Issue Position: COVID-19 Pandemic

Issue Position

We have three branches of government. Each has a role that the other cannot assume. The legislative branch is responsible for creating laws, the executive to execute the laws and the judiciary to interpret the laws. Executives who create mandates circumvent and even undermine the constitution. In this day of technology, the legislative branch can certainly create laws they deem necessary. Short of new legislation, leaders should teach correct principles and let citizens govern themselves.

The key to economic recovery is removing impediments to business. The past months have taught us who is at risk for acquiring and dying from COVID-19. The people of Cache Valley and the state will take whatever actions are necessary to help the high risk population avoid the virus while allowing the remaining population to live life and grow the economy.

While we wait to see how state finances fare during the COVID-19 pandemic, the state should do the following: 1) freeze taxes and budgets for the next 12 months and 2) implement zero-based budgeting so that each department is held to account for their upcoming budgets. I would like to see the state leave income taxes with public education.

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