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Preserving Personal Liberties
and State Sovereignty
It’s an honor to represent you in the legislature. For me, it’s a labor of love for our liberty and sovereignty. I’m really not a political creature and I think that helps me keep my perspective and focus on what is important to “we the people”. I recognize how my actions and decisions affect the lives of all our families. From the day I was elected, I made a commitment to myself to never let my personal interests ever displace the reasons you elected me. I still embrace that pledge.
I continue to stand firm on positions you can review on the “Issues” page of this website. I do have grave concern that our national sovereignty is in jeopardy because of our nation's dependence on foreign energy and because of our federal government's policies on energy and environment. I spend a great deal of my time in the legislature working with those issues. I’d like to share some of things in which I have been engaged.
- Co-chaired the independent work group that created the framework for our state energy policy. Sponsored the bill in 2006 that put that energy policy into state law.
- Since 2005 to present, chair the Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Committee which oversees all energy and environment issues in the legislature.
- Coordinate most energy and environment legislation in each legislative session. I advocate responsible development of all our state’s energy resources.
- Serve on the National Conference of State Legislatures' (NCSL) Energy Sustainability Task Force. NCSL is a national organization that develops model state policies and provides federal lobbying positions on behalf of the states. The sustainability task force is researching how to develop a sustainable national energy supply in an environmentally constrained society.
- Serve on NCSL’s Energy Supply Task Force that reviews development of our nation's energy resources, energy choice impacts on consumers, costs of federal climate legislation, etc.
- Chair NCSL’s Environment Committee that develops model state environment policy and states' lobbying positions to the federal government. (As chair, I’ve steered the committee toward more conservative policies.)
- Serve as Utah’s representative to the Western States Energy and Environment Coalition.
- Work closely with SITLA (State Institution and Trust Lands Administration) to develop energy resources on state lands. Revenue generated from that energy development is earmarked to help fund education.
- Organized a forum for refinery operators to improve process safety management and community interface after the Silver Eagle Refinery explosion.
In addition to energy and environment issues, I have served on the state’s Healthcare Reform Task Force and served as the liaison to the Utah Medical Association. Legislative service takes nearly half of my time (good thing I’m retired) and some personal expense. I’m grateful my personal situation allows me to serve you in the legislature. I look forward to serving another term representing you and our state’s interests.