not better.
A friend is having a baby and has had trouble affording insurance and that is wrong.
Becky Edwards 295-2950
1. [Special Interests] Many will ask for appropriations and favors. How do you decide when a proposal is deserving of spending and/or your support?
Those issues are really tight due to cuts from the special session and additional cuts required next session. Anything with taxes and spending will have to be thought out. If spending increases in one area, it will have to be reduced elsewhere.
Would prioritize on whose needs are more imminent.
Lobbying groups are good assets for information but serve no purpose to influence legislators with perks and donations. The money role is not valid but the information role is.
2. [Illegal immigration] A proposal in the past session addressed illegal immigration and would impact undocumented workers. How do you feel about such legislation?
Thinks e-Verify is a great idea but is not sure it works she thinks the Swift meat plant used e-Verify but isn’t certain they did use it. Believes a majority of small businesses, including landscape companies already use e-Verify.
The Salt Lake Chamber and Sutherland have concerns about the economic ramifications of doing away with illegal workers. We must address their illegal activities once in country – crimes continue to be committed.
We should swiftly clamp down on crimes being committed, identity theft being one. Except, some are good and just provide for their families.
We are still hurt by a lack of Federal immigration policy. The new President should force Congress to address the issue. Utah seems to have fallen prey to migration between states as we are seen as an illegal immigration friendly State. We lack leadership at a Federal level and it is hard to implement plans on a State level.
3. [Firearms] When should firearms be restricted? Schools? Universities?
State has dealt with it and there is a court ruling on it.
Follow up question: How do you feel about the “open carry” legislation from last year’s session?
Don’t know enough to take a position.
4. [Health Care]. A lot of people are not covered and it is getting harder to afford. How would you address this?
Would like to be involved in the committee addressing the issue. There is no easy solution.
The process should look at different systems. Heard Dave Clark at health care hearings. He brought in stakeholders to come up with solutions. Clark said insurance brokers are not changing and are a barrier to figure out ways to incentivise healthy behavior.
Follow up question – How would you incentivise behavior?
Different policy rates based on behavior (smokers would have a different rate than non-smokers). Would let companies decide whether to do so, if they do not she would be open to legislating it.
We should make health care portable for when you switch jobs and an easily accessible, transparent system. We should not go to nationalized medicine (single payer system). We should not go close to that. We should empower people to be insured and help small businesses afford insurance.
Currently, the money in medicare and medicaid is declining meaning that less can be insured this coming year than the previous year. We need to help those people get health care, however, doesn’t want to put more money in unless there are reforms.
Utah Rattler 
Thank you for your time in finding out my stance on the issues. I appreciate you publishing my comments. I endorse what I said.
Kyle
My pleasure. Good luck in a couple of weeks!