Christopher Herrod

HONORING THE U.S. CONSTITUTION & RESTORING ORIGINAL INTENT
For far too long, the power in the federal government has been out of balance. Congress has abdicated its authority to the executive branch by giving rule-making authority to agencies such as the EPA and BLM. This rule-making must be clawed back so that Congress can no longer say, “Sorry, I can’t do anything about that.” Any rule that has a significant affect on citizens or on the economy needs to have Congress vote on it so that our elected officials can be held accountable.

NATIONAL SECURITY
Those who volunteer to risk their lives to defend this nation deserve to have the best equipped and best trained military in the world. Many former military officers have expressed great concern about our readiness because of neglect by the Obama Administration. Our military should be used sparingly and when deployed be allowed to use overwhelming force and permission to defend themselves. Civil casualties should be avoided as much as possible, but not at the expense of our military lives. We must remember that our military also have civil families who are mothers and fathers, husbands and wives, sons and daughters who deserve to have their loved ones return alive. Unfortunately, U.S. rules of engagement have greatly hampered our military’s ability to defend themselves. If we can’t handle civilian causalities, then we probably should not be in the conflict in the first place. War is messy and brutal – too often we try to sanitize it.

VETERANS
Our veterans are owed the best medical treatment and services. Military benefits are not the same as many other entitlements such as Medicaid and welfare benefits. Veterans earned their benefits by volunteering to be put in harms way. We are obligated to take care of them. They deserve to have the best care from the Veterans Administrations or private healthcare if they so choose. All of us should reach out to veterans that we know and do our part to help stop the epidemic of veteran suicide.

PUBLIC LANDS
The problem with Bear Ear’s is related to my legislative agenda. It was never the intent of the Antiquities Act to lock up 1.3 million acres, especially without input from those most affective. It was meant to protect 50 acres . . . maybe even 5,000 acres but never to be used as a political weapon or a political trophy. Bear Ears needs to be rescinded and the process should start over for Congressional approval.

Understanding public lands is one of my strengths. I was in Vernal in 2009 when the under-secretary of the interior came after President Obama pulled the 77 oil license. I didn’t have a whole lot of empathy for him but I did fear for his life. I was one of the first Wasatch County legislators that understood that the rural counties are the canary in the mine. They have felt the oppression of the federal government first. We need to heed their warning and help them.

I helped reignite the public lands battle in Utah and helped to inform my fellow Wasatch Front legislators. My bill received national attention (HB 143) which proved Utah a way to fight federal overreach.

NET NEUTRALITY
Net Neutrality is a perfect example of how clever progressives are. Who could be against neutrality, right? But the devil is always in the details. Who gets to decide what is neutral, what is “fair” or what is appropriate?Fortunately, the courts have consistently ruled it unconstitutional which begs the question though why do liberals continue to push for it? It’s a waste of money to keep trying to implement it. (but also demonstrates why Supreme Court Nominees are so important!)Yes, Broad band and telephone and utilities are treated differently, but let’s move to less government regulation model rather than more regulation model because the internet shouldn’t be regulated by rules made in 1934. The internet is in much more danger from government involvement than it is from no government involvement.But let’s be honest . . . Net Neutrality is just a backdoor way to eventually tax and control the internet. As the Heritage Foundation has said, “Net Neutrality is a recipe for crony capitalism.”

EDUCATION
“It won’t be a giant bureaucracy or a federal department. Nope. The answer isn’t bigger government. The answer is local control.” -Education Secretary, Betsy DeVos, Michigan, 2016

I believe what was stated by the US Education Secretary, that local control is the best solution for a bloated federal education bureaucracy, is true. Utah knows how to run its own education system. Utah should be left to itself to provide a system of education delivery based on its own, already high standards. Washington is far removed from the needs of our children.

The US Constitution has no provision in it that allows the federal government to provide for a national department of education that sets onerous compliance standards, and unfunded mandates. It is a State’s right to provide the oversight necessary to educate our 654,565+ students K-12, and a parent’s right to make sure their child has access to the best possible educational system for their child’s needs.

Educational options work for my family. We choose to have our children educated in the public school arena. Alia and I have used traditional public schools to provide the best fit for each of our children’s learning style, but I recognize that public schools may not work for everyone and parents should have other choices. For a number of years now, Dale, our 12-year old, has been at Wasatch Elementary School in Provo, involved in its Chinese Immersion program—it’s a perfect fit for him. We applaud charter schoolers, homeschoolers and private schoolers. And, we applaud and respect our hardworking educators. Recently, I received the “Legislator of the Year Award” from one of Utah’s charter school associations.

Common Core. Common Core standards hurt our children, and that is why I have been a leader in 10th Amendment and state sovereignty movements here in Utah. Common Core undervalues parental and local control. Centralized educational programs are a bad idea and no data shows that there is a benefit to having national standards, in-lieu of state standards. Decisions of its implementation were made without proper procedural input from state legislatures and the States’ offices of education. There is no Constitutional authority for the U.S. Department of Education to be implementing a federal program for education. In fact, the U.S. Department of Education in and of itself was unconstitutionally created. Most Common Core standards are weaker than Utah’s already existent core standards. “Instruction-based” standards of Common Core have no track record of effectiveness in raising student achievement. In fact, studies show the opposite. Common Core standards “dumb down” students, by removing English class literature requirements, proven to boost all English learning skills. Through Common Core assessments, personal student data collected may be used to compromise personal privacy rights. Common Core costs big money. Implementation costs of Common Core hit the taxpayer hard—up to $15 billion across the U.S. Some states have seen a decline in student achievement since implementation of Common Core standards. Common Core teaching and assessment has encumbered the classroom with technical problems, reducing the amount of effective instructional time for teachers and students. And, that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Sex Education. Sex education is primarily the responsibility of a student’s parent or guardian. If permission from a parent is obtained, students may receive parentally approved sex education instruction in the classroom. Public schools should not teach promiscuity in any form.

School Trust Lands (SITLA). Trust lands should be managed wisely and provide revenue for the direct use of our school children for academic programs and purposes. That being said, all trust lands should be under the management of our state, and not under the detached bureaucracy of Washington DC. (Payment In-Lieu of Taxes [PILT] monies remitted to the state, are not commensurate with the revenues we could be getting if public land was under the management of Utah.).

BUDGET
We keep spending money on the federal level like we have it. When I served in the Utah State House of Representatives, we passed a balanced budget EVERY YEAR. Utah is known, and ranked nationally, as one of the most fiscally responsible States in the U.S. There’s a reason for that. If we don’t have it, we don’t spend it. And, if we don’t have it we can’t fire up the printing press at the Bureau of Engraving & Printing, to close the budget gap, which deflates the dollar by the way. I am fiscally responsible. Check my record as a State legislator.

There are some justifiable reasons for taxation. They are few and defined Constitutionally. But, when lawmakers and bureaucrats misinterpret lawful fiscal appropriations, and feed the pigs at the trough through endless “entitlement” programs at the peril of middle-class America, someone’s gotta stop them.

A good rule of thumb?! How about justifying expenses of the Country utilizing the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution, or Article I Section 8, or the 10th Amendment. I will use a Constitutional filter to determine justifiable spending—not lobbyists and special interest groups.

I am a Platform Republican, therefore…

Human Services. We believe that the primary responsibility for meeting basic human needs rests with the individual, the family, and the voluntary charitable organizations. We recognize, however, that there are special social needs which must be addressed through state human service programs. We support requiring welfare recipients to work towards self-sufficiency.

I believe in, and support this Platform Plank of the UTGOP. Self-sufficiency is the primary responsibility of every American.

TAXATION
“Taxation without representation is tyranny.” – James Otis, 1761

I am concerned that during this process of electing representation to Congress, our right to representation is being surrendered. Anybody who knows me, knows this breach infuriates me. At a time in Washington DC when budgets are being passed, and tax plans are being debated and adopted, UT-CD3’s citizens will not be represented. That’s wrong.

I stand firmly with the Utah Republican Party’s position on Taxation, which reads:

We accept the necessity for limited taxation in order for government to perform and administer those services which meet essential public needs. However, we recognize that the power to tax is also the power to control, and believe that the best way to control government is to strictly control the amount of taxes imposed on the people. We encourage further simplification of tax systems, the elimination of the estate tax, and broad-based rate reduction where possible.

Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The Internal Revenue Service must be closed for business. Tax forms should be simplified and “reduced to the size of a postcard.”

I support the concept of a “Fair Tax,” which encourages the implementation of a consumption tax.

TRANSPORTATION
Utah’s Department of Transportation (UDOT), has done a remarkable job of implementing technology and innovation to create efficiencies in road construction projects. Those efficiencies translate into reduced funding reliance and needs—saving taxpayers big dollars! State’s should manage their own road projects. And, to a large degree we already do.

I was in the legislature when we built the Utah County portion of the I-15 re-construction project. With design-build management, and technological efficiencies by UDOT, and competent subcontractors, it cost taxpayers only $1.1 billion dollars (that’s a good deal), and…Utah funded the project!

2ND AMENDMENT
Government derives its authority from the consent of the governed. To that end, the protection of life, liberty, and property are the central role of government. With wise foresight, our founding fathers knew that the right of the people to defend themselves was necessary for a free people to thrive. Our federal government should hold the second amendment inviolate and respect the inalienable right to self-defense of our citizens. Every effort should be made to preserve the right to bear arms, not restrict it.

Article 1, Section 6 of our Utah Constitution states, “The individual right of the people to keep and bear arms for security and defense of self, family, others, property, or the state, as well as for other lawful purposes shall not be infringed;” As a State Representative I defended that right. I’m a firm believer in the castle doctrine, that one has a right to defend themselves, especially in their own home, from any threat to their family or home. I’m a proud holder of a Concealed Weapons Permit, and stand with the majority of Americans in support of the second amendment.^[12]

Pro-Life

There is nothing more important to me than the sanctity of life and protecting it. I believe that it is vital, now, more than ever to elect those who are willing to be a voice for the voiceless and treat every life with the respect and dignity that it deserves.

Border Control and Immigration

I proudly support legal immigration. We are a nation of immigrants but we are also a nation of laws; both of which must be protected. As we have seen under the Biden administration, our southern border is in disarray. We must listen to the men and women of the US Border Patrol and give them the tools they need including the completion of the border wall and the elimination of federal policies that act as "magnets" for illegal immigration.

National Debt

As our nation is Trillions of dollars in debt, it is imperative that we stand up and say enough is enough. Congress must fix our broken appropriations process. As the future of our country and the future of our children are at stake. I vow that I will work to restore Congress' Constitutional duties of financial oversight. I will always vote "no" to reckless spending bills including the all too often Omnibus bills.

Second Amendment Rights

Government derives its authority from the consent of the governed. To that end, the protection of life, liberty, and property are the central role of government. With wise foresight, our founding fathers knew that the right of the people to defend themselves was necessary for a free people to thrive. Our federal government should hold the second amendment inviolate and respect the inalienable right to self-defense of our citizens. Every effort should be made to preserve the right to bear arms, not restrict it.

Article 1, Section 6 of our Utah Constitution states, “The individual right of the people to keep and bear arms for security and defense of self, family, others, property, or the state, as well as for other lawful purposes shall not be infringed;” As a State Representative I defended that right. I’m a firm believer in the castle doctrine, that one has a right to defend themselves, especially in their own home, from any threat to their family or home. I’m a proud holder of a Concealed Weapons Permit, and stand with the majority of Americans in support of the second amendment.

Constitution

For far too long, the power in the federal government has been out of balance. Congress has abdicated its authority to the executive branch by giving rule-making authority to agencies such as the EPA and BLM. This rule-making must be clawed back so that Congress can no longer say, “Sorry, I can’t do anything about that.” Any rule that has a significant affect on citizens or on the economy needs to have Congress vote on it so that our elected officials can be held accountable.

Ukraine

I’ve been getting a lot of questions about Ukraine. I’m often sent articles and asked for my perspective. In today’s world, much misinformation exists and it’s often difficult to know what is true and what is not.

The most common articles that get sent to me argue that Ukraine is not really a democracy to which I respond . . . Ukraine is absolutely a democracy! Far from perfect . . . but in comparison to Putin’s Russia . . . it’s a beacon on a shining hill. Often, these articles point to the revolution of 2014 where a pro-Russian President was overthrown by the people . . . with accusations that the West or CIA played a part in. Without the debating whether or not the West was involved or to the degree to which the West was involved . . . here are the basic circumstances.

In 2010, Viktor Yanukovych won a highly contested race. (Putin tried to kill the previous President by dioxin which Yanukovych lost to). Yanukovych later arrested his opponent on accusations of corruption which the EU believed to be politically motivated as his opponent was staunchly pro-European Union. Late in 2013, Yanukovych refused to sign the Ukraine-Europe Union Association Agreement and sought stronger ties with Russia. This ignited the 2014 Ukrainian Revolution with massive protests and government buildings being occupied. After Yanukovych supposedly ordered troops to open fire on the protesters, killing 80, the Ukrainian Parliament voted to remove Yanukovych on February 23rd as he had already fled to Russia.(1) Putin calls this a coup and articles that claim Ukraine is not a democracy cite this one example.

Putin, seeing he had lost influence/control of Ukraine, invaded Crimea the following month, and in May, the regions of Donbas and Lugansk held referendums which neither the EU or U.S. recognized as legal. War broke out in those regions.

A new President of Ukraine was democratically elected in May of 2014. In April of 2019, the current President, Volodymyr Zelensky was elected with 73% of the vote. Even if you think the removal of Yanukovych wasn’t perfectly democratic, Ukraine has had two elections since so I find accusations of being undemocratic simply false.

The next point I often hear is that Ukraine is corrupt. Unfortunately, although Ukraine has improved, it still does have corruption. This is often the case of any country following the replacement of communist/socialist governments. Communism/socialism breds corruption within a society and is one of the many reasons I so strongly warn against it as it can take generations to get rid of. I always stressed to my students when I taught in Ukraine that as long as they had monopolies, mafies, and government/business corruption that the people would not receive the full benefit of a free-market economy as the most innovative business doesn’t rise to the top, but rather the one that knows how to work the system. Thus the question becomes . . . does corruption forfeit the right of a nation to have democratic elections. I’d say, absolutely not. The people are the ones suffering under the corruption of mafias, monopolies, and government corruption . . . why punish them again? As my wife says, what business is that of Russia?

The other issue that I often hear is that there are atrocities committed against Russian speaking Ukrainians. While I can’t say that Russian speaking Ukrainians have never been mistreated, I taught in both Kharkiv and Kiev which are predominantly Russian speaking regions. I saw no such institutional mistreatment. My wife spoke Russian in her home and most of my Ukrainian friends are Russian speaking. There are no mass graves of Russian speaking Ukrainians. While back in 1992, Ukrainian was forced on some Russian speakers (just like Russian had been forced Ukrainians) and some might have had some longings for Russia . . . over 30 years, as they have tasted freedom, few want to go back to authoritarian Russia. The vast vast majority want to look West not to Russia. One of the many absurdities of Putin’s comment that he is going to rid Ukraine of Neo-Nazis and protect Russian speakers . . is that the current President is a Russian speaking Jew who lost his grandfather to the Holocaust. Such assertions by Putin are simply offensive. My wife is in secure private chats with Russians, Ukrainians, and Belarussian so I’m pretty sure we have an accurate account of what is happening.

The next issue, which for me is probably the hardest, is the theory known as spheres of influence. Does Russia, because of its previous status as a Superpower . . . and by definition having nukes . . . have the right to control neighboring countries and/or should the West concede this sphere for its own safety? Many point to our relationship with Cuba or Latin America . . . the idea being that we didn’t tolerate nukes in Cuba and since we would object to Russia or China in Mexico, therefore we should allow Russia the same. This is where many of my friends differ . . . more libertarian friends grant this assumption and neo-conservatives believe we have a right to be everywhere. You have anti-war liberals who want to avoid war at all cost and liberals like Biden who differ in their opinion (yet unrealistically are unwilling to be prepared which presents it's own danger).

​The U.S. has been involved in numerous regime changes, Iraq and Afghanistan, being most recent so does the U.S. have the moral authority to lecture Russia? Russia has taken the Crimea, parts of the Donbas and Lugansk regions of Ukraine, and a large part of Georgia. Furthermore, what’s the most sacred principle? The territorial boundary of a country or the regional language? These aren’t easy answers. Russia has dozens of languages spoken within its borders. Does each get the same protection that Putin is supposedly giving Russian speaking Ukrainians? Absolutely not!

The underlying philosophical question is whether God, who I believe wants all his children to be free, would accept the premise that just because someone was born within an authoritarian sphere, does not deserve to be free. I also believe, however, that God hates the harm and destruction that comes with war. I also understand the complexity of what self-determination means? I believe that the U.S. Constitution is the best example of what rights come from God, but do I have a right to push that belief on others?

I’m not sure there is a perfect answer and admit that any answer . . . including doing nothing . . . has risks. As someone who understands RealPolitik and Natural Law, my perspective is to look at the whole and do a risk/benefit analysis (something I’ve talked about ad nauseam during the Covid 19 debacle).

First, I admit my greatest love is for Ukraine. I first went to Ukraine in 1992. Fell in love with my wife, and the people, and have been rooting for them ever since. But having lived in Moscow, I also understand Russians and actually fear Russian pride. I understand that many Russian have never felt totally accepted by Europeans. This goes back for almost a millennia. I also understand that Russia has suffered greatly from the West throughout history . . . from Napoleon to Hitler. The Soviet Union lost more people than any other country in Europe in World War II. It’s easy for me to say that modern Germany isn’t Hitler’s Germany and that France isn’t Napoleon's France especially since I’ve seen firsthand the suffering that Russia has caused to others and to its own people but that is my experience.

But in the end, I believe the Baltic Republics, Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Romania, Moldova, Hungary, Bulgaria, and the former republics of Yugoslavia, deserve to finally be free. They have all suffered from their geographical position and/or size. I believe Ukraine is no different than other European countries and so deserves the right of self-determination. Ukraine has not threatened Russia other than their desire to be free and seek relationships with whom they see best. They are not a military threat to Russia . . . maybe to Russia pride . . . but not a military threat. This propaganda is ridiculous.

But I also understand that the U.S. is currently in a position of weakness. I do not want a nuclear war . . . and let me be clear . . . that this is a potential risk. We’re no longer self-sufficient in energy or in manufacturing for our 21st Century economy. We found from Covid 19 that we don’t even produce most of our pharmaceuticals or medical equipment. We haven’t hardened our electric grid. We’re extremely vulnerable to Electronic Magnetic Pulse. U.S. Congressional reports in 2004 and 2008 warn that a single nuclear explosion in the atmosphere could wipe out 90% of our population within a year. EMP That’s why it’s so dangerous for North Korea and potentially Iran to have weapons. While this chance is relatively rare, the consequence are so great that one must at least pause. I hope this awakens America to the risks that we currently face. We are currently behind . . . especially dealing with China.

While I’ve always thought Putin was ruthless, and viewed the world from an amoral strategic perspective, I always thought he was rational. I no longer believe that. As what happens with all dictators, the more they consolidate power, the fewer people are willing to give an honest/objective perspective or give countering opinions. Putin has isolated himself for the past two years where he’s obviously been reading old Soviet Propaganda History which is peppered throughout his recent rambling speeches. I’m afraid he’s gone from a predictable two bit thug to a unpredictable melomaniac.

Do I believe that we have been involved in too many wars around the world recently. Yes. Do I believe that if Russian aggression is not stopped that other nations including Taiwan will be at risk? Yes. So weighing everything, I believe we should have been arming Ukraine since 2014. We should show the world we are united, but also show restraint. Biden should have given more aid . . . including stinger missiles . . . to Ukraine if he really thought Russia was not bluffing. But do I think it wise to put NATO or U.S. troops on the ground in Ukraine? No. I’m greatly concerned that Putin might do something catastrophic . . . even if it’s just blowing up Chernobyl which for some reason was immediately captured or worse . . . launch a nuclear missile. The Ukrainians have shown their willingness to fight. Let’s pray for their success but give them the weapons they so desperately need. They must be given immediately. Today, not tomorrow.

I also send prayers for the common Russian. They have lost their freedom over the past 20 years. They have once again been lied to and will also suffer the longer this continues. Many do not know that their children have been sent to war. The best solution, would be a coup, not in Ukraine, but in Russia . . . although the U.S. can have absolutely no part of a coup as this would be WWIII. Only after Putin is deposed, can his $200 billion he’s stashed away be used to make the lives of ordinary Russians much better.

Taxation

“Taxation without representation is tyranny.” – James Otis, 1761

I am concerned that during this process of electing representation to Congress, our right to representation is being surrendered. Anybody who knows me, knows this breach infuriates me. At a time in Washington DC when budgets are being passed, and tax plans are being debated and adopted, UT-CD3’s citizens will not be represented. That’s wrong.

I stand firmly with the Utah Republican Party’s position on Taxation, which reads:

We accept the necessity for limited taxation in order for government to perform and administer those services which meet essential public needs. However, we recognize that the power to tax is also the power to control, and believe that the best way to control government is to strictly control the amount of taxes imposed on the people. We encourage further simplification of tax systems, the elimination of the estate tax, and broad-based rate reduction where possible.

Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The Internal Revenue Service must be closed for business. Tax forms should be simplified and “reduced to the size of a postcard.”

I support the concept of a “Fair Tax,” which encourages the implementation of a consumption tax.

Healthcare

For me, socialized medicine is not theoretical . . . I’ve seen it. My wife literally bears the scars of socialized medicine. What should be a ½ inch scar is 7 inch scar. When I first lived in Ukraine, I rented a room from a doctor who was chief of surgery. She needed the $50 a month I gave her. When my parents came for my wedding, my landlady took my dad on tour of the hospital. My father is an oral surgeon and had served in Vietnam and so had seen less than perfectly sterile conditions, and yet my dad was literally green when he came home from the hospital. He told me, “Chris, if you ever get sick, crawl on a plane and come home.”

Too few politicians fully understand the consequences of socialized medicine, how it controls cost by rationing and delaying, rather than innovation and improved efficiency and gives government way too much control over our lives. The ACA needs to be completely repealed. Period. And then we must find ways to increase free market forces to reduce costs such HAS’s and insurance choice.

Education

“It won’t be a giant bureaucracy or a federal department. Nope. The answer isn’t bigger government. The answer is local control.” -Education Secretary, Betsy DeVos, Michigan, 2016

I believe what was stated by the US Education Secretary, that local control is the best solution for a bloated federal education bureaucracy, is true. Utah knows how to run its own education system. Utah should be left to itself to provide a system of education delivery based on its own, already high standards. Washington is far removed from the needs of our children.

The US Constitution has no provision in it that allows the federal government to provide for a national department of education that sets onerous compliance standards, and unfunded mandates. It is a State’s right to provide the oversight necessary to educate our 654,565+ students K-12, and a parent’s right to make sure their child has access to the best possible educational system for their child’s needs.

Educational options work for my family. We choose to have our children educated in the public school arena. Alia and I have used traditional public schools to provide the best fit for each of our children’s learning style, but I recognize that public schools may not work for everyone and parents should have other choices. For a number of years now, Dale, our 12-year old, has been at Wasatch Elementary School in Provo, involved in its Chinese Immersion program—it’s a perfect fit for him. We applaud charter schoolers, homeschoolers and private schoolers. And, we applaud and respect our hardworking educators. Recently, I received the “Legislator of the Year Award” from one of Utah’s charter school associations.

Common Core. Common Core standards hurt our children, and that is why I have been a leader in 10th Amendment and state sovereignty movements here in Utah. Common Core undervalues parental and local control. Centralized educational programs are a bad idea and no data shows that there is a benefit to having national standards, in-lieu of state standards. Decisions of its implementation were made without proper procedural input from state legislatures and the States’ offices of education. There is no Constitutional authority for the U.S. Department of Education to be implementing a federal program for education. In fact, the U.S. Department of Education in and of itself was unconstitutionally created. Most Common Core standards are weaker than Utah’s already existent core standards. “Instruction-based” standards of Common Core have no track record of effectiveness in raising student achievement. In fact, studies show the opposite. Common Core standards “dumb down” students, by removing English class literature requirements, proven to boost all English learning skills. Through Common Core assessments, personal student data collected may be used to compromise personal privacy rights. Common Core costs big money. Implementation costs of Common Core hit the taxpayer hard—up to $15 billion across the U.S. Some states have seen a decline in student achievement since implementation of Common Core standards. Common Core teaching and assessment has encumbered the classroom with technical problems, reducing the amount of effective instructional time for teachers and students. And, that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Sex Education. Sex education is primarily the responsibility of a student’s parent or guardian. If permission from a parent is obtained, students may receive parentally approved sex education instruction in the classroom. Public schools should not teach promiscuity in any form.

School Trust Lands (SITLA). Trust lands should be managed wisely and provide revenue for the direct use of our school children for academic programs and purposes. That being said, all trust lands should be under the management of our state, and not under the detached bureaucracy of Washington DC. (Payment In-Lieu of Taxes [PILT] monies remitted to the state, are not commensurate with the revenues we could be getting if public land was under the management of Utah).

Lands

The problem with Bear Ear’s is related to my legislative agenda. It was never the intent of the Antiquities Act to lock up 1.3 million acres, especially without input from those most affective. It was meant to protect 50 acres . . . maybe even 5,000 acres but never to be used as a political weapon or a political trophy. Bear Ears needs to be rescinded and the process should start over for Congressional approval.

Understanding public lands is one of my strengths. I was in Vernal in 2009 when the under-secretary of the interior came after President Obama pulled the 77 oil license. I didn’t have a whole lot of empathy for him but I did fear for his life. I was one of the first Wasatch County legislators that understood that the rural counties are the canary in the mine. They have felt the oppression of the federal government first. We need to heed their warning and help them.

I helped reignite the public lands battle in Utah and helped to inform my fellow Wasatch Front legislators. My bill received national attention (HB 143) which proved Utah a way to fight federal overreach.

Big Tech

Big tech cannot be allowed to stifle freedom of expression or become so dominant that it controls the narrative or access to information like it did in the last Presidential election. The first amendment can be attacked not just by the government but by big tech as well. Elections can be greatly influenced when big is given the authority to determine what is true or relevant (i.e. Hunter Biden’s laptop). The federal government must not allow monopolies to dictate what is or is not true. It’s frightening to see what has happened especially under Covid where big tech and government took over science.

Law Enforcement and First Responders

Every day, law enforcement and first responders put their life on the line for public safety. They deserve to be respected and given the benefit of the doubt. They are put in position to have to make instantaneous decisions. We need to acknowledge the difficult choices they make and support them. We must remind the loud activists that it’s poorer Americans who have suffered the most as law enforcement has been attacked the most. The silent majority want law enforcement in their communities. We should not let a tiny group of community activists ruin the safety for everyone else, especially for those communities where police are needed the most.

Environment

Utahns know how to best take care of Utah. It’s insulting to most of us to think otherwise. The same people who provide America with energy and attempt to make us energy independent (when Washington DC gets out of the way) also enjoy Utah’s pristine environment to hunt, fish, and recreate with their families. Utahns know best how to be stewards of Utah’s plentiful natural resources. Simply locking up Utah is not being a steward. Utah lands can best be managed by Utahns. When this does not happen, forest fires erupt or we can become dependent on other hostile nations like Russia, Iran, or Venezuela which affects our national security.

Military and National Security

Those who volunteer to risk their lives to defend this nation deserve to have the best equipped and best trained military in the world. Many former military officers have expressed great concern about our readiness because of neglect by the Biden Administration. Our military should be used sparingly and when deployed be allowed to use overwhelming force and permission to defend themselves. Civil casualties should be avoided as much as possible, but not at the expense of our military lives. We must remember that our military also have civil families who are mothers and fathers, husbands and wives, sons and daughters who deserve to have their loved ones return alive. Unfortunately, U.S. rules of engagement have greatly hampered our military’s ability to defend themselves. If we can’t handle civilian causalities, then we probably should not be in the conflict in the first place. War is messy and brutal – too often we try to sanitize it.

COVID

On March 19th, 2020, I wrote in my journal that I wasn’t sure if I lived in the America that I knew. Americans seemed willing to give up freedoms that I never thought we would. We had canceled an election in Utah. Shutdowns were beginning as we divided businesses into essential and nonessential. Unfortunately, this was just the beginning as a two-week shutdown “to slow the curve” continued for almost two years.

We can never . . . ever . . . let what has happened over the last two years happen again. There are no such thing as non-essential businesses. If it's your business, and it provides your family’s income, it’s essential for you. If it’s your job that provides for your family. It’s essential. In Natural Law, if one does not work, one does not live.

Having taught a university class on the Scientific Method, I can tell you that science was not followed over the past two years. Science, just like the free-market, is a competition of ideas, studies, and theories that sometimes can take years or even decades to prove . . .the Scientific Method does not default to “government experts.”

In addition, medicine is not the only field that needed to be consulted.

“If one life is saved” is not science . . . it’s a slogan and simply nonsense. There are costs to every action, whether it’s increased depression, drug use, suicide, or other medical issues like preventive medicine. Unfortunately, I was not able to find a single cost/benefit analysis by government officials and yet our rights were trampled on.

Parents were not consulted before mask mandates were enacted and even mocked by Utah’s media and some politicians. I had a child in elementary, junior high, high school, and at BYU. Each was harmed in their own particular way. Common sense dictates that a virus that is .35 microns will not be stopped by cloth or surgical masks. Yet, mask mandates prevailed.

We cannot allow this to happen again.^[12]