Issue Position: Congress is Broken

Issue Position

Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself."

Mark Twain

There is all too much truth in what Twain had to say. Congress is dysfunctional. It reached a low point last year when the government shut down because Congress was unwilling to pay the bills it had already obligated itself to pay. Billions were wasted as government employees were furloughed, only to be paid their salaries after the Congress came to its senses. Partisan rancor prevents needed action, including repairing serious problems with the Affordable Care Act, an orderly budget process, immigration, and defending American competitiveness abroad. Congressional leaders too often conduct business solely to obtain advantage in the next election.

Opponents need not be enemies. The tolerance shown by Americans in their private lives should be reflected in Congress. When the election is over, leaders should get to work seeking good policy that takes into account the reality that others have differing views. That means compromise and cooperation, and loyalty to the truth rather than to party. You the voter must elect a representative who will think independently and not merely toe the party line for no good reason. Doug will work for Utah solutions and not a party program. This has been done before, and it can be done again. Doug's father, Wayne Owens, worked across party lines with Senator Jake Garn to fund the Central Utah Water project, an effort that took years but yielded great results.

While Doug cannot bring about the needed change alone, he will seek to head off the worst excesses by introducing legislation to reduce congressional salaries if budgets are not passed on time. Ten days' pay would be permanently lost for each day the government is shut down.

America works. Congress should too.

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