2018 Constituent Survey

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* 1. Proposition 3 was approved last November by voters, expanding Medicaid in Utah to adults earning up to 138% of the poverty line The good news is that all Utahns will now have some coverage, but the bad news is that we are now on a financially unsustainable path where we will be $45 million upside down within just a couple of years. So, should the Legislature:

Let Prop 3 stand and raise sales taxes in the years ahead to cover Medicaid expansion.

Repeal Prop 3 and return to where Utah was a few months ago.

Work on a compromise that helps cover all Utahns (with Medicaid up to 100% of the poverty line) while not raising taxes.

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* 2. Utah's economy is booming and the state has a billion dollar surplus this year. However, the financial indicators are looking eerily similar to immediately before the last recession. So, with the bulk of the money, should the Legislature:

Cut taxes and return money to the people.

Prepare for the next downturn by beefing up the rainy day fund and paying cash for projects that otherwise would require a bond.

Take advantage of this year to restructure Utah's antiquated tax system so that we are on a more sustainable path in the future.

Put the money into education and hope the downturn isn't for a while/too bad.

Other (please specify)

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* 3. In Utah it is illegal to have an abortion 20 weeks or more after gestation. Should Utah join Mississippi in banning abortions after 15 weeks, except in cases of rape, incest, if the fetus has a lethal defect, or there is danger to the life of the mother?

Yes! Most of those procedures after 15 weeks are barbaric and require crushing the baby's skull and then pulling the body parts out limb by limb.

No! Mississippi's law was struck down by a federal judge in November and Utah would be foolish to waste time and money on legal challenges. We should at least first know where the Supreme Court will come down on the Mississippi law.

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* 4. Today in Utah, the main entrance of restaurants who want to serve alcohol must be at least 200 feet away from the PROPERTY LINE of a church, school, or library. Should the Legislature:

Change it to be 200 feet from the BUILDING of a church, school, or library to give restaurants more flexibility.

Leave the law as it is.

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* 5. Today in Utah, parents can opt their kids out of the annual standardized tests and the law prohibits teachers from using those tests on grades. Should the Legislature:

Change it so that teachers can count standardized tests on grades so that more students will take the tests seriously.

Change it so that teachers can academically reward students who do well on standardized tests (with extra credit, etc), while still prohibiting anyone for being punished if they opt out or not do well on their standardized test.

Do nothing, even though school performance data is increasingly muddy due to increasing opt outs and indifference by the test taking students.

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* 6. Every winter along the Wasatch Front, we experience inversions where cold air becomes trapped in the valley along with all of our pollutants. The state has been making great strides in reducing pollution, which in fact has seen steady declines over the last few decades, but the harmful effects of inversions are difficult to avoid. What is the most important thing the Legislature should do about air quality?

Increase regulation on businesses that pollute

Encourage more commuters to take public transportation by making UTA cheaper/more convenient

Ban wood-burning stoves

Pay for a public information education campaign

Other (please specify)

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* 7. Which is your top transportation priority?

Funding Mountain View Corridor construction north to California Avenue

Funding the transition of more Bangerter Highway intersections into freeway-like interchanges

Funding surface street improvements to fix pot holes and cracks

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* 8. Sound economic policy says that we should "broaden the base and lower the rate". Which scenario do you prefer:

Utah should join other states that have begun to tax services (like haircuts, legal services, lawn mowing services, nail salons, etc) so that we can lower taxes on goods (like food, cars, clothing, appliances, etc.)

Utah should continue to tax goods, but not services, even though that means increased sales taxes down the road as our spending trends continue to shift more towards services.

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* 9. If we tax more of something, we get less of it; therefore, do you support the congestion solution of increasing the gas tax to fund UTA so that all public transit buses and trains in Utah are frequent and free?

Yes! Every time someone takes transit, it's less cars on the road.

No! Gas prices are high enough and trucking companies will just pass those increases on to customers.

2018 Constituent Survey

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* 2. Utah's economy is booming and the state has a billion dollar surplus this year. However, the financial indicators are looking eerily similar to immediately before the last recession. So, with the bulk of the money, should the Legislature:

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* 3. In Utah it is illegal to have an abortion 20 weeks or more after gestation. Should Utah join Mississippi in banning abortions after 15 weeks, except in cases of rape, incest, if the fetus has a lethal defect, or there is danger to the life of the mother?

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* 4. Today in Utah, the main entrance of restaurants who want to serve alcohol must be at least 200 feet away from the PROPERTY LINE of a church, school, or library. Should the Legislature:

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* 5. Today in Utah, parents can opt their kids out of the annual standardized tests and the law prohibits teachers from using those tests on grades. Should the Legislature:

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* 7. Which is your top transportation priority?

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* 8. Sound economic policy says that we should "broaden the base and lower the rate". Which scenario do you prefer:

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* 9. If we tax more of something, we get less of it; therefore, do you support the congestion solution of increasing the gas tax to fund UTA so that all public transit buses and trains in Utah are frequent and free?

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* 10. What issues do YOU think are the most important for the Utah Legislature to focus on this year?